School: Jin-Shan High School
    New Taipei City, Taiwan, Taiwan

24 students, ages 16-18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 10, 2015. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2014,2013,2012,2011,2010

Classes and Teachers: HUA-HSIN HUNG,LI-PING FAN,SHOW-YUAN CHEN

E-Mail contact:

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

1. Description of Our Community

Jinshan District is located at the north coast of Taiwan, and used to be named “Jinbali” in an indigenous language. It was originally cultivated by Pingpu aboriginal tribe. Later on, some Zhangjou and Quienjou residents who had immigrated in from Mainland China during the late Qing Dynasty (about 18th century) cultivated this area too. The area is almost surrounded by hills with its north facing the sea. During the colonial time, the Japanese government renamed Jinbali as Jinshan (Jin means gold and Shan, hills and mountains). Since the end of WWII, people living in Jinshan have been working hard to make this place a better place to live in. It has drawn the sculpture master Ju-Ming to build a museum here. Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education is based here.

2. Summary of Our Project

Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education is near our school. DDM is a world-renowned organization for promoting Buddhist education. For local people, the center means more than a Buddhist’s holy place, where people can learn and recite the Buddha’s teachings. It is also a place where culture, education and social welfare have been promoted since the establishment of the center. Through this project, we hope that we can learn deeply and thoroughly the DDM’s high cause of education and the reason why the master Sheng-Yen chose Jinshan to build Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education. Finally, through the interviews with the local people, we hope to learn what influence DDM has on them.

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

(1)Webpage design: How to create the webpage is a big challenge for us. After countless errors and trials, we are able to complete this webpage under the instruction and help of our teachers. (2)Information Collecting: What DDM involves is very wide. When it comes to Buddhism, the information is overwhelmingly huge. Some of it is indded beyond our understanding. Therefore, we can just focus on the vision, ideals, and approaches of DDM. Because of the huge amount of information, we have a hard timie processing and organizing the information and presenting it systematically. (3)Production Process Managing: Some of the teammates delay the assignment, which influences the progress of the whole group. Therefore, we have to work on the weekend to catch up the progress. (4)Group Communication: Some quarrels and conflicts arise because of disagreements over the content and the workload while working together. Teachers smooth out our differences and coordinate our efforts by encouraging and teaching us teammates to communicate rationally. The whole team transforms and then we can work as a team. We have learned to respect and cooperate with each other.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

During the production process, we have learned a lot, such as the designing of the webpage, the refining of the contents, the organizing of the text and the original information, the ability to cooperate, etc. As the saying goes, “Pressure is the beginning of the growth.” We have been under a lot of pressure, but we stil stick to the end of the project. After the training and learning of the project, we are convinced that we will do better on our next representation and project.

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

The theme of Taiwan Cyberfair project is to show the life and the vitality of Taiwan, which is also the goal of our project. DDM is an international group for promoting Buddhist education. We’d like to take the opportunity of doing this project to spread the vision and ideals of DDM to Taiwan and the world.

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

Equipment

Telephones: for communication, talking with the interviewees, signing up for the activities, etc.

Cell phones: for taking pictures and conducting the interviews

Computers: for collecting and organizing information, making a webpage; arranging the photos, audio and video files, etc.

Cameras: for taking photos and shooting videos

USB drives: for backing up the files and photos

Printers: for facilitating the correction job after printed

Recorders: for recording the interview

Sketch boards: for making up the drafts

Calculators: for computing the questionnaires

Software

PhotoImpactX3: for processing the photos and original data

Adobe PhotoShop CS6: for the special effects of photos and original data

Namo WebEditor 6: for the designing of the webpage

Microsoft Word 2010: for the organizing of the text

Google Chrome: for the research and communication

Windows Media Player: for the playing of the video files

Websites

MAKE A GIF : http://makeagif.com/

PICASION : http://picasion.com/

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

The webpage we create is one of the approaches that we promote DDM to the world. We want to use the widespread of cyberworld to spread the vision and ideals of DDM and show the life and the vitality of Taiwan. At first, we surf the Internet for the information related to DDM. Afterwards, we complete the project gradually by taking part in the activities provided by DDM. We get to know the essence of DDM along the way. With our efforts, the webpage will definitely make more people understand the spirit of DDM. We hope to work together with people who believe in DDM to propagate the Buddha dharma.

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

Doing a project is hard work. Because of the encouragement from teachers and cooperation with teammates, we notice that we become more capable and that we can work under pressure. We have learned a lot from the project. Our writing ability improves a lot. Besides, we have learned how to process and organize the information quickly and effectively. We have also learned how to divide the task according to abilities and how to work together. In the end, we realize that there’s still considerable room for improvement and we will work harder toward it.

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

Participating Personnel Work Projects Percentage Students 1.Write thematic elements

2.Photography

3.Drafting interview outline

4.Conducting interview with targets or relevant personnel

5.Web editor

6.Write experience

7.Develop thematic name

8.Questionnaire

9.Production Logo

55% Teachers 1.Modify the content

2.Conducting interview with targets or relevant personnel

3.Paper writing guidance

4.Skills instruction and counseling

5.Provide web editing software

6.Provide drawing board

35%

Assistance unit Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education 1.Help us solve the problem

2.Interview

3.Authorize

10%

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

In the process of doing the project, we have learned and discovered many things. For example, when we visited DDM and ate meals in the dining hall, we noticed that there’s no price tag for each meal. You pay according to your heart and ability. This practice is totally different from what we are used to in this commercial society. There’s another example. All the working staff and the volunteers are contributing without being paid. No matter how difficult the job is or how busy they are, the masters will work hard tirelessly. They are really the role models for us. Because of the contribution of the monastic community and lay practitioners, DDM can work effectively and soundly.