CyberFair Project ID: 5040

Close this Window

NOTE: Due to URL changes, some links may no longer be valid.

International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Huangyuan Shehuo
Category: 8. Local Music and Art Forms
URL: http://www.yellowsheepriver.com/~qh000003/2007/index.html
Bibliography: http://www.yellowsheepriver.com/~qh000003/2007/eng/review/narrw3.php

School: Huangyuan Third Middle School
    Xining, Qinghai, China

6 students, ages 14-18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 3, 2007. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): No

Classes and Teachers: Fu Ming-xiang, Qi Hai-yan

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://qh000003.edu.17888.com

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Huanyuan County is located at the joint of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Huangtu Plateau, where is the military defense of Tibet and west Qinghai Province. It's 48km away from Xining-the capital of province. The traffic is very convenient, with Qinghai-Tibet railway, No 109, No 305 state high way run through our county. Huangyuan County's economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Our county is wealthy in water resources, with 86 rivers and 12 hydroelectric power stations inside. The average flow of Huangshui River is 4.99 m3/s. There are many sightseeing spots, such as Xishixia Valley, Riyue Mount, Chenghuang Temple, Zhazang Monastery and etc.

2. Summary of Our Project

As a folk culture of Huangyuan County, Shehuo has a long history and benefits from songs and dances of other folk performance. It's an entertainment performed in Spring Festival in lunar calendar. Our project is to study the origin, roles, songs, musical instruments, and the future of Shehuo. In the research, We have acknowledged the importance of teamwork in addition to improvement on making website. At the same time, colleagues from Town and Talent Co., Ltd have given us a lot of support and help. And our main purpose is to make more people know about the ancient folk culture.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:none

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:1

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dial-up modem

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:2-3

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

We only have one computer having access to internet with the dial modem at the speed around 4k and our team members don't have computer at home.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

This is our first time to take part in such an international competition-Cyber Fair. At the beginning, we don't know how to choose a subject, because there are eight categories. After discussion, we choose historical landmark. Next, we assign tasks to individual, some is in charge of taking photos, some collects materials, some classifies information and etc. Everyday, they sort and type materials in the computer classroom in the noon, when other students are playing on playground. After one month preparation, we begin to design web pages.we input our collecting material and framework of website on internet and transmit to Miss He(a staff in Town and Talent Technologies), who agree with our view point. However, the material about scenery of Huangyuan County is too diverse, without focus. We are suggested to pay attention on one aspect-Shehuo. Then, we reassign task on individual and finish material collection in one month. In the process of making web pages, we have learned a lot beyond textbooks.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

We have got a better knowledge of Shehuo's history. The activity has enhanced our teamwork spirit and improved our communicating and interpersonal abilities. We have learnt a lot about communication with others. Although the process of research is harsh, we know that there is no harvest without sowing. The sweet fruit comes only with hard work. We have also gained the valuable experiences of interacting with others; this ability will be a long-life benefit for us. By working together on the project, we have a fresh knowledge about ourselves. We not only see the merits of others, but also realize the strength of ourselves. With a common goal, we learn to 'respect, communicate, be considerate and understanding', and we come to understand the meaning of 'humility, contribution, agreeableness and gratefulness.'

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

The activity involves literature, history, geography, computer, art and culture. We have learned many things that are not in the text books. We break out of the classroom, and learn from the real-life environment and experiences and from various experts in history and culture. Through this research project, we have learnt how to search for information, how to conduct an interview, how to organize information. These abilities will become our life-long assets. From research on Shehuo, we have broadened our mind and learned knowledge beyond textbooks ,as well as realized the importance of protecting folk culture. In modern society, folk culture is easily to be forgotten. So we need to organize all people to protect it and pass it on.

Top
Project Elements

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

(1) Hardware facilities: computer, digital camera, recorder, scanner, flash disk, scanner. (2) Computer software: Dreamweaver for webpage editing, PhotoImpact for graphic processing, Microsoft Word for textual information editing, Outlook Express for receiving and sending mails, Internet Explorer for browsing website, ACDSee for image browsing, CuteFTP for transmitting information. (3) Internet: E-mail, message board, FTP server,dial-up modem

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

We consider it our responsibility to make the public understanding the 'history of Shehuo', thus we should play the role of 'community ambassadors' and reveal this history to others. We have tried to tell others what we know and introduced it to school mates and villagers. We are fully confident that our work, when finished, would be the most exhaustive online resource on ¡°Shehuo¡± at the moment.In the process of research, we have felt the public's concern about the future development of Shehuo.Protection of cultural assets has become the most concerned issue in the past decade. We hope that our project would not only deepen the public's knowledge of folk culture, but also arouse their recognition and passion for cultural assets.

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

In the process of research, we have felt the public's concern about the future development of Shehuo. In the past, this folk culture was considered to be superstition, which was requested to have no access to students and teachers. When hearing of our participating in the Cyber Fair, the local villagers introduce the history of Shehuo to us voluntarily. At the same time, we told them this art has belonged to intangible cultural heritage, which refers to cultural heritage passed over generations by oral form, including language, literature, music, dance, games, mythology, rituals, customs, handicrafts, architecture and the arts. Shehuo reflects the social customs of agricultural society, which is called “national cultural memory”. After our introduction, villagers actively participated in the performance of Shehuo. The organizers of Shehuo are very proud of it, because they make contribution to the protection and development of folk art. After our interview, the number of actors and actresses of Shehuo in Shenzhong Village amounts to 496 this year, while in the last year, the number was 300. In our school, the number of students participating in Shehuo in last year is 80, while the number increase to 193 this year.

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

After setting the subject, we feel great pressure, because we don’t where to start. Then, we interview the organizers of Shehuo, collect and record material from their intoruction. For example, Mr. Wu Sheng-long in Shenzhong Village, waited for us in front of the village, guided us to visit the temple, introduced the stage property of Shehuo and invited us to rest at his home. Referred to the future of Shehuo, he was quite worried about it. There are many other people telling us stories about Shehuo. Thanks to their help. We can finish our website successfully.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

As this is the first time to participate in the Cyber Fair, we feel both nervous and excited. At first, we don’t know where to start after setting our subject. Our topic is too broad. We communicate with Ms. He Xiao-song, the staff in Town and Talent Technologies, who offers much suggestion to our website. In our research, we gradually get to know this folk art- Shehuo, which is so close with our daily life. We pay much attention on this intangible cultural heritage and share our knowledge with our schoolmates. In web page making, our computer skills improve a lot. We learn to use digital camera, and how to possess pictures. What’ more important, we get to know the importance of teamwork. Although we meet much difficulty in interviewing, such as incorporation of interviewees, we overcome by our passion and sincerity. We have got a better knowledge of Shehuo’s history and learn much from local folk artists. The activity has enhanced our teamwork spirit and improved our communicating and interpersonal abilities. we know that there is no harvest without sowing. The sweet fruit comes only with hard work. We have also gained the valuable experiences of interacting with others; this ability will be a long-life benefit for us.

Top

View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 5040)

Close this Window