School: Luzhou Elementary School
    Taipei County, Taiwan, Taiwan

10 students, ages 11-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 24, 2011. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2005

Classes and Teachers: Sheng-jie Chang, Jia-feng Wu

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.lces.tpc.edu.tw

1. Description of Our Community

In 1997, Luzhou was upgraded as a city directly under Taipei County, with its population exceeding 150,000. On the economic front, Luzhou City has been growing in prosperity due to trading with neighbouring districts such as Bali and Sanchung. On the spiritual front, there have been large religious ceremonies in Luzhou. The Guanyin Festival organized by the Luzhou City Government covers many aspects of folklore and beliefs, and introduces religions and temples to the public. Yong Lian Temple is the most famous temple in Luzhou. It is the centre of the religious life of locals in Luzhou. Local residents express their devotion in the offerings they put on the ceremony tables. Long Feng Tarng Bakery plays an important role in these sacred moments with the pastry delights it produces.

2. Summary of Our Project

History:History of the bakery industry and the origin of Long Feng Tarng Bakery. Gourmet:Pastry delights produced by Long Feng Tarng Bakery for rites, festivals and ceremonies. Rites of Passage:Birth ceremonies for parents to express their love and weddings for newly-weds to share their happiness. Promotion:At-school and inter-school activities to share our research results and our understanding of Long Feng Tarng Bakery. Development:Enhancement of students’ skills and competences in the research process.

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:1

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

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

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

Our school have four computer classrooms. We have digital video cameras and digital cameras. We also have voice recorders. FTTS networks at a speed of 100M bps to Department of Education.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1. Unfamiliarity about Customs and Ceremonies At the outset of this project, we were completely ignorant about customs and ceremonies. Before we visited Long Feng Tarng Bakery, we only cared whether their pastries were delicious or not. We knew nothing about the implications of these cookies and cakes. We did not understand the meanings of Sanchao (Three Mornings), Titou (head shaving) and Shouyan (saliva stopping) until we learned from the people working in Long Feng Tarng Bakery. All these rites of passage symbolize the love and expectations of parents, the blessing to children from family members and the respect to ancestors for many generations. Pastries may be just food, ceremonies may be just formalities, but the implications and meanings of these occasions are genuine and heart-warming. 2. Presentations as a Challenge Learning is a pleasure and it is relaxing just to sit there and listen to teachers and mentors. We are no strangers to report writing either. However, we were completely lost when asked to give a performance to all the students in the school or serve as tour guides to tourists from other places in Taiwan or even from other countries. Luckily there were more than 10 members in our team and we worked our strengths to support each other. We divided each assignment into various tasks and we helped each other. Our teachers helped us with rounds of rehearsals too. Before we presented to tourists and travelers, we had practiced hundreds of times. We also presented our findings about Long Feng Tarng Bakery to other students and even to other schools. Each presentation gave us an opportunity to make improvements and build our confidence. Eventually, we were able to speak eloquently in front of tourists.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

This project was a great but worthwhile challenge. When there is a will, there is a way. We hope our efforts pay off.

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

1. Classroom-in-community: One of our purposes of studying Long Feng Tarng Bakery is to beef up the curriculum in Classroom-in-community for our school. The curriculum of our Classroom-in-community on the local culture of Luzhou is for the fifth and sixth grades. We performed a play in the morning assembly to everybody in the school to share our knowledge about Long Feng Tarng Bakery and traditional ceremonies. 2. Social science: We introduce different levels of knowledge base regarding the local culture in the social science curricula for different grades of students. We hope all the students can grow with us. 3. Arts & Culture We bring our classmates to explore the beauty of traditional ceremonies and share our findings with reports and oral presentations. We also presented our results with a play, prints and posters.

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

1. High-tech Devices We Used: Fixed lines & mobile phones:Contacts with members, interviewees and arrangements for tour guide services. Computers:Webpage production, writing & editing and image processing. TANet:Communications between team members and looking for data. Colour laser printer:Photo printing, project plan printouts, stickers and cards. Photocopy machine:Photo printing and webpage data. Bubble-jet printer:Project plan printouts and texts. Camera stand:Photography of students and their works. Digital cameras:Photography of events and Long Feng Tarng Bakery. Digital video cameras:Film and photo production. Poster machine:Poster printing. Audio pen:Recording of interviews and guided tours. 2. Computer Software We Used Namo2008:Design, writing and development of websites and webpages. photoimpact12:Image processing. PhotoCap5:Image processing. Microsoft word2003:Texts editing. Cyberlink Power Producer 3.0:Editing of our video clips. Macromedia Captivate:Online tour guides, Q&As and team introduction. Microsoft Powerpoint2003:Briefing on Long Feng Tarng Bakery. Acdsee8.0:Photo management. Photoshop:Webpage production. Our tools were located in our Computer Classroom. Computers were our most valuable tools. We used to create our Webpage and write text. Internet were the most helpful tool.Because we could use Internet to search Information.

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

1. Interactions with the community Before our research project, our impression of Long Feng Tarng Bakery was nothing more than a wonderful bakery. However, our visit to Long Feng Tarng Bakery told us that pastry-making is an art! We learned so much about ceremonies in China and the implications of pastries on those occasions. We wanted to share our finding with others so we served as tour guides to tell visitors about the profound meanings of the pastries for rites of passage. 2. Interactions between teachers and students There is a suitable venue for performances in our new building. We spent a hour performing a play to juniors after the final exams when everybody felt relaxed. We told everybody about the Chinese birthday ceremonies. We also performed in front of the whole school on the morning session on Wednesday. There was also a Q&A competition with prizes regarding the implications of Chinese pastries for rites of passage. Everybody had fun!

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

1. A Wonderful & Productive Life We seemed to be running short of time every day since we started the Cyberfair project. We discussed at lunchtime on a daily basis, researched on Long Feng Tarng Bakery during the afternoon each weekend regarding pastry-making and ceremonies and wrote about our findings in the morning. We sacrificed our personal time but felt it was worthy it. 2. Learning Outside Classroom We thought we only learned at school and from books. However, this experience completely changed this concept. We can learn from life and such learning is more inspiring and impressive. As a Chinese saying goes, there is knowledge in every little thing. We have learned to stay curious and inquisitive about things in our life.

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

1. Thanks to Mr. Shun-cheng Li of Long Feng Tarng Bakery for explaining to us the history Long Feng Tarng Bakery and the tradition of ceremonies, as well as instructing us on how to be good tour guides. 2. Thanks to Ms. Shiou-chu Li of Long Feng Tarng Bakery for designing our curriculum for our trips to Long Feng Tarng Bakery and explaining to us all the delicious pastries there. 3. Thanks to Mr. Li for demonstrating the methods of making cookies and showing us how to explain this to tourists. 4. Thanks to all the bakers in Long Feng Tarng Bakery for showing us the secrets of pastry-making. 5. Thanks to all the store staffers of Long Feng Tarng Bakery for teaching us how to package pastries. 6. Thanks to Luzhou Community Development Association for their support with Luzhou MRT activities. 7. Thanks to all the teachers and directors of Luzhou Elementary School for their assistance in our promotions at school.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

1. Treasure in Luzhou Adults in Luzhou know very well about Long Feng Tarng Bakery. However, for us, it was a strange place. All we can remember is that the bakery is always aromatic and shop attendants greet everybody with a big smile. We did not know how much work is involved in pastry making until we interviewed with Long Feng Tarng Bakery. We learned that pastry has its ceremonial implications. We felt that we have learned an art and the meanings expressed in various traditional rites of passage. 2. Team Work, Learning & Growth We came to realize the importance of team work. As this project covers a wide scope, everybody was assigned difficult tasks. We had a total of 10 people in our team and each individual has his or her strengths. Chian-han and Hsuan-wen are great writers. Yi-hsuan and Yu-tong are good with presentations. Yun-mei and Si-ying are details-oriented organizers. Boys brought laughter to the team. Each two of us took charge of a project component. We had to be versatile in the process. Presentation skills, information generalization and a systematic approach to research are all part of the mix. We could only manage by helping each other!