School: WunDe Elementary School of Changhua County
    Changhua County, Taiwan, Republic of China

10 students, ages 10-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2011. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2009,2010

Classes and Teachers: Hsun-te Cho, Pao-chia Wu, Ching-i Lai,Pao-chien Tseng ,Wei-chun Chang

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.wdes.chc.edu.tw/

1. Description of Our Community

Changhua County Road No. 139 begins at Bagua Mountain Gate, past Yinhang Mountain, through the Bagua Mountain ridge lines, to Fengshan Temple in Nantou County, and finally ending at Houtanjing Leisure Area; it is 25 km long. This is the best place for riding a bicycle. Novices and everyone can hike here, because it is not steep, the road is wide, and there are not many cars; these characteristics have made it quite popular among riders. Here you can see the blooming paulownia flowers, and appreciate a snowfall of flowers in June, and can observe the Nanlu eagles soaring through the sky. You can also see the lovely scenery in the countryside, with its red bricks, old walls, farms, courtyards, and can smell the fragrance of tea and pineapples.

Riding along County Road No. 139 relaxes one’s mind, throwing one’s worries to the skies, so no wonder it can attract so many people to participate. Coinciding with the national promotion of energy saving and carbon reduction, the biking activity is doubtlessly the most suitable item for promotion. It is hoped that everyone can participate so that biking can become the sport most suited to Taiwanese people.

2. Summary of Our Project

After the Changhua County Road No. 139 was broadened, it became easier to drive on this road. A national-grade bicycle path was also established, attracting more bikers. There are large waves of bikers on the weekends, even up to a thousand. Regardless of morning or evening, or when the bright sun is directly above, you can see bikers wearing full protective gear including helmets and kneepads; men, women, young and old all ride up and down on County Road No. 139. WunDe Elementary School is located next to the national bike path - Changhua County Road 139. Every time we see bikers passing by the school or our village, we are often envious. We wonder: “When can we have the chance of roaring on the bike path?' Thus, we had an idea of visiting the neighbor of WunDe Elementary School - Merida Industry Co. in Dacun Village, Changhua County. First, team members gained more understanding of scenic spots relating to bicycles on Changhua County Road No. 139, and rode along the path for research. Then, we visited The Society of Wilderness to have an field investigation on the issues relating to green map, and interviewed Merida Co. General Manager Song-ju Tseng to understand the corporate spirit, operations and management, and product marketing issues of Merida. We also thanked them for the gracious act of providing discounts for brand new bicycles and apparel to WunDe Elementary School. Third, we interviewed and consulted Magistrate Po-yuan Cho of Changhua County to learn more about biking promotion and the planning of County Road No. 139 for recreational and tourism development. We hope that this website could correspond with the government policy and promote the county development policy.

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:4-6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The main challenge was that the activities deriving from the project content were too complicated, due to following three reasons, 1. First: Changhua County Road No. 139 Bike Path has many green scenic spots that are all quite important, and the green map seeks to discuss many complex ideas. At the same time, we seek to closely represent the scenic spots of the Changhua County Road No. 139 Bike Path and visions of the green map – this was very difficult. 2. The incorporation of Changhua County Road No. 139 with Green Map has won many pioneering contributions, and the activities extended from the Green Map are very important. 3. WunDe Elementary School Bicycle Exploration Team is active and energetic, Although we are located a rural area with limited resources, our enthusiasm is research is still high. First, we utilized the discounted bikes and accessories provided by Merida to participate in Weekend Biking Team, which was promoted by the Ministry of Education for elementary and middle schools, in order to realize the appeal of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139”. We also participated in Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt. We also visited the headquarters of Merida Industry Co. located at the foothill of Dacun Village, Changhua County, and interviewed President Song-ju Tseng. Moreover, we interviewed Magistrate Po-yuan Cho of Changhua County about the biking promotion and the planning of County Road 139 for recreation and tourism development. We held our own County Road No. 139 biking tour to present the beautiful sceneries of Bagua Mt. It was very difficult to present such diverse and rich learning activities. Nevertheless, we exerted the utmost efforts to overcome the obstacles and problems, and presented the research project to the public.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

We believe that 'There are risks and costs to a program of action; but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction..” The dream of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139” has been gradually realized in the joint efforts of the students and teachers. In the process, the society resources and the power of the public has been united to reach the goal. The team finished the project on roaring bikes, and presented a great dream for the team as well as for the earth.

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

1. The expertise of the teacher Participating in this project helps the teachers of our team to form a small scale organization of learning. Our teachers have contributed their expertise in our activities through discussing with students and coordinating the teaching of other fields. We have also acquainted ourselves with the course and techniques of this project to improve our professional knowledge and skills for engaging in relevant researches in the future. Meanwhile, when probing into this project, our teachers’ personal professional impressions and senses of responsibility has been revealed and we also have achieved our goal that the teachers and the students can profit from each other in this mutual research. 2. The learning of the students With the reform of Grade 1-9 curriculum, the education in Taiwan focuses on cultivating the ability to integrate and apply each subject. In the research process, students have reinforced their ability of integration and application, and applied it to editing webpages. The learning effects from this project will help them enhancing their interests in independent leaning in the future. 3. Concrete learning effects are indicated as showed in our website

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

The simple notebook used by the research team 1. Number of the simple notebooks: 5 (two members share one computer)

2. The portability of simple notebooks enables students to immediately discuss and record what they have learnt during the visit and preserve the learning effects faithfully and instantly.

3. The use of school notebook enables the student to surf the internet via wireless broadband and use the 3.5 G wireless NIC distributed by the country government to look up information and send e-mails online anytime, anywhere.

The well equipped computer classroom The equipments in the computer classroom:

1. Desktop computers which can connect to optical fiber internet.

2. Digital graphics boards.

3. Educational video equipments.

4. Wireless internet equipments.

Multimedia e-classroom

The equipments in the e-classroom:

1. Laptops which can connect to wireless internet

2. Digital graphics boards

3. Multimedia educational projector and video equipments

4. Wireless internet equipments

5. Electronic white-board wireless pointer

6. Wireless projector and video system

Digital environment- wireless broadband campus

The introduction of our wireless broadband campus environment:

1. The number of wireless routers: 5

2. The average distance of each wireless router is around 50 meters and three routers alone can completely cover the distance of all the classrooms and outdoor environment in our school.

3. The laptops in our school can connect to wireless broadband internet.

Digital Hard Disc Video Camera

1. The record of the discussion of team members and the visits to relevant organizations and authorities can be digitally recorded by the digital camera.

2. Recoding the contents of interviews with the bigwigs (e.g. President Sung-chu Tseng of Merida, and Magistrate Po-yuan Cho of Changhua County) to facilitate the production of interview transcripts and editing of the research website.

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

The question of 'When can we have the chance of roaring on the bike path?' inspired the students’ motivation to visit the neighbor of WunDe Elementary School - Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139. We determined our project theme, as well as the research structure. Under the trend of energy saving, carbon reduction, and environment protection, WunDe Bicycle Exploration Team fulfilled Merida’s slogan “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139”, and promoted the healthy, energetic, and environmental friendly exercise – biking. In order to grasp the meaning of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139”, the team participated the Weekend Biking Team and Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt. with the discounted Merida bikes and full sets of accessories. Led by our teachers, WunDe Bicycle Exploration Team participated in the Weekend Biking Tour and the Merida Cup & Bike Festival 2009 at Bagua Mt. The team explored the beautiful sceneries of Bagua Mt. By sharing our experiences, we hope that more people could enjoy the nature and improve health and by biking, which would in turn, promote the development of local business. Whenever WunDe Bicycle Exploration Team went, their brand new Merida bike equipment and uniforms have always drawn much attention. As global warming deteriorates, the trend of energy saving and carbon reduction becomes increasingly important. WunDe Bicycle Exploration Team aims to introduce the most environmental friendly and energetic way to be the ambassador to present the value of biking.

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

WunDe 139 Bicycle Exploration Team went on a series of activities to realize the concept of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139”. Through the tour on County Road 139, we present the diverse culture and beautiful scenery of Bagua Mt. We welcome more people to enjoy nature and improve health, while promote the development of local business. The community residents, student parents, and the public, as they are drawn by the new bikes and accessories of WunDe Bicycle Exploration Team, will give more concern to the influences of biking recreation. The participation of Merida Industry Co. and the Changhua County Government in the research project has enhanced students’ concern about biking. President Tseng of Merida mentioned that as a local business, Merida works the best to benefit the locality, such as by sponsoring and encouraging the students engaging in biking, environmental protection, exercise, and health promotion. Magistrate Po-yuan Cho also said that “Both the bicycle industry and biking recreation are our targets. Changhua now has the longest bike path in Taiwan - 263 km long, as well as a leading bicycle industry. We are now planning to build a bicycle theme park, which first phase has been completed in Bagua Mt.” The team has a unique contribution to the biking recreation.

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

The project did involve some members of our community as volunteers who provide valuable information and support including

1. Provided written and digital data of the Road 139.

2 Trained the WunDe Bicycle Exploration Team to ride the bicycle.

3. Provided seminars for Seed bicycle teachers.

4. Described Merida’s spirit of enterprise, its management, and its marketing schemes.

5.Promoted the Chunghua County Bicycle Activities and recreation and tourism planning relative to County Road No.139

6. Explained the origin, the purpose and the making methods of the Green Map.

7. Personally arranged a tour at the currently completed but yet to be open to the public National Education Radio Changhua Substation Data Center

8. Gave an ecological introduction on the grey-faced buzzard and rare birds of Bagua Mt.

The members are Governor Po-Yuan Cho

General Manager Song-ju Tseng

Ms. Wen-Chien Hsieh

Principle Jui-ju Chang

Coach Hsin-Cheng Hung

Station Manager Su-Yuan Huang

Director Shih-Chang Hung

Anchor Su-Chen Chiu

Secretary-General Ling Chang

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

If it is not for the Cyberfair project, perhaps the students are still looking at the bikers passing by the school and village on the road side of County Road 139. Because of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139”, we received new bikes and full accessories from Bicycle Green Map for the Road No. 139, and learned more about Bicycle Green Map for the Road No. 139 and the governmental policies on promoting biking recreation. The students rode bikes along the Road 139 with full enjoyment, which was a rich learning experiences. Like the principal said, “It is an experience good enough for a precious and beautiful memory.” Finding: The students and teachers together determined the theme of biking, explored the new possibilities, and found the essence of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139”. Surprise: Surprisingly, to determine a subject was not so difficult. After forming the team, setting the interview contents, continually clarifying the students’ genuine questions, and summarizing the conclusion, the proposal was almost settled. Together, we completed the healthiest, most vital, and environmental friendly project The best lesson is that “There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” The dream of “Roaming 139-Bicycle Green Map for Changhua County Road No. 139” has been realized in the joint efforts of the students and teachers. In the process, the society resources and the power of the public has been united to reach the goal. The team finished the project in their biking team. This was really that a great dream came true for the team as well as for the earth