CyberFair Project ID: 7064

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Gaomei Wetlands
Category: 7. Environmental Awareness
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7064/index.htm
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7064/narrative.htm

School: Taichung Municipal Hui-Wen High School
    Taichung, none, Taiwan

10 students, ages 16~17 years old worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 24, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): none

Classes and Teachers: Huang Chih-Jen /Tsai Chi-Hua

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://203.64.159.12/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

The issue of environmental protection was considered more and more serious by the public, especially when the popular singer, Ching-tung Chaw, was shooting MV by burning the piano in Gaomei Wetlands in 2008. Three years later, we wonder if the Gaomei Wetlands still remains its precious status and serve as an ideal wildlife refuge in the present time. We also doubt, in the meantime if the Gaomei Wetlands is suffering some kind of ecology problem. Thus, we intend to visit this diversified wetland, figuring out the situations of protection, comparing with the present and the past of Gaomei Wetlands, enumerating the regulations of this lands, and finally appeal to the people to care about and cherish this land.

2. Summary of Our Project

Gaomei Wetlands located at Cingshuei Area in Taichung, grew out of the Gaomei lido during the period of Japanese Occupation. The area of Gaomei Wetlands covers more than 300 hectares. With the development of Taichung harbor and the deposition of the silt, the Gaomei lido was forced to shut down because of fewer and fewer tourists. However, the Gaomei lido, abundant in rich ecological resources and a variety of migratory birds for many years, gains the people’s attention again and is called the Gaomei Wetlands today.

Being argillaceous and sandy and connecting with the swamp of the river, the Gaomei Wetlands generated a rich wetland ecology and is filled with tidal creek, grassy marsh, sand, dirt, and other habitats which are known for Taiwan's largest communities of Yun-lin bolboschoenus planiculmis. Because the diversity of its terrain and biology, the Gaomei Wetlands becomes the habitat of various benthic lives, fish, shellfish, birds and waterfowl.

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

1. Because everyone is busy at schoolwork and student clubs, the time that we can get together to discuss our website is too short. In spite of this, we still use break time and computer class to discuss and efficient allocate working responsibility. 2. Since it is the first time for us to design a website, how to handle the software is really difficult to us. Thanks to our teacher’s patient teaching so that we can hit the target smoothly. 3.Gaomei Wetlands is not only really far away from our school but the way to get there is not very convenient. Therefore, we prepared the information that we need, wrote down the notices in advance and took a lot of photos there. Doing these, we hope that we can get most of the information that we need in the most efficient way.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

After the site visit to Gaomei Wetlands, we truly felt Gaomei Wetlands ’s fascination and had the more understanding to it. Due to these, we’d like to research the project more eagerly. During the research we also learned that how important helping each other and differentiation is. Everyone got and finished the job by our specialties. When facing the difficulty, we helped each other so that the research can complete smoothly.

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

The very project, combined with the geography and biography course in the school, helps students get aware of the critical issue concerning environmental protection, Moreover, students can get acquainted with the ecosystem of their land, consequently nourishing the wish of preserving native plants and animals. On top of it, they can arouse locals’ concern about their environment by virtue of the project.

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Project Elements

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

I.Hardware: 1.1 PC,NB: Information searching, making website. 1.2 USB drive: Saving data, pictures, and related files. 1.3 Printer: Print out required data. 1.4 Phones and cell phones: Contact teachers and group member. 1.5 Digital Camera: Record the processes of website making; interview people; taking pictures. II Software: 2.1 Microsoft Word: Record website information 2.2 Microsoft Internet Explorer: Information searching 2.3 Notepad: Note down important things 2.4 Photoimpact: Website pictures editing 2.5 Dreamweaver CS5.5: Making website 2.6 Flash CS5: Making Flash animation

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

We found a website where we could apply for tour guiding. Thus, we sent an e-mail to the website to ask whether we could interview the guide and ask him about the current accessibility ofGaomei Wetlands in advance. After two days, the authority concerned replied to us, telling us about the current situation of the wetland and also giving us the guide’s telephone number. Then we called the guide, Mr. Tsai, to consult him about the direction of exploring Gaomei Wetlands.

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

As global warming becomes more and more severe, it follows that weather changes, and gradually affects our lifestyles.Therefore, the environmental issues have come into sharp focus of thegovernment and environmental organizations. Through this specific research, we hope more people can take notice of this beautiful area, Gaomei Wetlands, and it can also inspire people to promote the protection of the ecology in Gaomei altogether.

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

We, the rookies who have never made a website before, had no clue how to use this software at the beginning. Thanks to the teacher’s patience and the group discussions between the members, the result could come out successfully. GaomeiWetlands is not only far away from our school, but its transportation is also not convenient. Therefore, for each time we visit, we had to made sufficient prepare before and consider the daily weather and also other trivia details. We hope we could get as much information as we can for each time we visit. We pay our gratitude to the ecology guide, Mr.???. He helped us get further understanding toward Gaomei wetlands and made a realize the importance of being ecologically-friendly.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

In this information-explosive 21stcentry, though technology is important, the protection of the environment is still a serious issue we need to focus on. To establish the website, we’ve searched for lots of information, and realize that many people, for their own convenience, damage our beautiful environment as they wish. Some people even violate the restrictions in the reserves. Because these small details could be easily neglected by most people, we wish to teach people more about the wetlands, about the environment through this opportunity.

At the very beginning of establishing a website, we had no clue about how to do it. But after the guidance of our teachers and the discussion among the group members, we gradually knew how to establish the website. We know how important “group discussing “, “teamwork”, and “making use of time” are, and learn a lot of technical skills. Thanks to this opportunity, we made our highschool life colorful and fulfilled!

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