Project Elements
Information tools & technologies we use to complete our project
We adopted different technology tools on different tasks.
Tasks |
Tools and Application |
Field visit |
Tools: Digital cameras, computers, paper, pens, telephones and video recorders. Application: We used digital cameras to take interview shots, recorded all the process with video recorders and used pens for note taking. |
Interview |
Tools: computers, printer, video recorders, digital cameras Application: We contacted the interviewees by phone to confirm the interviews, made the outline of interview and integrate the opinions provided by interviewees.During the interviews, we made records of all with video recorders, digital cameras and pens. |
Group discussion |
Tools: computers, digital cameras, references, paper and pens Application:We recorded the work plans and project report, searched and organized the materials with computers. During discussion, we took discussing shots with camera, and take notes with handwriting. |
Interpretive signs production |
Tools: computers, printer, video recorders, digital cameras Application: We made information interpretation on computers and printed it out with printers. Then, we recorded the process with video recorderss and digital camerass. |
Challenge games |
Tools: computers, printers, laminators, video recorders, digital cameras Application: We used computers to make game accessories, such as matching cards, Q&A cards, jigsaw puzzles and lotteries. Then, we laminated all the flash cards with laminators. We recorded the process of the activities with video recorders and digital cameras. |
Questionnaire survey |
Tools: computers, printers, paper and pens Application: We used computer to design, edit questionnaire and printed it out with the printers. |
Illustration paint |
Tools: computers, scanners, paper and pens Application: We drew easy website illustrations with computer software. As for the plane figure of Changhua Roundhouse, we have to draw the picture first before scanning and editing it. |
Library |
We checked out some relevant books from the Changhua Municipal Library and Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau. |
Phone |
We contacted teammates and interviewees by telephone. |
Act as ambassadors and spokespersons
By doing this project, we have acquired better understanding of Changhua Roundhouse. It has been not only the place for dispatching and maintaining the locomotives for ninety years but also designated by Changhua County Government. In addition to holding interesting challenge games at school, we also learned from some experts about being narrators and how to present the roundhouse perfectly to more people.
As the promoter to Changhua Roundhouse
We visited Changhua Roundhouse and interviewed the employees and knew the fact that it is the last remaining still in-service roundhouse with a fanwise building, tracks and the turntable. We would like to make efforts to protect and care for the precious, unique monument, and to strengthen the relationships between the community and the roundhouse.
As the disseminator to the community
We made ourselves as the disseminators of Changhua Roundhouse that we presented the history and status of it in the community and so to make people know more about it. We hope the residents can come and visit it more often and treasure the not only local but also world-level monument.
As the pioneer to schoolmates
Because Changhua Roundhouse stands for not only the past history but the symbol of railways activation, we want to make more people know and care about it. Therefore, we set forth to invite Mr. Ma, the president of Babuza Railway Culture and History Working office to give us training courses of being narrators and then held interpretation activity and challenge games at the gym in our school. We regarded us as the representatives of Changhua Roundhouse that we try our best to understand and introduce it to friends and teachers. And hopefully, there will be more people getting to know it through our presentation.
The impact and effect of our project on our community
Changhua Roundhouse is nearby the rear exit of Changhua Station where there are with many stores around. But the routes accessing to the roundhouse there are a little bit complicated and the sign at the front gate says its formal name “Changhua Rolling Stock Branch of Taiwan Railways Administration, MOTC”, which is not as famous as “Changhua Roundhouse”, so not many people really came to visit it. By doing this project, we held presentations on Changhua Roundhouse to present it to our teachers, schoolmates and parents. In order to attract more people to join us, we also particularly held interesting challenge games. Additionally, we make good use of the website to introduce it to the whole world.
Our Thanks
To accomplish this project, we have to contact our community residents and gather relevant information from many people. Accordingly, we really appreciate all the assistance provided from those ones.
First of all, we would like to thank the following members of Taiwan Railways Administration: De-An Yang, the vice-director of rolling stock department, Bi-Sian Tseng, the president of rolling stock branch, Wen-Ray Chen, employee and Fu-Chin Lai, train inspector. Especially, Mr. Yang helped us get authorization for research and photography. Moreover, Mr. Lai provided all the information about Changhua Roundhouse and took us to visit the places which are not open ordinarily. So we had chance to take a closely look at the overall aspect of Changhua Roundhouse.
We would also like to thank the founder of Expand & Develop Foundation of Culture and Education, Chin-Chu Wong, who was so kindly and willing to manage her time to give an interview, and two assistants of Wong's, Ms. Chou-Ping Lin and Ms. Ching-Ying Lee who advised us the latest information about the Roundhouse that we could attend the sole Carnival "The Trains in dance", performance of steam locomotives, in Taiwan.
In addition, We would like to thank the chairperson of Babuza Railway Culture and History Working office, Mr. Chung-Hong Ma, and the public relations manager, Mr. Chau-Ting Yang, for working hard to keep the Roundhouse from being demolished. Furthermore, Mr. Ma instructed us how to get prepared to interpret the roundhouse and showed the vivid and impressive roundhouse models made by Mr. Yang .
At last, we would like to thank the support and assistance of our teachers, the principal, Shue-Mu Lin, the president of PAC, Jin-Teng Hsieh, the parents of 8 team members, and the instructors, Mei-Jun Wu, Yin-Jen Du, Hsin-Hsin Chen, Yu-Yu Chen, Shih-Ying Chung, Yu-Chen Lai, Chiu-Ping Chang, Min-Ju Liu, Yu-Wen Yen, Shiu-Juan Wang, Ching-Yi Kuo, Wan-Ying Chiang are all included.
Without the assistance from you, we might not accomplish this project so successfully and really hope that we can make the uncommon monument, Changhua Roundhouse, known worldwide through our project.
Community involvement
An interesting variety of community members made significant contributions to this project by helping us in different ways.
Task |
Community residents |
Get authorization |
De-An Yang, |
Contact for the visit of Changhua Roundhouse |
Wen-Ray Chen, |
Field visit |
Fu-Chin Lai, |
Contact Chin-Chu Wong |
Chin-Yin Lai, |
Interview pros |
Chung-Hong Ma, |
Chau-Ting Yang, |
|
Chin-Chu Wong, |
|
Challenge games |
Shue-Mu Lin, |
Narrator training |
Chung-Hong Ma, |
Trains in dance |
Chin-Chu Wong, |
Interpretation of Roundhouse |
Teachers, students and parents of 3rd grade at Room 4, |
Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises
We had few understanding about Changhua Roundhouse at first, but while doing this project, we knew it is the last in-service roundhouse in Southeast Asia and the locomotives stored in the Roundhouse are over one hundred years old.
In the process of doing this project, we have learned a lot from some experienced persons, like Mr. Ma, the president of Babuza Railway Culture and History Working office, Mr. Yang, the public relations manager, and Mr. Lai, a train inspector. The lesson from Mr. Ma was especially impressive because he taught us how to present the history, the features and information of Changhua Roundhouse. In addition, Mr. Lai showed us the inner Roundhouse to give us a better understanding about it, and this made us the better skilled researchers.
Source: Changhua Cool-Bow
