School: Si-Yang Junior High School
    Changhua County, Taiwan, Republic of China(Taiwan)

10 students, ages 14 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 23, 2018. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018

Classes and Teachers: Sun Chun-Chieh,Kang Chia-Yun,Huang Ting-Chiao

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://163.23.101.189/cyberfair/2018/blackmud/

1. Description of Our Community

Xizhou Township is located at the southernmost part of Changhua County. It is named Xizhou because it is an alluvion, which is floating on the west and south of Luoxi of Zhuoshui River. It covers an area of about 75.8310 sq.k. It is the third largest township in Changhua County. Township Office holds cultural festival every year. In recent years, the festival theme is the black mud of Zhuoshui River. The river brings abundant water and black mud. The black mud nourishes the land to produce various rich crops and foster rural culture.

2. Summary of Our Project

“The Black Mud Festival” is focused on Xizhou. Xizhou is located at the southernmost of Changhua County. It relies on the mother river —Zhuoshui River, which has abundant water and fertile black mud to irrigate the land. The farmers work hard on the land to produce rich agriculture products. This project started with Xizhou geography and agricultural history and students participated in the cultural activity -- “The Black Mud Festival” held by township office. By means of investigation and interview, the activity process is recorded in details. It is briefly introduced as below: as for the source and background, it introduces the geographical environment, agricultural history, water saving sports and black soil & fertile farmland in Xizhou. As the opening activity of The Black Mud Festival, In Remembrance of Troy is the epic environment drama played by Golden Bough Theater which is filled with grass-roots energy. In the opening ceremony, several performance groups and the farmer’s market composed of the local agricultural products and shops are recorded in details. The mud man parade is the MICHIJUNE activity with the theme of agricultural product held by various groups and schools in Xizhou. The black mud contest is the physical and mental contest with the theme of black mud. Meanwhile, the returning-home concert of Bobby Chen who was born in Xizhou and the performance of other singers and vocalists are also recorded; the ecologically agricultural method is used for farming and there is also the Shanghui Journey with the restoration paddy field and rich ecology.

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2018/gsh8356/narrative-2.htm#a02

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:2-3

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

FTTB is connected to TANet and three broadbands respectively, and the download and upload speed is 100M.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

I think the difficult thing is the 'web page making'. It is the first time for us to make web page. We were afraid that the information which we spent several weeks collecting could not be well presented. everyone should strive to complete the task within the time limit. As long as everyone can complete their own work, the teamwork can be fully reflected. We sacrificed nap time, holidays and free time to do this Cyberfair project. Working together with classmates can solve troubles more easily, so solidarity is very important.

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2018/gsh8356/narrative-2.htm#a03

5. Our Project Sound Bite

The Cyberfair project widened our horizons and we have learned much new knowledge and knew more about the Black Mud Festival and Xizhou. Xizhou is a remote village of Changhua. Due to inconvenient transportation facilities, we want to introduce cultural festival of our hometown through 'webpage'to the world.

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

We still remember contents of the geography textbook when we were in grade one. It introduces all about Taiwan. The teachers taught us about Taiwan's hydrology, climate, topography, etc. We know that Zhuoshui River is the longest and highest sediment-laden river in Taiwan. We also know due to uneven distribution of rainfall seasons, Zhuoshui River is a devastated stream, with more rainfall in summer and less rainfall in winter. In summer, due to rainfall, a large amount of sediment is washed down to the middle and lower reaches to form 'black mud'. The important element of the Black Mud Festival at Xizhou Township is the black mud, which is the gift given by god. The most important channel in Xizhou Township is Cizai aqueduct, which diverts Zhuoshui River as an important source of irrigation water for every piece of agricultural land in our township. During the Cyberfair project, we investigated local soil and water culture, and have learned a different Xizhou Township. This Cyberfair project made us experience the knowledge in the textbook, and all of these impressed us deeply.

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

Before we started the interview, we prepared mobile phones and digital cameras, and borrowed tools such as tablet computers and computers from our schools. We hoped in the actual interview, we could record what the interviewees said at the moment to provide absolute help for making webpage. During the process, the most valuable tool for us is a smart phone, because we could take good photos and record video anywhere. In addition, we also think Internet is the most useful because there is a lot of information, which cannot be collected during interview. Mobile phones are really convenient because they have built-in camera and recording function and can be used to find data via Internet, uploading data is also convenient, and the convenient functions are better than other tools.

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

We introduce Xizhou’s Black Mud Festival to promote the local tourism and let more people know the township of Xizhou which is loved by the river of mother. The local people need to know the industrial and cultural development in Xizhou because we live and grow up there. Outsiders can also participate in the Black Mud Festival and our interview to understand specialties and unique culture of Xizhou, and experience a different Xizhou. In this study, I actually feel that many people put in a lot of efforts for this land, and many people absorb nutrients from the soil and grow. We believe Xizhou Township's passionate folks can make Xizhou become one of the most distinctive township.

http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2018/gsh8356/narrative-3.htm#a02

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

Because of the interview with the Black Mud Festival, after the end of the activity, we wanted to know more about our hometown. Therefore, we have further contact with several communities in the township. For example, we visited Xicuo Community to learn about recycling of water resources (the rainwater storage tower), fish and vegetable symbiosis system, making of sweet potato noodles, as well as some stories which we had not known before; only when the classmates living in Dazhuang village asked the elders about the experience of water conservation, we knew that 7 years ago (2011) ,our fathers, mothers, grandfather and grandmothers came Taipei many times to protest against illegal diversion of agricultural water by Central Taiwan Science Park. The elders said they were surprised but very pleased to see that we take the initiative to understand this history. Meanwhile our affection and sense of identity for our hometown are also enhanced. As we recorded the Black Mud Festival in detail, and the classmates, parents and even the neighbors of the village can know the Black Mud Festival by browsing the webpage at any time. Our special webpage can make people know more about local culture and features of Xizhou.

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

Thank you very much: We would like to thanks the Director of Remembrance of Troy one of performances of Golden Bough Theater for accepting our interview, further analysis of the plot, the play and Xizhou culture, authorized photos and allowing us to visit backstage equipment, costumes and preparation work; Paddy Fields Narrator for introducing Taiwan's unique native plants, non-toxic ecological environment and insects; Farmer's market workers for sharing their environment-friendly farming, helping the elderly to go out of home to participate in making and processing of local products to make us know about and taste local products and pay attention to care of the elderly. We also thank for the schools and baking club and development association in the community for accepting our interview, and Chef Contest for sharing their scoring criteria and suggestions; The township head and township office workers in charge of the Black Mud Festival for inviting the troupes for performances, and introducing the origin of the Black Mud Festival; visitors for giving us encouragement and feedback on Cyberfair content, and the online communities for providing performers background information, song information and related images.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

In this process, We have learned the structure shall be determined before writing report, or we may be confused, and care and attitude are important: Do not give up and believe I can do and can do well. In fact, we once wanted to give up, but everyone sticks to the idea of 'Persistence!' Finally we completed the tasks. Optimism is also important.