School: Taipei Municipal Jiuzhuang Elementary School
    Taipei, , Taiwan

5 students, ages 12-13 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 10, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2007,2008,2009

Classes and Teachers: Chen Yi-Hsin

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.zzes.tp.edu.tw/

1. Description of Our Community

Our school is located in Nangang District of Taipei City. Nearby the school is Mt. Dakeng of Nangang District. Some of us are from this area. However, not many teachers and students knew Dakeng of Nangang District is the place of origin of Taiwanese Pouchong tea. The techniques used to process the well-known Wenshan Pouchong tea now were learnt from Nangang. When Nangang Pouchong tea was at its prime, tea masters from all over Taiwan had to come to Nangang to learn Nangang’s tea processing techniques. However, as time passed by, people have forgotten about this fact. It is hoped that, by introducing the story regarding the place of origin of Nangang Pouchong tea, more people would know about the treasure hidden in this tea mountain.

2. Summary of Our Project

Dakeng of Nangang District, Taipei City, is also called Lake Benji. It is the place of origin of Pouchong tea. Pouchong tea we know nowadays was moved from Nangang District to Wenshan District. The majority of tea growers in Shenkeng, Shiding, Pinglin and Xindian plant tea trees that are used to produce Pouchong tea, which is called Wenshan Pouchong tea. Little did anyone know, Nangang produced the most well-known Pouchong tea, which used to be exported to Thailand and Vietnam in the old days. Back then Wenshan Pouchong tea had to be marked as “Nangang Pouchong tea” to be sold at a better price. No one knew that after Nangang Pouchong tea went in decline and Wenshan Pouchong tea was made more popular, people would forget Nangang is the true place of origin of Pouchong tea. It is hoped that this project can wake up people’s memory.

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):

The school’s Internet speed is 100Mb AON/PON and is connect to Taipei City Network Center.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

•We did not have enough knowledge regarding tea and could not consume all the information-- It was lucky our teacher guided us from aside and helped us clarify the information from the books.

•We were unfamiliar with the computer programs and needed to start learning again--There were a few programs that we had never used before, including programs for video editing and web page making, thus we had to learn how to use them from the very beginning.

•The time was short and we also had our school work to take care of--Although we had been planning this for a long time, we only started the whole process in January. With the time pressure, everything we did must be very efficient. The reason for carrying on the work is that we all had the same goal, which is to complete this project.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

“Where there is a will, there is a way. Never give up!” Despite the insufficient time, if we have the heart to complete the job, there will be people who will help us. The most important thing is not to give up first. It is like Nangang Pouchong tea, although it was in decline for some time, with the promotion by people with good intention, it has the chance to be popular again.

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

Our project integrate to the Grade 1-9 Curriculum. We have improved in the following realms,including Language, Social Studies, Science & Technology, Art & Humanities, Synthetic Activities. About language realm: Editing the text for use on the website, we have gradually developed the skills to independently write a complete explanatory note. About Social Studies: Through research we get to Understand the history of Nangang Pouchong tea. About Science & Technology: We observed the appearance of Nangang Pouchong tea. About Art & Humanities: We did the photo and video editing ourselves and created the content of the vedio of tea seed oil noodles. About Synthetic Activities: we have learned the importance of preparation, sharing of information and respect for other’s opinions. Also, we developed our sense of responsibility.

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

The technological hardware we used included, computer, digital camera, video camera, recording pen, USB disk. Also we used computer software to help us to do our project including, Microsoft word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Windows Media Player, Presto! Print Magic, Namo,Micromedia Flash, Swishmax, PhotoImpact, Paint, PhotoCap, Internet. In completeing the project, we used email the most. Through emailing, we communicated with each others frequently, integrated each others’ parts of work and even encourged each others to keep going on. There were a few programs that we had never used before, including programs for video editing and web page making, thus we had to learn how to use them from the very beginning.It was hard in the first, however the students learned fast and practiced a lot so some of the students even became good at some programs in the end.

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

After knowing our project was about Nangang Pouchong tea, our school’s volunteer Ms. Que Shu-Hui helped us contacting tea growers in Nangang District and people in Nangang Farmers’ Association. After close communication with the interviewees done by our teacher via telephone and E-mail, we received great help from them. Not only they answered our questions regarding Nangang Pouchong tea, they also offered us great kind help. For instance, Mr. Yang knew buses don’t come very often in the mountainous area so he drove us down the mountain. He also asked us if we needed any other book information without us asking him. Moreover, the chairman, director-general and staffs of the Farmers’ Association provided a lot of resources regarding Nangang Farmers’ Association for us to use for free. We often returned fully loaded after visiting them. They approved our project and hoped more people would understand the history and characteristics of Nangang Pouchong tea from our project.

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

This project allowed us to understand the place we grew up in since childhood in fact has a glorious history about Nangang Pouchong tea. We are all very honored. We are also surprised that we, local residents from Jiuzhuang of Nangang District, knew nothing about the history and that we did not even know how to brew tea. It is hoped that the website can help students and underclassmen of Jiuzhuang Elementary School, situated at the foot of Cha Shan in Nangang District, to have an initial understanding about Nangang Pouchong tea. Maybe the school will consider to let students of Jiuzhuang Elementary School have tea culture literacy so the precious resources would not be wasted.

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

It is thanks to so many people’s effort that we can complete the project. First, we would like to thank our interviewees, Mr. Chen Tian-Jin and Mr. Yang Chih-Tsung, for their share knowledge of Nangang Pouchoung Tea. Also, the Nangang District Farmers’ Association gave us so many help in offering pictures and information about Nangang Pouchoung Tea. In addition, We would like to thank the cultural and history workers, Mr. Chiu Tien-Lu and Mr. Wei Cheng, in our community for their provision of some precious pictures and books. The last but not the least, the teachers in our school, including the Principal, the Director of Academic Affairs Office, the Director of General Affairs Office, Ms. Chen Jung-Chuan and Ms. Liu Yi, they all gave us big support and a great deal of encouragement. We all feel deeply appreciate of their help.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We found we have learnt a lot. Not only we have learnt tea knowledge, we have also learnt how to overcome our fear intangibly to conduct interview and report in front of people. Through one interview after another, we understood how to talk with people politely. Although the time was short and we had learnt our lesson that we should have started preparing early next time, with each other’s close teamwork, we still completed the impossible mission. We are surprised at human’s unlimited potential and the power of teamwork.