School: Bayan middle school
    Xining, q, China

4 students, ages 15-16 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 11, 2013. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2009,2010,2011,2012

Classes and Teachers: Li Qifang,Song Changfa

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://qh000028.edu.17888.com

1. Description of Our Community

The Ancient Dangaer City is in Huangyuan County of Qinghai Province. Situated on the north bank of Yellow River and the shore of Qinghai Lake as well as at the headwaters of the Huangshui River, it is 40km away from Xining City and has been known as “Throat of Qinghai and Tibet” and “Tea-Horse Trading Center”. Dangaer is transliterated from Mongolian “DongKe'er” which means “conch”. It is the junction of Loess Plateau and Tibetan Plateau as well as the intersection of farming and grassland culture. In addition, Tang-Tibet Ancient Road and Southern Silk Road run through here, and people from various nationalities gather here as well. Moreover, it has long been known as “Throat of Qinghai and Tibet”, “Tea-Horse Trading Center” and “Small Beijing”.

2. Summary of Our Project

On thousands of years, Embroidered leather in Dangaer is a type of folk embroidery craftwork created by Huangyuan people. The project we did is to discover and protect Dangeer culture. Embroidered leather in Dangaer varied in form, including valuable works of art and materials for daily use. In addition, according to different occasions and specific uses, each variety can be embroidered with different patterns such as landscape, flowers, birds, animals and figures. Furthermore, it can be classified based on content, and organically combines traditional art with modern one to produce various series of products, thus creating the ethnic art works integrating the characters of nationality, region, life and art.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:less than 20

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:none

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):

Every teacher in our school has been equipped with one computer, and there are 2 computer rooms with 110 computers in our school. Those computers are always frequently used and connected to the Internet through ADSL.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1,Difficulties:Know little about web pages Analysis:Web pages are new to us. Solutions:By communicating through Internet with Mr. Li Zhihua and Lv Qing in Qianxiangwancai Company, we have learned relevant information about the competition and made plans for it. 2,Difficulties:Unskilled in computer operation and limited ability to make web pages. Analysis:Weak in computer skills; impossibility in mutual help; have to ask teachers for help. Solutions:The guidance teachers guide us to study knowledge about computer and web page making in their spare time. 3,,Difficulties:Limited time for interviews and activity. nalysis:We are students in Grade Nine and always have much work to do. The school guarantees us too little time. Solutions:The teacher gets some preparation for us in advance, such as interviewing, photographing and investigating. 4,Difficulties:Disorders in sorting materials Analysis:The involved members have no experience in sorting materials, and all materials are sorted disorderly. Solutions:Teachers help us with sorting and concluding materials. They also help us get more time.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

1,It is really nice to take a stroll after school. Through this web page design competition, I have not only got some knowledge beyond textbooks, but also known about the special handicraft of embroidered leather. 2,It is a great honor for me to participate in the competition, so I treasure the opportunity very much. Through interviews, I have enhanced my capacities while obtaining much knowledge especially from interviews as well as realizing the importance of mutual aid and learning. 3,Through the activity, I have not only got some improvements in my cognitive ability, but learned about the development history, technology and economic value of Dangaer embroidered leather. I think we should not only inherit and develop the national culture, but make more people know about it, so as to guarantee it a brighter prospect in delivering and development.

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

Dangaer embroidered leather is an artistic creation which concentrates multiple cultures and organically integrates various cultural genes of Han, Tibet, Mongolia and Hui. In addition, it contains the essence of national culture and enjoys unique making techniques. The activity aims to bring forth new thoughts to the subject through investigation, research and thinking, as well as to encourage students to portray local culture truly and objectively and get improvements during social practical activity. Through independent research and personal practices, students can not only solve problems with existing knowledge and experience, but learn how to think as well as develop humanistic spirit and scientific literacy. Moreover, they can gain more knowledge and basic skills of information technology in the process of practice. The web page making has not only inspired school’s attention on practical courses, but organically combined folk culture with classroom instruction, thus effectively improving students’ practical operation capability.

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

Hardware: Computer, digital camera, DV Software: Dreamweaver,Photoshop CorelDraw,Microsoft Word, Outlook express,CISS, ACDsee, FTP sever The digital cameras are mainly used to take photos during interview and communication, while the video camera is used to record the process of interviews.

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

Our practical investigations and research are aimed to introduce Dangaer embroidered leather to the outside world, so as to make outside people know more about the plateau folk art and its vivid image, strong texture, perfect shape and spirit, as well as to make it greater in artistic vitality, ornamental value, research value and collection value.

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

Owing to many historical reasons, the exquisite handicraft of Dangaer embroidered leather is in danger of disappearing. Therefore, our activity has a strong practical significance to exploiting, protecting, inheriting and developing Dangaer embroidered leather, as well as to creating cultural brand and developing culture industry of Huangyuan. Everyone has participated in protecting the cultural heritage. In addition, we have learned much knowledge that we can’t get in classroom.

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

Yang Fenyun, the technical instructor of Publicity Department and Cultural Center of Huangyuan, has provided us great help in advertising and introducing the artistic and social value of Dangaer embroidered leather. The leaders from Publicity Department and the community, as well as the administrators of Dangaer embroidered leather are all great help to us, who have browsed our web pages and offered their advice and guidance.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Through independent research and personal practices, we have not only learned how to solve problems with existing knowledge and experience, but learned how to exploit, protect and value cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage. Moreover, we have also mastered certain basic skills about information technology in the process of practice.