CyberFair Project ID: 8050

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: QUACK !! Duck-Rice
Category: 7. Environmental Awareness
URL: http://stu2.kghs.kh.edu.tw/
Bibliography: http://kghs-cyberfair2016.org/bibliography.html

School: Kaohsiung Girls' Senior High School
    Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Taiwan(ROC)

11 students, ages 15~16 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2016. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 1999,2000,2001,2003,2007,2014,2015

Classes and Teachers: Kun Shan Ciou, Min Lee Li

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.kghs.kh.edu.tw/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Compared with other countries, there isn’t enough land in Taiwan. Moreover, there are lots of residents. It leads to intensive agriculture that harms the land and makes the farmers poorer. In order to gain more production, farmers choose to use the insecticide which causes ecological balance destroyed. Fewer and fewer young people choose to stay in villages growing rice. Instead, they leave for cities to have another job. Due to these reasons, agriculture in Taiwan becomes more and more downfallen.

2. Summary of Our Project

People are usually so busy with their careers that they spare no time caring about the food they eat, not to mention the land that provides everything for their daily use. Therefore, we decide to work on a project in the category of environmental protection. Our project is to tell people a new method of raising crops: Duck Rice. It can decrease the pollution to the environment. This organic way of farming is harmless to Nature and, of course, to our health. We search for the information, investigate the farming method on the spot and produce the documents and reports. Finally, we do our best to present the real situation in Taiwan, which could be an example set to other friends in the global village. We want to help farmers go through the predicament. Moreover, we hope to provide information of a new farming way to let more people know about it. What's more, we want to promote this idea to the world so that more governments will pay great attention to the issue of environmental pollution and then try to solve it. Besides, it can make consumers aware of whether the origin of food is safety or not. As a result, consumers will inspect the process of food production. This is our vision: the food we eat will become healthier and healthier, and the environment will become better and better.

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:2-3

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

During this project, we faced plenty of obstacles. For instance, we needed to arrange the meeting time that everyone could be present. Basically we are a virtual team from different classes. That’s why we used the google document through cloud computing, in order to coauthor and to make a Gantt chart. Then we could make a meeting schedule. Moreover, we had to contact the organizations related to our project, and arrange the interview and fieldwork. That’s how we managed to call at the elementary school and the grain mill. What's more, we had to write down the whole process in English about the contents of our website. Thus, we requested some English teachers to help us check the grammars and details. And we spent a lot of time constructing the website. We assigned the work to each of our members to process the information. We communicated, cooperated with each other and tried our best to help each other. Finally, we finished this project, feeling satisfied and fulfilled.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of CyberFair, we were determined to form the project. In addition to spreading the environmental farming way of duck-rice to the world, the process of research made us cherish Taiwan even more.

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

We wanted to let more people know about duck-rice. And we could let the world realize that how Taiwan has focused on the improvement in environmental protection. Plus, through participating in CyberFair, we gained the specialized knowledge about Nature and provided the information to the public. We not only learned through traditional methods but also how to conduct a field study. By several-minute interview face to face, we got the farmers’ life experience. During the whole process, we cooperated, shared our reflections with one another, and incorporated our opinions into our project. Though hard work, we grasped the importance of teamwork. We played a key role at school, promoting this kind of organic farming way and the notion of protecting our land. It made members in school build up the concepts of environmental protection. On the other hand, the Internet for teaching and learning is more convenient than the traditional one. We could have Zoom Meeting with partners at home, search for information and share the updated information at any place at any time. These ways could help us raise our working efficiency. Therefore, we preferred teaching and learning on the Internet.

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Project Elements

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

We used plenty of cloud computing tools during the process of this project, such as coauthoring tool like google document, Line and Facebook (mobile application). The communication tool we often used was Zoom Meeting (computer software). On account of these tools, we could complete our project smoothly. Plus, we could save information immediately. Some of the huge equipment were located at home, and some of the lighter devices were brought with us such as video and digital still cameras, which is quite useful for recording our interviews. All the apparatuses were provided by us ourselves. The most valuable tool were digital still image cameras. With it, we could gain a lot of useful information and record plenty of splendid memories. Among them, Zoom Meeting was the most helpful technology. Through using it, we could discuss with one another without fail. Thanks to these tools, we could finish our project perfectly.

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

Students have acted as Amabassadors of environmental protection. They have been aware of the importance of restore the co-life style between species; that is, the plants (rice) and the animals (ducks), human beings and Mother Nature. And in the survey and the field work of their project, they proceed to be conscious of the production, social marketing, human resources , and especially the how to research and develop a new way of growing our main crops. It turns out a way of getting along with our Mother Nature. During this interview, we were pleasured to enjoy such a delicious meal. It was cooked with duck-rice and organic vegetables. Owing to realize how tough the farmers were, we realized how treasurable a meal was. Here is a link to the touched stories : http://www.kghs-cyberfair2016.org/the-grain-mill.html

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

By doing this project, we can enhance people’s awareness of the environment. We went to elementary schools and promote the idea. Besides, we will advocate to our government and lawmakers by giving the reminder to make the laws of protecting the land. Besides, we shared the information with the community so that the residents would pay attention to it. For the purpose of spreading this farming way to the world, we participated in CyberFair 2016. When we had an interview on the spot, we received a lot of help from farmers and the working members in the grain mill. Schoolmates on our campus have looked at our Web pages. They were interested in what we were doing. After they learned about it, they were impressed with this organic farming method and joined us in preaching the idea to the public.

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

We want to thank our teachers who taught us plenty of skills about how to use Internet tools. For instance, we learned mind map to organize ideas and gain the framework of the project website. Moreover, we learned Gantt chart to arrange our meeting time. What the most important was the application of Zoom meeting. We wouldn’t be restricted by space or time. Without the support of our teachers, we couldn’t do such a great job. Besides, we owe gratitude to the Principal and the Dean in Jheng Sin Elementary School. Even if we finished our interview, they still keep us in contact and sent us more detailed information. What’s more, we appreciate a person whose name is Mitchell. She told lots of farmers’ stories and a great deal of specific agricultural knowledge. At last, we want to thank the authors and the reporters who provided the useful information to us. Thanks for everyone who helped us. On account of their help, we could finish this project smoothly.

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