CyberFair Project ID: 7205

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: The Beauty of Doushan Shrine
Category: 6. Historical Landmarks
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7205/
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7205/eng%20%20doushan/narrative.htm

School: Nan Ya Elementary School
    Shetou Township, Changhua County, Taiwan

9 students, ages 12-13 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 14, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2006

Classes and Teachers: Jia-hsiang Hsiao, Hsin-wu Hsu, Yu-chun Yen

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Doushan Shrine is located in Beidou Village, Shetou Township, Changhua County. Shetou Township is at the southeast of Changhua County. The township connects with Nantou County by the east side of Bagua Tableland; Yuanlin Township is to the north of the township, Yungching Township and Tianwei Township are to the west and Tianchung Township is to the south. The altitude of the township is 30-430 meters. The township is divided into two geographic areas. The east is the west foot of mountain of Bagua Tableland and the west is part of the area of Changhua Plain. The east of the township is Bagua Tableland. Because of the intense summer rain, there are consequent valleys on the west foot of the mountain and varied sizes of alluvial fans. The central part of alluvial fan is the highest and two sides of the fans are lower. County Expressway No. 137 is constructed along the foot of mountain. It rises and falls because of crossing several alluvial fans. The sections in Shanhu Village, Chingshui Village, and Beidou Village are the most significant. Natural ponds and springs usually appear in some areas at the altitude of 50 meter. They are mostly in Chaohsing Village. Before the development, the groundwater level of Shetou Township was high. Ponds, canals and swamps were everywhere. It is demonstrated by the old place names in Shetou Township, such as Dayuchi, Shantiantze, Neihu, Hsiatiantse, Nantze, Nandi, Yuliaotze, Yuliaotze, Beidou, Yamunan, etc.

2. Summary of Our Project

Doushan Shrine is an attractive building, the ancestral shrine of Doushan of the Hsiao. It is spectacular, approachable and sophisticated and functions as culture education and art sharing. With agreement and assistance of Teacher Rui-lu Hsiao, current secretary of Doushan Shrine, the school was provided with precious data and pictures. Through Cyberfair project and by the assistance of principal, director, teachers and volunteer parents, the members of “The Beauty of Doushan” reorganized “Doushan Shrine”, explored the history, building structure, artistic characteristics and educational functions, conducted interview and research, produced the homepage and preserved the precious record for the community. Thus, people will approach the historic relics.

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:2-3

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 group research and production of homepage, we used the facilities and internet in computer classroom of Nan Ya Elementary School. In the school, the internet connection is by fiber and the speed is about 10MB. The members access the internet at home by ADSL. We recognize data needed by searching for and passing the research information. The school provides homepages for each participant to keep the works.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

(1) Time limit: Nine members were from five classes of grade 5 and 6. We could only use the lunch break. The members included the little angels of lower grades, school band members and piquet. They had to sometimes participate in the class teachers’ activities. Thus, there was time limit in the research.(2) Lack of the research experience: All members have never done the related study and never interviewed people. We did not know how to write the report. What should we do in the research? At the beginning, we have all kinds of questions!

5. Our Project Sound Bite

In more than two months, we left the classroom and approached the community. In the visit, we discovered the beauty and implication of the historic relics in the hometown and realized that the Hsiao descendants were devoted only to be grateful for the ancestors, enhance relatives’ cohesion and contribute the next generation, society and country. We were moved by their spirit. In the research, we probed into the ancestors’ early hard work in Taiwan and approached our hometown. We loved the hometown more and became grateful. Finally, we appreciate all who have helped us.

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

Grade 1-9 Curriculum promotes the care for the community and actively introduces homeland teaching materials. The building of Doushan Shrine in Beidou Community near the school is magnificent and on holidays, many visitors come to visit the spatial yard and attractive sights. Therefore, we decided to treat Doushan Shrine as the topic and the students could thus leave the classroom, approach the community and learn the historic building, culture and art. The Cyberfair project was started by the teacher’s guidance. The students then continued and actively explored and studied the project. By team work, we realized the background of Doushan Shrine and learned the method of interview, research process, practiced communication skills and advanced the capabilities of technology and information.

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Project Elements

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

Technologies used: Telephones, cellular phones: Contact with the subjects. Video and digital still cameras: Record of the interview by videos. Recorder: Support for the record of interview. Library: Collection of books and briefing and the place for meeting. Computer laboratory: We could produce the homepage and searched for information by computer and internet. Types of computer software. Namo WebEditor 5.5: Production of homepage. Microsoft Word: Reorganization of interview and editing of content of homepage. Dreamweaver-MX: Production of homepage. Books, newspapers and magazines: Before the research, we could first learn the environment of community and the stories of characters. They enhanced and supplemented our interview and report. Scanner, printer, photocopier: The images were managed by the scanner. The data were printed out by printer and data were copied by photocopier to be read. Doushan Shrine Administrative Committee: It provided us the precious historic documents and picture to enhance the completeness of the report.

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

Telephone:By telephone, we contacted with the director, secretary, manager and relatives of Doushan Shrine and the people, introduced the research content and invited them to receive the interview. Personal interview:In the interview, we first introduced the aims of Cyberfair and the research content so that the related people would recognize the meaning of the research. E-mail: Contact with the members and teachers through e-mails and send the homepage to our classmates and teachers. Art learning:By sketching, we significantly interpreted the appearance of Doushan Shrine. Internet: After the study, all members promote “The Beauty of Doushan” on the website Cyberfair in order to introduce the artistic building, Doushan Shrine, of the township by the far-reaching internet.

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

(1) For the members: We are familiar with the hometown where we grow, have activities and play games. However, by the sketching, continuous interview, study and information searching, we realize that we have the attractive historic buildings, culture, art and ancestral shrine in the hometown. We will construct the homepage and preserve the data in order to introduce the beautiful hometown to more people.(2) For the school and local community: By the interview and study, the teacher and members construct the homepage of Doushan Shrine. With the assistance of the people in Doushan Shrine Administrative Committee, the relationship between the community and the school is enhanced. In the interview, we have in-depth report of the historic building of Doushan Shrine and the precious data are preserved. In homeland education, the school can treat the homepage as the introduction and have field instruction in the community. It will effectively enhance the learning regarding the community and Doushan Shrine.

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

The online introduction of the grandeur and approachability of Doushan Shrine can function as the criterion for the community residents who are interested in historic building. Besides, the visitors of Doushan Shrine usually cannot approach the culture. They can thus read the introduction on the homepage first to recognize the beauty of art and the implication of historic building. By the interview and study, the teacher and members construct the homepage of Doushan Shrine. With the assistance of the people in Doushan Shrine Administrative Committee, the relationship between the community and the school is enhanced. In the interview, we have in-depth report of the historic building of Doushan Shrine and the precious data are preserved. In homeland education, the school can treat the homepage as the introduction and have field instruction in the community. It will effectively enhance the learning regarding the community and Doushan Shrine.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Discoveries: We tend to neglect the important treasure around us. We grow in the hometowns; however, we have little ideas about them. In this study, we learn to approach a clan and probe into it. By fully using the local resources, we try to find the answers. We discover the historic buildings and relics in the hometown and are moved by the enthusiastic relatives who are totally devoted to the ancestral shrine.Lessons: in the research, we produce the reports in turn and realize that we did not immediately record and review the data of visit. We are confused and have to spend more time managing it. It demonstrates the importance of “Don’t put off till tomorrow what should be done today” and we should remember the lesion.Surprises: in the past, we always thought that our hometown was inferior to the cities. After participating in this study, we discover the attractive sights and building in the hometown. With the guidance of the teachers and volunteer parents, we are thrilled and approach and love the hometown. What surprise us is that we finish the research. It should be attributed to the cooperation of the members, the assistance of local people and the teachers’ guidance. It will be the most unforgettable and precious memory.

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