1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
School facilities we employed included 10 Desktop Computers, 1 Notebook Computer, 2 telephones, 2 cameras, 1 recorder, and 1 scanner. The members’ personal devices were 5 mobile phones, 1 cameras and 5 Desktop Computers. We applied these devices to the contact before interview, photo and recording in the interview, scan of the members’ hand drawing and photos of all sites. By computers and Notebook Computers, we reorganized research data and made web page of Cyberfair project. By Photoscape, Photoimpact, Microsoft Word and Dreamweaver, data were reorganized. During the period of Cyberfair project, we have visited the library and township office of Fangyuan Township and conducted numerous interviews. The cameras allowed us to record each interview. The attractive landscapes and characteristics of Fangyuan were the most important tools. The interviews were the most precious since we could directly perceive everyone’s strong affection and value of Fangyuan and they provided us with critical historical data.
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
In Cyberfair project, we contacted all people in the community personally. We walked everywhere in the community and invited all oyster farmers and residents we encountered to participate in the interview. We told the grandparents that we would introduce the beauty of Fangyuan to others. In the visits, since almost all oyster farmers were local grand elderly and some classmates could not speak Taiwanese fluently, the community was difficult. As to the photos, the grandparents were lovely and they were too shy to be taken by photos. We kept encouraging them and finally they were willing to take the pictures. It was rather to listen to the precious memory in life recalled by the grandparents than an interview. When visiting the trip of sea cattle courier station, we obtained the experience of the tour freely and the first-hand experience from the tourists. After sharing the research of Cyberfair project in Changhua Fisheries Association, we were invited to perform in ecological experience activity of southwest corner of Changhua Fisheries Association. The content of performance included human customs and the nature of Fangyuan. Our performance was applauded by local residents. After interviewing the painter Ping-chen Chen, we became good friends with him. When we were tired during the visit, we took a cup of tea in the artist’s studio. In the Cyberfair project, the most touching point was that we walked through everywhere in the community, including the neighboring elementary school, office of township, library, water culture farms, intertidal zone, lanes in the village, temples and characteristic snacks. We were assisted by many people and perceived strong human kindness.
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
In Cyberfair project, we collected all tourist resources and related introduction in Fangyuan District and allowed local residents to approach their hometown, recognized rich ecology in intertidal zone and further protect natural landscape and humanity of Fangyuan and enhance local students’ intention to work in hometown. We placed Cyberfair project on the web page and facebook of the school for the visit of the parents and community residents. In the interview, we realized that the grandparents were too old to use information technology and local government did not pay attention to the point. Thus, we integrated and transformed the complete tourist resources of Fangyuan District into web page on the online platform. At present, the tourists are increasing and people fond of ecology and photography visit Fangyuan. In addition, many elementary school students experience the nature in Fangyuan intertidal zone.
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
We appreciate all residents in Fangyuan District. As long as we informed them of the making of Cyberfair project which introduced Fangyuan, they always stopped the work to assist with us friendly. We appreciate Teacher Ching-hai Cheng and Teacher Peng-lin Huang, EIET team of Taiwan Nature Research Society of Taichung, who taught us about ecological knowledge and architectural style of three-section courtyard. Thanks to the team of sea cattle courier station which allowed us to completely participate in the tour of intertidal zone. It was a wonderful experience! We appreciate the painter Ping-chen Chen who told us the direction of tourism in Fangyuan and who encouraged us. Thanks to the manager of Fan Wa Farm who not only introduced the cultivation of water culture vegetables, but also described the context of tourism development in Fangyuan. We thus re-learned Fangyuan and even made contact with Professor Chia-yang Tsai of Providence University who guided us to take the aerial photograph of Fangyuan intertidal zone. On that day, due to the great wind, aerial photograph vehicle fell and was broken after taking several photos. We felt sorry to the professor and the photos were thus more precious. We appreciate Fu-hsiang Hung who shared his life of sea cattle and it was a touching and inspiring story. Many thanks to Fangyuan Township Office, Fangyuan Township library and Fang Yuan Elementary School which provided many references with historical value.
5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)
At the beginning of the Cyberfair project, we have thought that the tourist resources in Fangyuan District were insufficient. Nevertheless, with continuous visits, interview and after reorganizing data, we recognize many historical buildings and facilities in Fangyuan District. There are natural ecology and attractive landscape, simple customs of fishing village and sea cattle culture which do not exist in other places. Hence, we further cherish the primitive tourist resources. By making Cyberfair project, we obtain more the tourism characteristics of Fangyuan District. Thus, now we tend to play the roles as the little guides of Fangyuan in school and we invite the visitors to walk in the fishing village and experience oyster farmers’ lives in Fangyuan and to search for 12 wells. We take the elementary school students to experience ecology of intertidal zone and introduce Putian Temple to the visitors. Originally we thought that we were the students and could not contribute to our hometown. However, after participating in Cyberfair project, we realize that we can expose the hometown and promote tourism by information technology competence and thus the efforts are worthy.
|