CyberFair Project ID: 6721

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Listen to the heartbeat of Kaohsiung
Category: 5. Local Attractions (Natural and Man-Made)
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2011/gsh6721/
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2011/gsh6721/Bibliography/Bibliography.htm

School: Kaohsiung Municipal Jhengsing Junior High School
    Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Taiwan(R.O.C)

9 students, ages 13-16 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2011. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2011

Classes and Teachers: 6

E-Mail contact:

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

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

The Kaohsiung city is really different now, not only a industry city any more, but is a beautiful city that quickly adding the elements of culture, ecology, and creativity. As the global environmental consciousness raising and the initiating of the energy conservation policy, the Kaohsiung city government has also dedicated on building a bicycle system that is both beautiful and practical and trying to make the concept of “protecting our environment” deeply rooted in the city’s development. Besides, we also add the specialties of different culture; let everyone to understand the beauty of different culture.

2. Summary of Our Project

Through our investigation, interview, and induction, we try letting everyone feel the change and potential green energy of Kaohsiung and the passion of people in Kaohsiung from the bicycle path system. We investigate in several aspects including: 1) the design of the bicycle path, attractions, and the special gears for riding. 2) Questionnaire and querying cyclists. 3) Interviewing many different bureaus in the Kaohsiung City Government.4) Visit different places to understand the viewpoints of experts in architecture and ecology. 5) Compare with other bicycle path system in Taiwan in order to know the advantages and disadvantages of our system.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

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):

We usually use the computer/internet in the computer classroom, which has around 30 computers. Also, we use Internet at home,too. We had a FTP server in our school for us to upload or download information.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

We faced many problems during the project. We tried our best to overcome them. The problems included: A) The collecting and sorting of information: Some information is hard to get, so we had to browse many web pages which really takes time. Also we face many set back during giving out the questionnaire. B) The process of interview: Some officials are very careful about the records, so we can only take down notes but not sound or image. Besides, it was hard to make an appointment with people, so we had to take a half-day off for interviewing. In addition, the lack of experience was also bothering us. C) The time: Because the pressure of academic is quite high in Taiwan, so it had been a very difficult time to spend time on both studies and this project. D) Language: It was a very serious problem to us. We got the information of this competition very late. And our English isn’t very good. So translating the whole project is actually a big challenge to us. Well, we hope everyone can understand our “Taiwanese-English.”

5. Our Project Sound Bite

In the 21 century, how to reduce the damage to earth is a very important and serious issue. There is no doubt that using zero-carbon emission transportations such as a bicycle are very helpful. And in Kaohsiung, one of the friendliest cities for cyclists in Asia, there is a complete bicycle lane system almost all across the city with a wide variety of view. Therefore, we want to introduce to people everywhere. But not only the path itself, we also introduce the attractions and many other viewpoints. All in all, we are trying to send a message to the world:” Kaohsiung will touch your heart! “

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

By researching about the “Kaohsiung City Bicycle Path System” in ecology, architecture, beauty, design and many other view points, we connected with many subjects in school like art and humanities, social studies, living technology etc. Also we learn many skills: 1) Can work together and support each other 2) Use technology to collect information and show it by graphs. 3) Understand our community by observing4) Learn the techniques of conducting a research, including analyzing and concluding.

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Project Elements

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

Hardware: 1.Around 10 computers 2. Digital recorders: recording the interviews 3. Digital cmeras: take photos of every action. 4. Projector: the best way to tell other people what we were doing and being told during the interviews.5. Printer: in order to exchange information through papers. 6. Hand disks: another way to bring the information from computers to computer.

Software: 1. Microsoft FrontPage 2003(SharePoint designer 2007): making the website 2. Internet explorer, Google chrome: Browse websites to gain information. 3.Microsoft word: type the words before putting in the websites.4. Photoimpact , Photocap: compressing the photos for the web page. 5. Anicam: capturing the screen view for introducing our project. All of the tools above are located in the computer classroom I mentioned before.

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

When we were doing the project, our interview and visits had actually made some people understand and focus on the bicycle path more. The best ambassador of promoting:Through this project,we understand more about the resources for local sightseeing and the importance of promoting the bicycle path. We believe we surely have the ability to provide the correct and plentiful in formation for guests that aren’t familiar to Kaohsiung to come and enjoy this beautiful city. The best ambassador of interviewing: From the experiences of interviewing different people this time, we learned more technique on speaking, and being more able to present a profession attitude of interview. One of the people we interviewed, Dr. Chang, professor in National Cheng Kung University even told us:” When I knew a group of junior high school students is going to interview me, I said yes immediately. To me, education is very important.” These words deeply touched us.

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

At this point, the effect isn’t very big. But we have made many people know the information about our project, including our classmates, friends, relatives. We got many feedbacks, especially from our parents; of course we made many changes since we started. Thanks to all comments which always made our project better. And we do have the confident to make more and more people from different countries understand the beauty of Kaohsiung.

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

As I mentioned above, language is one of our main problems. So here we need to thank every English teacher that had helped us on translating and writing. Also, thanks to all the people who helped finishing the questionnaire and accepting our interview. Thank our parents and teachers. We can’t finish this with out your help! Thank you!

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

In the process of working together, sometimes it’s really hard to reach a consensus. After many times of conflicts, everyone started to learn how to understand each other and many more peaceful ways to communicate. It was really difficult. But also we can finally realize the importance to work as a group when we face a challenge. For instance, it spent us about three weeks to translate the whole project into English. This result is done by our hard working. Also, we found we have to appreciate each others contribution to the whole group. Praise is always the best lubricant! We also realized how difficult to design a big construction such as the bicycle lane system in Kaohsiung. We may have worked very hard. But, from the research we knew that there are much more people that have devoted into building a better city to live behind those beautiful paths we now relax on. We sincerely appreciate all the contribution made by these unknown heroes. To succeed always need to sacrifice something else. But I believe un the future, this will be a unforgettable experience! La douleur passe, la beauté reste!

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 6721)

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