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1. Description of Our Community
As far as I am concerned, a local community is somewhere a group of people make a joint effort, collaborate with one another, and do their utmost for the well-being of all the people living there. There may be some conflicts or disputes once in a while, but with mutual understanding and thorough communication, all of these can be settled and solved with a view to making their community better and more sustainable.
2. Summary of Our Project
Xizhou Tribe is an urban indigenous community located in Xindian District, New Taipei City, inhabited by many Amis indigenous people from Hualien. In 2007, the Taipei County government was scheduled to relocate this tribe by citing the river restoration and Dabi Reservoir reconstruction project, sparking a prolonged indigenous resistance movement. With deeper exploration, we discovered stories behind the beautiful tribe, including the hardships they suffered when looking for their self-identity in urban areas. From their protests, we witnessed the solidarity of the community and its collaboration with the National Taiwan University's Institute of Sociology and enterprises. This collaboration influenced the government’s policies, demonstrating the power of public-private cooperation. We expect that through our modest efforts and the website we have established, more people can learn about Xizhou and understand the challenges urban indigenous communities are faced with. We also anticipate that Xizhou Tribe can successfully establish its position in the urban setting, foster a sense of identity within their ethnic group, and serve as a valuable example for other urban indigenous communities.
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
E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):
In the process of getting the project done, we learned to make great use of computers, cellphones, etc. The internet has indeed provided us with significant assistance. Through the wealth of resources available online, such as past reports, interviews, and more, we can roughly understand the ins and outs of various matters from scratch. The use of various communication tools has also made our discussions extremely convenient, allowing us to communicate without being restricted by time or location, saving a considerable amount of time.
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
In the process of our research, the biggest challenge we encountered was information technology and teamwork. We found it really tough to integrate the opinions of team members, which resulted in low efficiency in our discussions and frequent argument due to different tasks and perspectives at first. Under the guidance of our teacher, we began to communicate calmly and respectfully, with each member contributing their ideas. After thorough discussions, we decided on the final presentation mode for the website. We believe that effective teamwork and communication are indispensable for the success of any project. Through this project, we gained a deeper understanding of the importance of communication. It became evident to us that blaming a few individuals for any shortcomings is not conducive to successful completion of tasks.
5. Our Project Sound Bite
After witnessing my students working hard together to get the project done, not only do I take pride in being their teacher, but I also realize that we can never underestimate the kids' potential.
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
This project fits into the requirements of citizenship education. In the process of collecting data, we interviewed members of the tribe, and one important lesson we learned during these interviews was about courtesy. For instance, the necessity of bringing a small gift as a token of appreciation when seeking assistance from others, and the importance of providing feedback to the interviewees based on the interview data, which is a way of showing respect. These are aspects of courtesy not only taught in the classroom but crucial in everyday life. We were fortunate to have learned such an important lesson through the process of accomplishing this project. Besides, we’ve learned to make good use of the internet in a more efficient way compared to traditional books because books are rigid, whereas online resources are diverse, allowing individuals to choose the most suitable learning medium for themselves. Additionally, we’ve learned to distinguish if the information on the internet is fake or not.
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