School: Xisong Elementary School
    Taipei City, Taiwan, Taiwan

9 students, ages 10-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on January 11, 2011. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2009, 2010

Classes and Teachers: Jasmine Huang, Lian Lin, Yenching Huang, Neo Liao, Zhenghong Ho, Chihua Shuai

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://web.sups.tp.edu.tw/front/bin/ptlist.phtml?Category=119

1. Description of Our Community

Xisong Night School program is offered by Xisong Elementary School in Sonnchang District, Taipei, Taiwan. Initiated in 1978, there are over 150 students in the program presently. It is composed of the seniors and new immigrants from the neighborhood. They are here for learning, making friends and having fun.

2. Summary of Our Project

It is never too late to learn. In this project, we would like to introduce and discuss the night school education for the seniors who didn't have the opportunities to go to school when they were young in Taiwan and the new immigrants who want to adapt themselves into their second homeland here.

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:more than 6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

First, although we have found plenty of information, sometimes it’s not easy to verify its reliability. We need to check over and over before we can really use it. Second, it is not as easy as we thought while doing the survey. We had been rejected a lot when looking for the interviewees. However, we realize if we can be more polite and sincere, things will go much more smoothly.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

It's never too late to learn! By this project, we hope every one can understand that learning is always fun no matter who and how old you are.

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

1. Language Arts : The language ability is the most important subject during the research. It applies to the interview questions, research report, and analytical diagrams. Every time we wrote the report, our writing skills improved. 2. Mathematics: When we were conducting statistical analysis for the survey, we had to count the number of subjects, calculated the percentage, and trained our ability to read the charts. Thus, our math ability was improved. 3. Arts and Humanities: For webpage editing, we learned computer skills, and webpage layout and design. Science and Technology: We searched information on the Internet and used various software for writing or webpage editing; thus, we improved our IT skills. 4. Social Studies: We have to understand the essential of the night school education and find out why it is important to our society. Besides, we learn more about the original cultures of the immigrants. 5. Integrative Activities: During this project, we all kept positive interaction in cooperation and collaboration. The sense of accomplishment is our main motivation.

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

1. Internet could be the most useful medium throughout our project. We searched the information of volunteers from all communities. We exchanged information and our point of views on our blogs. 2. We used digital sound recorders and digital cameras to record our interviews. 3. We used printers to print out our questionnaires and our interview outlines. 4. We used the following software: Windows XP, Namo 5.5, Neo-imaging, Office 2003, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, Acdsee 5.0, Lifetype 1.2.1, and so on.

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

As the ambassadors,we try to-- 1. Introduce Xisong Night School to the people in the community. Our project includes the introduction of the course, teachers and teaching activities. People can learn more about Xisong Night School from our website. 2. Discuss the importance of the night school. The night school education aim for helping those who lost their chance to learn when they were young, and the immigrants especially the woman who become Taiwanese through marriage. 3. Encourage more people to do life-long learning. It is never too late to learn. Age, language, culture cannot be the reasons of stop learning. You can always learn something in school and achieve something in your life.

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

1.We ourselves and our classmates study and work harder than before-- After doing the project, everyone is impressed by the efforts the night school students make and also realized how lucky we are to get education now for free and for granted. We would cherish this opportunity, and make our best in school learning. 2.We make special friends--- We make friends not only with the project team members, but also with those adult students in the night school. Most of them are people frome the community. We learn a lot especially different life experience from them. That is something we feel very awesome and interesting.

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

1. We conducted survey on local residents and the families of the students in the program. In the evening after our own school, we went outside the school and invite them to fill out the questionnaires. With their help, we complete our survey. 2. We interviewed the alumni who still live in this area. They told us the history of Xisong Night School and their own experiences of school life, and their expectation from the program. 3. We interviewed teachers at our school who also teach the night school program to know what are the differences between the regular elementary school education and the night school education. 4. We also conducted survey on the school boys and girls at our school to understand what they think about those industrious elderly students.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

After doing this project, we have found that it was very difficult for everyone to have education in the past in Taiwan. Therefore, when those senior students have their second chance to go to school again, they all make their very best studying hard. It is very touching and inspiring. We all think we are lucky and we should cherish the opportunity of learning in school from now on.