School: WunDe Elementary School of Changhua County
    Changhua County, Taiwan, R.O.C.

10 students, ages 10-12 years old worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 20, 2010. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2009

Classes and Teachers: Hsun-te Cho, Pao-chia Wu, Ching-i Lai

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.wdes.chc.edu.tw/

1. Description of Our Community

More than 30 years ago, because the reputation of low quality bikes made in Taiwan was notorious, the young metal and material engineer Mr. Ike Tseng found Merida Industry Co. in Dacun Village, Changhua County, in 1972. The mission of the company was to specialize in the R&D and manufacturing of high quality bikes. After devotion for 30 years, Merida Industry Co. upheld the ultimate vision and determination to produce high-quality bike - 'With trust-worthy and steady development and cooperation, to create a competitive business from of immeasurable potential to profit the company and the general public.” Today, under the trend of environmental protection and energy saving, Merida Industry Co. has served as the leader of the industry to sponsor various cycling events to promote the healthiest, energetic, and environmental friendly exercise – biking. WunDe Exploration Team is the name of our project team. We set strategies for collecting more and in-depth information about this topic. First, by visiting Merida Industry Co. and interviewing the management team, we could learn the development history, management philosophy, bicycle manufacturing, and R&D of the company. Second, we would participate in activities sponsored by Merida Industry Co., an activity called “Merida Happy Bike Tour” for the spirit of “i Ride, for Earth & Health”. Third, we would interview and consult Magistrate Po-yuan Cho of Changhua County to learn more about biking promotion and the planning of County Road 139 for recreational and tourist development. We hope that this website could correspond with the government policy as to promote the county development provision.

2. Summary of Our Project

Dachu Community in Fengyuan Township, Changhua County is on the Bagua Plateau. It is the highest village in the County at 360m above sea level. Dachu was named from Da-chu-wei (big bamboo fence) because the villagers used to plant bamboo as fences around their houses in order to minimize the strong wind over the plateau. Since the Dachang Road (County Road 139) was widened, the national level bike path was constructed. It is a route with beautiful sceneries of Bagua Mt. Whenever is possible, in the early morning or in the holidays, many bickers would ride along it, for good health, saving energy, and carbon reduction. The terrain in Changhua County is quite flat with relatively smooth trails on Bagua Mt., which is perfect for biking. Moreover, Changhua County has set several records in biking, including (1) There are 497 bike related manufacturers in Changhua, accounting for over two-third of the manufacturers in Taiwan. (2) The bike path is 250 km, combined with land line and seashore line, is the longest bike path in Taiwan; (3) Regardless ages or genders, more and more people join biking. Changhua has the largest population of bikers in Taiwan. (4) The first one to develop Bagua Mt. Bicycle Theme Park, with green leisure route and the white, blue, green, and black challenging routs. (5) The “Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt.” provided the highest prize ever, the first prize is a Merida bike that costs NT$159,000 (about 5,000 USD).

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:4-6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:4-6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The main challenge was that the activities deriving from the project content were too complicated, due to following three reasons, 1. Taiwan is a leader in bicycle industry, and Merida Industry Co. is one of the leading brand names of bike manufacturers in the world. It is very difficult to clearly present its management philosophy, manufacturing, marketing, and the brand values. 2. Changhua County has strategically cooperated with Merida Industry Co. to set many records in biking recreation. There are various activities associated with Merida. 3. WunDe Elementary School is located in the rural area, and has limited resources. However, the WunDe Exploration Team is energetic and passionate and does the research with fervent enthusiasm. First, we utilized the discounted bikes and accessories provided by Merida to participate in Weekend Biking Team, which was promoted by the Ministry of Education for elementary and middle schools, in order to realize the appeal of “i Ride, for Earth & Health”. We also participated in Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt. On the 40th anniversary of WunDe Elementary School, we invited the Merida Biking Team to our school for celebration. We also visited the headquarters of Merida Industry Co. located at the foothill of Dacun Village, Changhua County, and interviewed President Sung-chu Tseng. Moreover. we interviewed Magistrate Po-yuan Cho of Changhua County about the biking promotion and the planning of County Road 139 for recreation and tourism development. Lastly, we visited the Merdia flagship store to learn more about the types and accessories of Merida bikes. To present the various and solid of learning experiences was not so easy.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

The best lesson is that “The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.” The dream of “i Ride, for Earth & Health” has been realized in the joint efforts of the students and teachers. In the process, the society resources and the power of the public has been united to reach the goal. The team finished the project in their biking team. This was really that a great dream came true for the team as well as for the earth.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

With all the hopes and goals, WunDe Exploration Team continued to explore and discover the surprises. Finding: The students and teachers together determined the theme of biking, explored the new possibilities, and found the essence of “i Ride, for Earth & Health”. Surprise: Surprisingly, to determine a subject was not so difficult. After forming the team, setting the interview contents, continually clarifying the students’ genuine questions, and summarizing the conclusion, the proposal was almost settled. Together, we completed the healthiest, most vital, and environmental friendly project

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

Hardware: 5IntelP4 PCs, digital cameras, scanners Software: Frontpage, Photoimpact, Microsoft word, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, Communication tool: Cell, E-mail, BBS, FTP Server,

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

The question of ' When can we have the chance of roaring on the bike path?' inspired the students’ motivation to visit the neighbor of WunDe Elementary School - Merida Industry Co. at the foothill of Dacun Village, Changhua County. We determined our project theme, as well as the research structure. Under the trend of energy saving, carbon reduction, and environment protection, WunDe Exploration Team fulfilled Merida’s slogan “i Ride, for Earth & Health”, and promoted the healthy, energetic, and environmental friendly exercise – biking. In order to grasp the meaning of “i Ride, for Earth & Health”, the team participated the Weekend Biking Team and Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt. with the discounted Merida bikes and full sets of accessories. Led by our teachers, WunDe Exploration Team participated in the Weekend Biking Tour and the Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt. The team explored the beautiful sceneries of Bagua Mt. By sharing our experiences, we hope that more people could enjoy the nature and improve health and by biking, which would in turn, promote the development of local business. Whenever WunDe Exploration Team went, their brand new Merida bike equipment and uniforms have always drawn much attention. As global warming deteriorates, the trend of energy saving and carbon reduction becomes increasingly important. WunDe Exploration Team aims to introduce the most environmental friendly and energetic way to be the ambassador to present the value of biking.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

WunDe Exploration Team went on a series of activities to realize the concept of “i Ride, for Earth & Health”. Through the tour on County Road 139, we present the diverse culture and beautiful scenery of Bagua Mt. We welcome more people to enjoy nature and improve health, while promote the development of local business. The community residents, student parents, and the public, as they are drawn by the new bikes and accessories of WunDe Exploration Team, will give more concern to the influences of biking recreation. The participation of Merida Industry Co. and the Changhua County Government in the research project has enhanced students’ concern about biking. President Tseng of Merida mentioned that as a local business, Merida works the best to benefit the locality, such as by sponsoring and encouraging the students engaging in biking, environmental protection, exercise, and health promotion. Magistrate Po-yuan Cho also said that “Both the bicycle industry and biking recreation are our targets. Changhua now has the longest bike path in Taiwan - 263 km long, as well as a leading bicycle industry. We are now planning to build a bicycle theme park, which first phase has been completed in Bagua Mt.” The team has a unique contribution to the biking recreation.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

If it is not for the Cyberfair project, perhaps we are still looking at the bikers passing by the school and village on the road side of County Road 139. Because of “i Ride, for Earth & Health”, we received new bikes and full accessories from Merida, and learned more about Merida and the governmental policies on promoting biking recreation. We are now riding bikes along the County Road 139 with full enjoyment, which was a rich learning experiences. Like the principal said, “It is an experience good enough for a precious and beautiful memory.”