CyberFair Project ID: 5021

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: The Deng Yun Academy
Category: 6. Historical Landmarks
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2007/gsh5021/index.htm
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2007/gsh5021/08data.htm

School: Wen Chang Elementary School
    Chaiyi county , Taiwan , Taiwan

10 students, ages 11-13 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 12, 2007. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2006

Classes and Teachers: Chiu Hui Lan, Tou Shin Shin, Huang Chia Lin

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.wcps.cyc.edu.tw/modules/news/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Hsin Kang, famous for its faith in Mazu and maltose candy, is a place of culture and arts. The local troupes of music and drama are often invited to go to America and Europe to perform. Recently, with advancement and promotion by local people, two traditional arts “colorful ceramic figurines” and “Koji ( Cochin ) pottery” have been developed and brought to full flower. Arguably, Hsin Kang is the center of Koji pottery.

Although Hsin Kang is an age-old agricultural town, the traffic is convenient and the streets are clean and neat. The vicinity of the Feng Tian Temple is one of the most bustling areas. Every year many Mazu faithfuls from Da Jia Township make a pilgrimage to Hsin Kang. Hsin Kang is, so to speak, a huge garden. Around every corner and wall, there is beautiful gardening that is pleasing to the eyes.

Due to the well-planned efforts of the Hsin Kang Foundation of Culture and Education, the dormitory of Taiwan Sugar Company has been turned into a leisure center for local residents. The work of beautifying the community has been implemented and tour guides who can explain local culture and history have been trained. Hsin Kang, a small and old town, has been reborn and has a promising future.

2. Summary of Our Project

Although a small town, Hsin Kang has many cultural and educational activities. The pilgrimage from Da Jia every year also makes Hsin Kang become a famous sight-seeing spot. With well-planned development and marketing, it has presented a variety of new aspects. When thinking about the theme of our project, we decided to choose the Deng Yun Academy because of its historical significance. The focus of our project meant inheriting the tradition and creating the vision for the future. So we were eager to go back to the site of the Deng Yun Academy to trace the meaningful evolution of our School.

The Deng Yun Academy was set up in the reign of the emperor Dao Guang of Qing. The words “Deng Yun,” literally “Ascending to Clouds Meteorically,” were used in honor of General Wang De-Lu's speedy rise in the government hierarchy. The Academy experienced two big earthquakes and its architecture suffered devastation. Only one stele of granite, decorated with two dragons, 208 cm in height and 93 cm in width, has survived.

Inside the Academy was the Wen Chang Shrine, dedicated to Confucius. In 1963, the Wen Chang Shrine ( Confucian Temple ) was formally instituted in Wen Chang Elementary School . In the center of the Shrine was the spirit-tablet of Confucius. Although the area of the Confucian Temple was only about 72 to 108 square feet, it was the first Confucian Temple on campus in Taiwan . In January 1971, the County Government set up a pavilion in Wen Chang Elementary School to commemorate the Deng Yun Academy and repaired the mini-scale Confucian Temple . Wen Chang Elementary School is the one and only school that has a Confucian Temple in it in Taiwan . More.... please link to http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2007/gsh5021/narrative-2.htm

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:less than 20

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:2-3

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

--School: There‘s one computer classroom in campus, using windows 98 system. So far the internet service is ADSL. There are two WINDOWS2003 SEVERs. Two NT SEVERs are installed anti-virus SEVER and Mail Server. Another computer adopted LINUX system as the central processing unit of the school's home page. Apart form the computer classroom, you can surf the internet in each classroom. The library and audio-visual classroom even provide wireless internet service.

--Home : Members use dial-up internet or ADSL wide-band internet. The data we found was mostly stored in discs or via emails for members to share. Later the amount of data grew too huge and pictures too many to store in discs, so the teacher open a data file at FTP Server and overcame the problem.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1. Our First Time in Undertaking a Project

We had ten members. Actually, many students in grades 5 and 6 also participated in the project. We had to stick to the schedule of the project and integrate the data and results coming from team members. It was a big task full of challenges. At the beginning, we were not very skillful at handling the data and many hours passed before we were able to file them. We were too shy to speak when interviewing someone. Fortunately, our teachers prompted us so that we would not fall into embarrassing situations. It was another challenge for us.

Although we could not do it perfectly each time, our teachers led us to review what we had done. Our reflections were written down so that we could find out our shortcomings and weaknesses and try to find ways to correct them the next time. Slowly and steadily, we made progress and became knowledgeable. We have a consensus from this experience. That is, don't be afraid to confront challenges. As long as you face unknown challenges bravely, it would mean a great advancement for you!

2. Unfamiliar with Data Handling and Web-Page Design; Much Time Needed to Explore Essential Skills by Trial and Error

A project focusing on a specific topic seemed novel to us. Unfamiliar with the skills in data filing and web-page design, we and our teachers learned by doing. We spent much time sorting out the tapes lasting many hours, having hit the tape-recorder buttons of “forward winding” and “reverse winding” many times. Our teachers learned how to use soft-wares of web-page making. The whole team worked even back at home, racing against time to learn the skills in designing web-pages.

Although we met many difficulties and challenges in undertaking the project, “two heads are better than one.” We overcame the problems though group discussions and cooperation. We had a team spirit that had a firm and solid foundation. There is a saying, “Those who walk by will certainly leave behind some footprints.” From our web-pages, you can see our sweet and beautiful achievements. More.... please link to http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2007/gsh5021/narrative-2.htm

5. Our Project Sound Bite

When we first came into contact with the news of the Cyberfair competition, we knew absolutely nothing about this activity, Before registering, our team members thought about the topic for four weeks. After registration, we proceeded by visiting others' websites on the one hand and modifying our project direction on the other. Therefore, continuous “exploration, discussion, production, and modification” was our primary research method.

In the past, when we were running and chasing on campus, we seldom took notice of the inscriptions on the steles. We didn't know that the name of the classroom building “Deng Yun Hall” came from the Deng Yun Academy . When we were attending the ceremony honoring Confucius, we did not know that the spirit-tablet of Confucius in the Wen Chang Shrine was a century-old relic. As children born in Hsin Kang Township and students studying in Wen Chang Elementary School , we are obliged to know the history that dates back to the distant past. More.... please link to http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2007/gsh5021/narrative-2.htm

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

?In this competition, we began with issues commonly raised in daily life. Within the limited time, we integrated the abilities of collecting, filing, classifying, presenting, and sharing data in cooperation. By making use of computer technological tools, we presented a precise and whole record of research results. It was, so to speak, mission impossible, yet we finally managed to make it.

?Having taken part in this competition, we are full of sweet and bitter memories of web-page making and cooperation. The most important thing is that we have the ability to undertake a project, which has fulfilled the aim of cultivating “portable abilities” in students emphasized in Grades 1 to 9 Curriculums.

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Project Elements

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

?We came to know E-learning and E-sharing. Our team members used the web-pages to present our research achievements. Though not perfect, they gave us the precious experiences of learning and sharing online. It planted the seed of “Loving Our Hometown” in our hearts. Through this project, we knew once again another facet of Wen Chang Elementary School and Hsin Kang Township , where we were born. We also began to cherish the old but precious relics and monuments.

?We learned to cooperate, face challenges, and grow through hard work. The final product online was a presentation of the team effort. We worked hard together to collect data, make visits to people and places, and devise web-pages. Although we came across some bottlenecks and difficulties, we solved them through brainstorming. Now, we are a research team with esprit de corps.

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

We took the initiative in going to historic landmarks. The landmarks were, so to speak, silent elders. They needed our deepest care and personal visits. Our team members, by going to the landmarks in person, promoted the interaction between school and community and understood and identified with the land on which we are living.

? We left messages online. Mainly, some students assumed the role of “Ambassadors” for propagating and promoting our website. Besides uploading progress reports and research results, the ambassadors were responsible for visiting other teams' websites so that different teams could encourage one another and share experiences.

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

?We came to know E-learning and E-sharing. Our team members used the web-pages to present our research achievements. Though not perfect, they gave us the precious experiences of learning and sharing online. It planted the seed of “Loving Our Hometown” in our hearts. Through this project, we knew once again another facet of Wen Chang Elementary School and Hsin Kang Township , where we were born. We also began to cherish the old but precious relics and monuments.

?We learned to cooperate, face challenges, and grow through hard work. The final product online was a presentation of the team effort. We worked hard together to collect data, make visits to people and places, and devise web-pages. Although we came across some bottlenecks and difficulties, we solved them through brainstorming. Now, we are a research team with esprit de corps.

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

please link to http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2007/gsh5021/narrative-4.htm

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

?We surfed the world-wide web and learned new experiences. Making use of computer technology, we turned words into visual images with bountiful sounds and lights so that everyone could see them. At the same time, they were a whole record of our learning experiences.

?We experienced and developed. Time's currents keep on running. The earth beneath our feet has seen many different generations. Our ancestors worked very hard to cultivate the land and educate their offspring; yet earthquakes hit mercilessly, devastating many people's beloved homesteads. It turns out that the earth beneath us tells such interesting stories, which make us identify with the land. To us, this seems a magic journey back into time and space. It makes us think deeply. While many stories have been left by our forefathers, what stories would we leave to posterity?

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