CyberFair Project ID: 1496

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: New Secret of Orange -- Chinese Chess
Category: 8. Local Music and Art Forms
URL: http://www.ck.tp.edu.tw/~cybera
Bibliography: No bibliography page cited

School: Chien Kuo Senior High School
    Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan

5 students, ages from 16 to 18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2001. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2000, 2001

Classes and Teachers: Ding-chung Wang

E-Mail contact:

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

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

As long as there are Chinese, you can see chess around. Even for those overseas Chinese, they are also familiar with the stuff. The community is not restricted to any block on the map, nor can it be found in any geographical dictionary. As long as there are Chinese, there is the community we refer to.

2. Summary of Our Project

The origin of chess is mythical. The rumor has it that the secret book of orange and the secret book of plum. Living in the era of digital speed, we can sometimes hear people sigh that there is nothing simple to believe now. However, we can sometimes glance people play the game full of Chinese flavor¡XChinese chess game. In addition to basic rules, the chess game has its own complex worth further exploration. We will visit every Chinese Chess Organization and the places where ordinary people play chess for how chess game influence our culture.

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:1

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:1

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

I. The team members did not well understand Chinese chess at the very beginning Since only Hsu Chao-Nan among the team members studied more about Chinese chess earlier, therefore, in order to conduct the topic study this time, we find many books to read, and the team members have often played Chinese chess in spare time, to improve their chess rating. II. The interview result fails to respond to what is anticipated Since we may have a generation gap with the old man generation, sometimes we do not know how to respond during conversation with them. For example, an old man does not reply us, or gives a reply not in response to our question. Then, we can only interview them in good faith slowly. III. Difficulty caused by translation After we fulfill Chinese version, we have many difficulties in changing it into English in web page. At this time, we explain our activity to our headmaster and ask for subsidy aid. Then we turn the part which is rather hard to be translated to a translation agency for disposition.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

In review of every step we walk by, we perceive some luck and unlimited gratitude. It is also hoped, through our minor effort, we can share the beauty of Chinese chess with all, to facilitate the great Chinese chess style to be spread all places in the world.

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

A topic study is a well planned, well organized topic, like a small paper. From start of planning till action in practice, all shall rely on fine thinking and arrangement, but not a random action by chance. In the program in normal time, our school provides the program of topic study. Such an activity naturally can help us to be better familiar with the planning and production of a project. This will also a major tool to develop business in the future in the future.

Next, to produce such a huge project, much time and effort shall naturally be required. If it is intended to be done by one person alone, it is just like the search for fish along a tree. We have weekly meetings, to distribute organization structure discussion, each one searching for his/her won required data, and also visiting local Chinese chess associations. After completing this project, we sufficiently develop the characteristics of group cooperation by requiring practice in organization and hierarchy. It is also because of this, that we avoid causing a difficulty of having no work to do because of too much manpower, but reach an outcome of less work yet more achievement through mutual technical support.

In addition, through the study theme this time, our team members have cultivated profound recognition and high interest about Chinese chess from being completely unfamiliar with it. We all recognize it to be a great advancement in our humanity cultivation. If talking about the efficiency of expressing topic study result in web page manner, we all agree, it indeed is a much better way than media through traditional paper. On one hand, we can freely develop our creative idea; on the other hand, it is much more convenient than the disposition of multimedia. It can be conveyed to the majority public without wasting huge amount of paper. Its transmission efficiency and scope are also far ahead other traditional media.

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Project Elements

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

First of all, certainly the computer related web equipment to computer. We use digital camera to visit and shot pictures from our interviewees and places. Library and general book stores, mainly San Min Book Store of Chungking S. Road, are key places we read general Chinese chess introduction books and chess layout schemes. We often contact with Wulumuchi of BBS site of the school through e-mail. As any contact is required while we play chess outside or in emergency case, we also use cellular phone or telephone. In interviews with Mr. Lin Chung-Kuei and Mr. Huang Chung-Kuei, we also use Hi8 retrieval card to get access to the data we need.

As to such software in the aspect of fine art as PhotoShop (Adobe matrix drawing), Illustrator (Adobe vector drawing), Flash (Macromedia web page production), Premiere (Adobe multimedia edition), etc., it is also one of our tools. Since large amount of image map is applied to our web page, we use Dreamweaver V3.0 to help us; and use pure test editor to edit the rest part. In web page, we use large amount of HTML label, CCS language and some Java-Script description language.

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

First of all, we get to visit master Lin Chung-Kuei, nicknamed as "King of Middle Gunpowder", of level 5 rating in domestic Chinese chess domain. Through his recommendation, we meet Chairman Ting of Taipei Mengchia Chinese Chess Association. It is also through the channel of these famous Chinese chess masters, we get in touch with more Chinese chess playing places where people often gather to play chess; for example: the Youth Park. In accompany with our tour like this, about this activity, we believe it will be dispersed to all corners of every level in the community. In addition, we also distributed massive e-mails to invite some fans who can play Chinese chess, or with study about web page to help our web site for evaluation and comment. In accompany with our frequent visits of instructors in many places about the development of the topic study, invisibly, our acts also have indirectly promoted and conveyed the activity of the web page fair.

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

We have visited many chess playing locations in Taipei, and engaged in interaction with the chess players at various places. We also play chess in web site with our friends of all levels. We also spend much effort in web site setup. We hope to be able to convey Chinese chess culture through network in all places. In addition, because we have often played chess in school or classroom to improve our chess skill. As a result, it leads to a genre of Chinese chess in classroom which is not what we could imagine before.

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

First of all, we have to highly appreciate Instructor Lin Chung-Kuei (level 6 rating), because he happens to be the instructor of Chinese chess to Hsu Chao-Nan, one of our team members; and he happens to live near to us. Therefore, the person providing most help to our topic study plan this time is Instructor Lin Chung-Kuei. Because Instructor Lin provided much data, so that our team members can better understand some data unable to be found in normal chess books. For example, the practical situation record and report of a certain competition, or symposium experience of some famous masters, etc. which are all very precious data. Besides, we also contacted Mr. Huang Chung-Kuei, secretary general of Mengchia Chinese Chess Association. What we appreciate Mr. Huang most is, he offers us many places where some old men or public often gather to discuss Chinese chess skill, to facilitate us to get access to general local people. By exploring the chess play styles in different places, we can also better understand the local culture features of such places.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

In the activity this time, we have much perception in team member communication, data searching process, and data arrangement and screening. Though we have worked hard, yet it is a very good practice. In particular, as we play Chinese chess everywhere at last, several times we almost get lost or take a wrong bus, yet after the completion of the activity, these events also turn to be wonderful memories.

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