CyberFair Project ID: 7489

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: IfKids Magic - Show Yourself at IF
Category: 3. Business and Community Organizations
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2013/gsh7489/
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2013/gsh7489/afterthought01.html

School: Kang Chiao Bilingual Elementary School
    New Taipei, , Taiwan

13 students, ages 11~12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 16, 2013. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2007,2009,2010,2011,2012

Classes and Teachers: Wu,Xuan Feng

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.kcbs.ntpc.edu.tw/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

“IfKids Theater Company” was founded in Taipei. Most of their audience are from north of Taiwan. The opening stages, rehearsal places, drama classrooms, offices are located in Taipei and New Taipei City. Taipei and New Taipei City are the center of political and economic activities, and they are also the most important place of children art and culture in Taiwan. There are many resources and performing stages in Taipei and New Taipei City; on the other hand, the citizens are able to get the latest information there. Therefore, there are many well known kids theater companies in Taipei and New Taipei City, such as PaperWindmill Theatre, Song Song Song Children's and Puppets Theatre, and IfKids Theater Company.

2. Summary of Our Project

IfKids Theater Company was founded by the Executive Chief, Chao, Tzu Chang. The idea was occurred when he told stories to sick children. Mr.Chao started to gather people who had different specialties and beliefs in the fields of public welfare, drama, and education. They wanted to use children's eyes and minds to express their feelings and watch the world. IfKids Theater Company had started to earn reputation after facing series of problems and frustrations. They overcame many difficulties and created their own performing styles with their passion and determination. We had the chance to be a part of the IfKids Theater Company due to our research. We participated in the rehearsals, watched the plays, had tours in the companies, and practiced the volunteering jobs. We had valuable opportunities to know the actors, actresses, directors, and leaders of each performance. At the end, we designed questionnaires to find out the advantages and inadequacy of IfKids Theater Company.

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):

Currently, the school has sufficient host servers. Every classroom has its own computer and internet access. There is an IT department in the school to provide teachers and students a convenient and multi-service network environment by websites, mails, and so on. In order to participate in this CyberFair competition, students use their extra-time, study hall time, or after school time to build up the website. Students upload the website pages to a FTP server of the school to enable students to modify the web pages at home and produce web pages more smoothly. The most special part is that students can use Wi-Fi in the “Electronical Learning Class”, so we can use IPads to help us brainstorm the ideas.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1.We couldn’t find information:On the internet, there was not a lot of information about “IfKids Theater Company”. The other very famous show “Fruit Nanny” wasn’t much about the director’s thoughts or wishes in the show. Luckily, our school got permission from the Ifkids Theater Company, so we had a chance to interview the director and the performers. We could know more about them from the interviews. 2. Arranging the interview time:Before the interviews, we needed to choose the time when all the students were free, and we also had to choose the good time for the performers.The Ifkids Theater Company usually performed on Saturday, so it was easy for students to be there in the interviews. However, the director had lots of meetings and activities, so we had to choose a week day to interview the director. Finally,we could interview the staffs form the Ifkids Theater Company. 3. Volunteer at the reception: We had never been a volunteer at a reception before. We felt nervous about the jobs even though it was a special chance. We didn’t know what would happen while we were working. The school helped us contact with the theater company, so we could have a chance to be volunteers at the reception. Before we started, we promised our teacher that we would try our best to give good impression to the audience and the theater company. 4. Cooperative work: It was difficult to create new things out of nothing. Participating in this activity was a special and rare opportunity for all of us. In the beginning,we researched the information and read them. We also discussed them and visited Ifkids Theater Company.After we received different kinds of information, we started writing about the content. We didn’t have enough time, but we still enjoyed the fun activities. No one wanted to start writing the content. Therefore, we had to share the work and help each other. Fortunately things went well. Instead of doing our own work, we helped each other and finished our own work effectively.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

“We are not dreamers. We are dream makers.” Ifkids Theater Company worked hard to offer children the happiest environment in order to help them learn the world they were going to face later. The company helped children see the future and promoted us to finish our website. We wanted more children to know about this “Dream Factory”.

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

1.Language domain: Interviews, topic written content, interview experience, total experience. 2.Math domain:Excel software statistical questionnaire, data analysis. 3.Social Studies domain: mind maps for research topics, framework topics, access content design, questionnaire design. 4.Arts domain: appreciation of children drama performances, connotation of and understanding the operation a theater company. 5.Intergrated Activity: Categories access content, integration of the questionnaire, information on the network, a web page production. 6.Independent study: SWOT analysis, questionnaire design, interview methods, information collection and arrangement.

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Project Elements

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

1.Contract number: Activities related matters contact, an invitation to respondents. 2.Email: Sending information, contact activities related messages. 3.Internet: Internet browsing previous winning entries, search for IfKids Theater Company related information, network platform for sharing and discussion of information or ideas among team members, browsing blogs. 4.Computer: collecting information, sharing discussions, using software to decorate the pictures, word arrangement, data statistics, integrating web pages. 5.Printer: Printing access content, network information, questionnaires, access notice. 6.Portable disk, Internet disk: Storing personal web page's content experiences. 7.Digital Camara: Taking photos of visits and interviews. 8.Voice Recording Pen: Recording interviews, helping access arrangement. 9.Computer Application Software: PhotoImpact, Blumind, Dreamweaver, Word, Excel, Ftp, IE.

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

1.Interviewing people: We interviewed actors, actresses, directors, staffs, and IfKids Theater Company. We learned the business philosophy of IfKids Theater company and the model of operation. 2.Visiting and checking in person: We visited the performing places, drama classes, and rehearsal places in IfKids Theater Company. We knew how a drama performed and how a troupe operated. 3.Experiencing the theater company in person: We were doing volunteer jobs at a performing place in IfKids Theater Company, and we also learned how kids’ theater companies worked, and how many workers and staffs they needed. 4.Appreciating the drama: We watched the rehearsal and the formal performance of IfKids Theater Company. We learned how a drama worked. 5.Developing the website: We made a monographic website. From the website, everyone learned more about IfKids Theater Company.

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

When we learned how to design a monographic website, we made a contact with Mr. Chao. We hoped that he could come to our interview. In the interview, Mr. Chao mentioned his own stories. He also taught us that we needed to be ourselves. He also mentioned that frustration was a kind of power, but an obstacle. You would regret when you found yourself in the wrong direction, but not when other people told you. Frustration was a kind of power that made us braver. Even though you failed, it was the way to success.

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

1.The director, Mr. Chao, accepted our interview and shared his stories, thoughts, and business philosophy with us. 2.The director, Mr. Shen, accepted our interview. He shared his stories, his jobs, and thoughts with us. 3.The coordinator, Mr. Guan, was in charge of event arrangement, and he also provided the information about the company. 4.The actor, Mr. Kuo, accepted the interview. He shared his stories, jobs, and thoughts. 5.The actress, Ms. Lin, accepted the interview. She shared her stories, jobs, and experiences. 6.The staff, Ms. Wang, accepted the interview. She shared her stories, jobs, and experiences. 7.The staff, Ms.Nico, was in charge of event arrangement and provided information about the theater company. She leaded us to watch the rehearsal and showed us the front and back stages of the theater. 8.Staffs of IfKids Theater Company provided jobs for the activities, and they also taught us how to do the jobs properly. 9.Jennie's mom leaded the teams, prepared the lunch, and arranged the resting places for the activities. 10.The teacher, Mr. Lu, helped us record videos and audio tapes. 11.All team members’ parents leaded the teams.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

While we were making the website and the content of the Cyber Fair, we learned that a “drama” was a complicated show. A “perfect” show consisted of costumes, light effects, music and other things, which were all made from different people or groups. In addition, the compilation of an interesting website was very laborious. To write a complete paragraph, we not only needed to spend time to access the information, but also to confirm the validity of the information. While we were finding the information, we learned many things and knowledge such as how an actor or actress kept their voices clear and loud. To prevent from the confusion and unprepared, we needed to check the questions carefully before every interview and activity. We did our best to make sure we prepared everything such as a camera, a voice recording pen, an interview outline, and so on. We learned that every interesting and lively show was made from many people and the cooperation of many groups. Everyone devoted their time making a perfect and interesting show. In this Cyber Fair, we participated in many special activities, including being the volunteers at the theater, watching rehearsals closely, interviewing Mr. Chao, the director, actors, and actresses of “The Starry Garden”, and the staffs of the IfKids Theater Company. These were very unique experiences and opportunities. During these six months, we knew more about IfKids Theater Company, and we had many different experiences from the activities. We had a wonderful journey!

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