CyberFair Project ID: 7176

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Lanterns in Changhua, accomplishment in the festival
Category: 5. Local Attractions (Natural and Man-Made)
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7176/index.htm
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7176/biblio.htm

School: Changhua County Nanguo Elementary School
    Changhua, , Taiwan

6 students, ages 10-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 12, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2011

Classes and Teachers: Yu-yu Chen, Chia-min Wu, Li-hua Lung, Chiu-mien Huang

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.nges.chc.edu.tw

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

1. Background of Nanguo Elementary School Nanguo Elementary School was founded over 90 years ago during the Japanese Occupation Period. Located in Changhua City, Changhua County, the school is surrounded by government agencies, colleges and universities and medical institutions. Nanguo Elementary School has a tradition of simplicity and honesty, as well as a philosophy of innovations and diversity. We interact frequently with community residents and neighboring schools so that we are endowed with extensive community resources and diversified human resources. We therefore want to identify a research topic from our community life.

2. About Lukang 'Tainan as number one city, followed by Lukang and Monga': in early history of Taiwan, Lukang played significant role. In Lukang Township of modern time, the ancestors’ past lives are demonstrated by rich historic relics and the prominent craftsmen show the beauty of traditional art. Through lantern festival in Lukang, we appreciate the works and spirit of the lantern masters in Lukang, recognize the passion and toughness of residents in Lukang and approach the unfading historic relics and new lives in Lukang.

2. Summary of Our Project

The activity allows us to learn the origin of Taiwan Lantern Festival and planning process. By the interview, we recognize the internal planning and work division in lantern festival and learn the procedure of public bidding held by the government. We reorganize the key points of lantern festival, interview the teachers and students to make the lanterns and learn the methods, process and key points to produce the lanterns as well as the points for attention. By distributing the questionnaires, we realize the difference to sell different products and the business opportunities perceived by the stores in Taiwan Lantern Festival. We make the environmental lanterns, carry lanterns in Dingfan, collect the related pictures in lantern festival and reorganize the introduction related to the festival.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:less than 20

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:4-6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1.There are few data related to “Taiwan Lantern Festival”. Solutions: When searching for the information, we do not necessarily use the term “Taiwan Lantern Festival” and the key words such as “lantern” or “Lantern Festival” can be used in order to acquire varied and rich data. 2.We are sometimes refused in questionnaire distribution. Solutions: (1) We distribute the questionnaires at the proper time. (2) In the chain stores, it is easier to ask the chiefs since the employees are busy with the work. 3.It is not easy to reorganize the great amount of data. Solutions: (1) We listen to the sound recording or videos repeatedly. (2) We discuss with the members to find the common method or explanation. 4.It is not easy to produce the environmental lanterns which are both environmental and beautiful. Solutions: (1) Learning from others’ works. (2) Trying the works, remaking the failed ones and beautifying the successful ones.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

In the Cyberfair project, we share the research findings with others. Through the activity, we realize that before the research, we should establish the research framework, collect related information and reorganize the data efficiently and precisely. In order to acquire varied and rich information, we must turn our questions into the questionnaire and interview the workers related to lantern festival; we demonstrate the opinions suggested by the stores regarding the lantern festival in the questionnaire. In the process, we should learn to design the questionnaire and be careful about the wording. From the beginning to the end of the activity, we learn rich skills and knowledge. We hope that the visitors can learn lantern festival in Taiwan through our homepage and experience the beauty of Lukang. Finally, we invite everyone to visit Changhua and recognize the beauty of Taiwan by following our steps.

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

Language 1. Rationally communicate with others when they have different opinions. 2. Use the language with precise terms, definite meanings, concrete content and specific topics. 3. Write down the people and things in the surrounding by short articles. Mathematics 1. Calculate and distribute the percentages to decide the number of questionnaires distributed. 2. Learn descriptive statistics and use the appropriate statistical chart according to statistical data. Society 1. Measure the distance, read the map and draw simple map by symbols. 2. Realize that the formation of the villages is to meet the human beings’ needs of group life. 3. Realize the regional difference of the types of living space. 4. Learn the history of human environment and economic activities of the residential place. 5. Learn the historic relics or discovery in the residential place and appreciate the beauty of local custom. 6. Share the similarity and difference between our opinions and those of other individuals, groups and media. 7. Fulfill the rights and obligation in the individual groups. Art and humanity 1. Participate in art creation and record the acquired knowledge, characteristics of techniques and feelings by personal symbols. 2. Try to have art creation by work division, planning and cooperation with the classmates. 3. Collect the artistic data related to local relics, traditional art and living art and try to explain the characteristics and background. General activities 1. Learn to cooperate and help each other in the group to have efficient activity. 2. In group activity, we learn to express ourselves and communicate with others properly. Information education 1. Learn the basic knowledge and skills of information and internet technology. 2. Expand and accumulate the experience of using varied kinds of information equipment.

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Project Elements

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

Hardware 1.PC/laptops 2.Printers 3.Photocopying machines 4.Digital cameras 5.Digital video cameras 6.Projectors 7.Scanners 8.Memory sticks Software 1.Office 2007 2.Internet Explorer 3.Windows Movie Maker 4.Google Earth 5.MS Paint/photo impact 6.I-software 7.Cyberlink Power Directors 8.Dreamweaver

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

(1) Communication by telephone: By telephone, we communicated with Department of City and Tourism, Changhua County Government, regarding the project research, research purpose and our sincerity. The type and date of the interview were set. (2) Interview with the subjects: In order to probe into the planning of lantern festival, we divided the subjects of the interview into the organizer, schools and local residents to learn the opinions of different subjects toward lantern festival. (3) Field study: In order to approach Lukang and lantern festival, we had extracurricular learning in Lukang and participated in lantern festival in order to recognize the humanity in Lukang and actual situation of lantern festival. (4) Construction of website: On the homepage, we showed the planning and actual situation of lantern festival and the opinions of the related personnel. Besides, through internet, we intended to introduce the beauty of Lukang and lantern festival in Taiwan to more people. (5) Dialogue and interaction: In field study, we always met friendly residents who supported or helped us in the process. Besides, we met the foreign friends, such as the tour group from Beijing and the performance group from Japan. We realized the charm of Taiwan to the world.

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

By this project research, we had the opportunity to probe into the “society”. In our surrounding, there are things related to our research and it will rely on our discovery and discussion. It is not easy to hold lantern festivals which require great amount of funds. Besides, manpower and facilities are also needed. For us, lantern festival originally was the opportunity to see many lanterns. After participating in the project research, we find that lantern festival becomes an activity with knowledge and meaning. In the interview, we listened to the opinions of the local stores and realized that the stores expected the proper governmental policies. Thus, when planning the activities, the government should treat the people’s opinions as the priority. We appreciate the opinion sharing of the local stores.

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

Teachers: 1.Holding group meetings. 2.Instruction of research method and information related equipment. 3.Analysis of research data and monitoring of research progress. 4. 4.Instruction and review of homepage. 5.Setting of name and plan of the project Contacting with the related units for the visits. 6.Review and revision of wording on homepage. 7.Assistance with lantern activity in Dingfan Community. 8.Assistance with filed study of lantern festival. 9.Assistance with the planning of interview.

Department of City and Tourism: 1.Assistance with the planning of interview. 2.Offering of related data. 3.Consultation of the plan.

Stores and residents in Lukang 1.Assistance with questionnaire survey 2.Assistance with field study

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

At the beginning, we realized that Cyberfair project was not as simple as expected. In the past few months, I was used to figuring out the solutions. I found the necessity to record the learning in the interview or after visiting the lantern festival. It was to train our generalization capability. When visiting the lantern festival, I found the garbage everywhere. There were the international parades on the day. It was a shame for the foreigners. Surprisingly, in the lantern festival, the whole area of Lukang was enclosed and the scale was large. The lanterns displayed were impressive. The forms and meanings of nine dragons in Chung Shan Zone were different and it showed the organizer’s devotion and creativity!

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 7176)

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