1. Description of Our Community
Since Zwo Jen Man’s skull and teeth were found in Tsai Liao Brook, Nan-Yin (Tai Nan County) has thus become the origin place for research on Paleolithic Age and also is the area that the most abundant fossils were unearthed in Taiwan. Tsuo-Cen, a township known for the discovery of Cretaceous soil, has the rough geography features dry dirt and few plants. Yet its geography has preserved many fossils. It was not until Father of fossils—Mr. Chun-Mu Chen found fossils in Tsai Liao Brook during Japanese-colonial era that Taiwanese started to pay attention on fossils. Mr. Liang-Chieh Wang who works in our neighborhood (Ren Deh Township) has collected fossils during the past eleven years ever since he was obsessed by the magic power of fossils. He studied a large number of books; he also inquired of specialists and scholars until he acquired most of the knowledge about fossils and thus teaches fossils in Tai Nan Community University. Our students of Ren Deh Junior High School are lucky to have acquainted with Teacher Wang. It must have been Teacher Wang’s efforts and persistence on fossils that drive the students to study fossils. It is the young generation’s interest in fossils that research on fossils may keep on growing and flowering.
2. Summary of Our Project
The project starts with a student’s journal and then goes to the research on fossils in Nan-Yin. To meet demands on courses of the Nine-Year Educational Program, we divide the project into two parts: The first part includes academic terms and an interview of Mr. Liang-Chieh Wang—this part is rather academic; the second part includes materials of a fossil exhibition, a lecture and students’ reflections on collecting fossils—this part is rather educative. To show the originality of this project, we left second information behind and asked Mr. Chih-Peng Chen to draw animals’ skeletons, charts of geological evolution and routes of our collecting fossils. Among these original materials, there are topics about Zwo Jen Fossil Museum, life of Mr. Chun-Mu Chen, illustrations of terms, introduction of Hsinhua Hills, and records of collection. We hope this project will allow more people to know fossils and thus love our own culture and hometown.
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:4-6
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
In Taiwan, the burden on a junior high school student is always heavy. Therefore, the members taking part in the project had to study hard for their tests as well as having meetings, setting schedules and cooperating with school administrative personnel to put the project forward. Trivial things such as planning for the exhibition or promoting the camp, etc. often interrupted our work. We couldn’t make it without encouragement for each other. The project cost everyone a lot of time and it was especially tormenting when it came to setting up a website. The pressure of deadline almost drove us nuts. Thanks to Mr. Chih-Peng Chen’s help, we could have a website for this project. We are glad to see that students in the project have learned to respect and tolerate different opinions when they communicate. What inspired the whole team to spare no efforts on the project was that each of us believe what we were doing would let people in the world know Taiwan and the precious fossils on this island.
5. Our Project Sound Bite
1.Fossils enable us to relate to theory of evolution and the potential achievement of genetics. 2.Students have learned to communicate and work with others.
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
The fifth chapter of science textbook for the 7th grade is about evolution and fossils would be the best illustration for students to understand the theory. We asked Mr. Liang-Chieh Wang, a fossil specialist, to give a speech on fossils and thus gave students a general picture of what fossils are. Then, we took part of the students and their parents to Yu Jin and Zwo Jen for experiencing collecting fossils. Later, students had to hand in their worksheets and reflections. Besides, our school (Ren Deh Junior High School) also conducted a fossil exhibition. It gave all the students a chance to touch fossils and to experience the attraction of fossils. All students coming to the exhibition had to hand in worksheets and reflections as well so as to learn the topic—fossils well.
|