CyberFair Project ID: 7458

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Hehuang Shadow Drama
Category: 8. Local Music and Art Forms
URL: http://www.yellowsheepriver.com/~qh000017/2013/
Bibliography: http://www.yellowsheepriver.com/~qh000017/2013/English/ztjb/ckzl.html

School: Dahuazhen middle school
    Xining, Qinghai, China

5 students, ages 15 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 11, 2013. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): none

Classes and Teachers: Ma Dequan

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Huanyuan County is located at the joint of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Huangtu Plateau, where is the military defense of Tibet and west Qinghai Province. It's 48km away from Xining-the capital of province. The traffic is very convenient, with Qinghai-Tibet railway, No 109, No 305 state high way run through our county. Huangyuan County's economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Our county is wealthy in water resources, with 86 rivers and 12 hydroelectric power stations inside. The average flow of Huangshui River is 4.99 m3/s. There are many sightseeing spots, such as Xishixia Valley, Riyue Mount, Chenghuang Temple, Zhazang Monastery and etc.

2. Summary of Our Project

Our team worked on the shadow play culture for this Net Fair contest, and we divided our tasks and conducted investigations on several aspects covering the origins of the Hehuang shadow play, its singing and tunes, the props and the actors, as well as the present situation and visiting the folk artists. For experiencing the shadow play, we have downloaded the classic plays performed by teacher Mr. Tan on the internet.

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):

Our school built a computer room in 2005 equipped with a total of forty computers and another one especially for teachers, most of which could not work normally for they were too old. And recently the network has been reformed that optical fiber has been set up covering the whole school.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

We did encounter a lot of difficulties in the web pages making. Firstly, we did not have an experienced teacher on such field. And the teacher Mr. Ma was quite busy for sparing time studying on line and editing while also arranging us to go on the interview and collect materials. Secondly, it happened to be the harvest time for farmers when we were in the process of collecting materials, thus our interview was once difficult to be carried out. Finally, for lacking of experience on making web pages, we had to learn from the previous excellent works as the ideas of drafting the website outline.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Hearing the news from teacher Mr. Ma that we were to participate in the Net Fair contest, we were on one hand, very happy for such a good opportunity to demonstrate our local culture and our competence. On the other hand, we did worry about this new project that we have never heard of that, let alone making a website. After we put forward sorts of problems, the headmaster and teacher Mr. Ma held a special meeting without any hesitation. The headmaster gave us great support on our research and told us that we could turn to him whenever we met difficulties. Then teacher Mr. Ma made a detailed plan for the research and encouraged us. 'Nothing is difficult as long as you can go to have a try.' in the following days we carried out each of our division of work. Everyone has worked hard collecting materials. Finally, our hard work bore the fruit of gains that our website was built with the joint efforts. Despite of some tiny shortcomings, we were hilarious about it.

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

The study on Hehuang Shadow Play was combined with school curriculum, and permeated the music class, which enriched campus culture.

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Project Elements

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

Devices that we used in project are digital camera, computer, U disk, scanner and software including Macromdia Dreamweaver 8?Photoshop?Word?Excel?IE.

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

We were mainly in charge of interviews, collecting, and organizing. In the interview, some of students shot, some kept a record, and some made an interview. In the first interview, we were very shy. Our teacher gave us a demonstration. We contacted and made an appointment with the interviewees on telephone and QQ. In the previous interviews, we continuously summed up experience, and proceeded step by step in accordance with scheduled principles. It was fairly smooth. We were not refused. During the interviewing process, we knew some people in the interviews and made propaganda for our research program among them. Although the task was arduous, we had an experience in reporter. The practical activity can not be completed by individual. Only division of labor, cooperation, and mutual trust, can we complete it successfully.

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

Through this project plan research, we knew more about the knowledge of Hehuang Shadow Play. The students actively participated in the activities. And through this activity, students made some publicity in the campus, which drove more students to understand Hehuang Shadow Play, even developed an affinity for this kind of art. It played some role in inheritance and promotion of local culture. We knew about the fold culture, art, etc. in our hometown. The activity developed our team work and team spirit, and self-confidence and strong will.

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

In this research project, Tan Qingfang and his brother Tan Qingwen put down their job, and provided us with the first-hand material about shadow play, like video data about shadow play performance. The school provides us with vehicles. Yang Wensheng took on the shooting work.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We thought a lot about this game. When having notice, we did not know what to do. In the first interview outside school, we flushed crimson with embarrassment. When we were first taking photographs and using scanner, the hands were trembling. When we were first making web pages…So much first time! It annealed our mind, and strengthened our conviction. All we got lifelong benefit from the activity. Through the effort of nearly two months, we collected materials, although web pages were made not good, our first work had finally emerged. The result is not important. It is important that we learn a lot of things that not be taught by textbooks, such as the cultural knowledge about Hehuang Shadow Play, connotation of art. We were hard but were happy! We are proud of!

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