School: Jinou Girls High School
    Taipei, Taipei, ROC

10 students, ages 17-18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 2, 2010. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): No

Classes and Teachers: sallywei

E-Mail contact:

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

1. Description of Our Community

Our community is located in Taipei City. The north edge of Taipei Basin is the well-known Yangmingshan National Park, covering an area of about 11,455 hectares. Taipei basin is rich in topography, landscape, history, culture, and animal and plant ecology. On the north side of Taipei basin consists of Taipei City districts such as Shihlin and Beitou, and many township of Taipei County, such as Tamshui, Sanchi, Shimen, Jinshan, and Wanli.

2. Summary of Our Project

Our project is to present the last virgin land in the Yangminshan National Park - Tiansi Park. It was illegally occupied for commercial use as a restaurant for many years. In 1997, Yangmingshan National Park Administration Office took the authority over the land use management. In order for the park's ecological recovery, the area was closed for reservation for 10 years. It reopened in May 2007 to the public. The topic of our project is 'The Disappearance of the Ancient Paradise—The Breath of Forest - Tiansi Park”, which addresses animal and plant ecology and the natural landscape.

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:more than 6

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

(1) School’s internet connection: Our school provides T1 Internet connection. We used the computers in the computer room to search information and print out documents. (2) Individual team member’s internet connection: Everyone in our team has a PC at home, most using ADSL connection. We also used MSN and email to communicate and send information after school.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

(1) Lack of knowledge of plant: Tiansi Park locates in an area of the subtropical broad-leaved forest ecosystem which sets a comprehensive expression of tropical, subtropical, temperate representation in a compressed ecosystem. During the research process, we had to interview the park guides, and searched information online as we realized that all of us had little knowledge about plants. (2) Lack of time for discussion and research: Being high school students in the last year with heavy course load, we could only use our spare time after school to have discussion. Fortunately, our team members cooperated and collaborated to make every effort to minimize the negative impacts during the process, so that the research project produced great results. (3) Lack of experience in website production: This is our first time to participate in the CyberFair Project. We did not have any prior experience in website production. Whenever we met obstacles, we worked our best to find someone who was able to consult. There was much joy and setbacks during the research process. (4) Time limitation for interview: We confronted many restrictions in our interviews regarding this research project. The main challenge was the schedule to visit Tiansi Park, which only opens to 20 every morning and afternoon. Moreover, it is also closed in January, February, and other holidays.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Natural environment is God’s most precious gift given to us: Tiansi Park is the most precious gift given from heaven. The entire park is a treasury of forest, such as waterfalls and rare stones. We should cherish the natural environment, not to destroy it.

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

(1) A painstaking process behind admiration: We explored many ways of dealing with problems, and improved our communication skills. Although it was hard work during the research process, it bore sweet fruits. We understood that there is no 'something for nothing'. (2) Trust and better communication learned from the team work: There is always a price for growth. We learned respect, ways of communication, tolerance and forgivingness under the same goal. We also understood the meaning of forbearance, contribution, understanding, and thanksgiving.

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

(1) Hardware equipment: computers, digital cameras, digital voice recorders, tape recorders, scanners, printers. (2) Computer Software: Dreamweaver for webpage editing, PhotoImpact for image-processing, Microsoft Word for text editing, Ulead GIF Animator 5 for animation software, Outlook Express for sending and receiving emails, Internet Explorer for web browser, ACDSee for image browsing, CuteFtp for information transfer (3) Internet: Instant Messenger, e-mail, message boards, FTP Server, ADSL broadband Internet, network hard drive.

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

(1) A role of community ambassador: We as community ambassadors would like to introduce Tiansi Park to more people, and let them know more about this ancient forest. (2) Establishment of local research websites: We posted our entire research project on website, not only for educational material of local interest, but also for the community to have a deeper understanding of the local sources through the Internet.

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

(1) School’s local education sources: The goal of local education of our school is to combine with the surrounding geographical environment, so that students understand and feel close to the land where we live. In the school library, there are many books about the Yangmingshan National Park for students. (2) Learning outside of the classroom: We found many differences between learning in the classroom and out of the classroom. Through the thematic studies, we learned how to collect information, how to communicate with others, and how to manage data. These skills and experience would certainly be our own and become our lifelong skills. (3) Working with professional guides: We interviewed a volunteer group of professional guides working for Tiansi Park whose contribution made our research even richer. (4) The valuable research process: To complete the work by a team’s effort is our new experience. We never thought that we could complete such a large project, including research and website design. It is a very valuable learning experience.

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

(1) A better understanding about Tiansi Park: After the thematic research, we know much better about Tiansi Park in terms of geography, landscape and flora and fauna (local, timely plant and animal ecology). We believe that “The Breath of Forest - Tiansi Park” will become an important resource of web searching. (2) Promoting the importance of cultural assets: During the research process, we felt that the voluntary guides of the park deeply concerned about the Tiansi Park development in the future. Hopefully, the research project would let more people to learn about Tiansi Park in terms of geography, landscape and flora and fauna; moreover, it may draw further attention to the importance of geographical assets and feelings about the locality. (3) To share the enthusiasm and build self-confidence: We held strong passion and confidence toward our research project. After the research project was finished, we had established a very good relationship through interaction with the community.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

(1) Findings: We realized the preciousness of this ancient paradise after we visited Tiansi Park. (2) Lessons: During the research process, we encountered hardship to cooperate each other. We learn to have mutual understanding and encourage each other; only through sincere communication and bearing responsibility could we complete the project. (3) Surprises: All guide of Tiansi Park held strong enthusiasm for the nature and humanities, and generously shared their knowledge with us. After their detail explanation, we were so touched as well as enlightened in a deeper sense.