1. Correlation with School Curriculum

Throughout the research process, we learned to decide on the research topic, develop a research framework, allocate and plan our work, organize and design to complete our tasks. We worked as a team to explore our research topic. The skills we acquired can be applied in life, as well as in different areas of learning, which broaden and deepen our journey in the quest for knowledge to increased diversity.

1) Languages

During the research process, we learned to gather and study relevant data, designed questionnaires, learned interview etiquette and techniques, recorded minutes, consolidated information, and wrote reports on excursions. These activities tested and sharpened our writing and oral presentation skills, as well as logical thinking ability, which all contributed greatly to elevate our language abilities.

2) Mathematics

We inputted data gathered from questionnaires, and through the use of Excel, we generated calculations, statistics, and charts, which helped us to analyze the numbers and conclude on our findings. This activity helped to increase the level of understanding about Deaf Women’s Basketball Team.

3) Social Studies

From the process of learning more about Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, we acquired knowledge on the support the Government and the communities are giving to the hearing-impaired sports, giving us a sense for Taiwan’s vitality and an in-depth understanding of the deaf sports.

4) Science and Technology

The CyberFair Project allowed us to apply our knowledge in science and technology. We learned to research information over the Internet, and made use of digital cameras, digital camcorders, and recording pens to assist us document the process. We used PowerPoint for briefings on Deaf Women’s Basketball Team. The teacher taught us how to set up WebPages and blogs, and use software to edit photos. In the making of the campus news video, we learned the filming procedures, and had hands-on experience to actually produce the videos. From all of the above, we learned to integrate information technology with everyday life.

5) Health and Physical Education

To help us better connect with Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, we arranged for a special basketball training course by the team coaches. Thereafter, we also set up a time to play a game of basketball with Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, and we tried it without sound by putting on earplugs. From these experiences, we realized that in order to play a good game, considerable physical training and efforts are required. And it’s especially hard to play in silence as we could not fully hear the coaches’ or other teammates’ instructions, making this sport which requires significant teamwork even harder. This allowed us to have a more profound appreciation for their efforts.

6) Arts and Humanities

Using our artistic skills, we designed a poster to promote Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, and this process required us to collaborate with one another. Individually, we also tried to be creative with the mind mapping flowcharts; most of us incorporated the “basketball” element into the design. We used image editing software to make our photographs even more appealing, and apply them to our poster and WebPages so that more people can learn about the efforts the Deaf Women’s Basketball Team has put in.

7) Integrative Activities

The Cyber Fair Project offered us diverse learning opportunities, and enhanced our eight abilities of Multiple Intelligences as proposed by Dr. Howard Gardner. From working together as a team, we realized that everyone operate and work differently, and while each of us gained personal development, we also learned from each other, and tried to respect everyone’s individuality.

2. Use of Information Technology

3. Effects and Impacts

From this research project, we acquired a deeper understanding of this special team- “Taiwan Deaf Women's Basketball Team”. Their adherence to perseverance and enthusiasm help them overcome any barriers and problems hearing-impairment may debilitate. They learn to be strong, to unite, and to persist during the games. We want to share and convey this spirit of “never give up” to more people.

Basketball is a favorite sport for many elementary students. During this project, we had the opportunity to learn from the team coaches, and played a basketball game with the hearing-impaired athletes. We made campus news videos and conducted presentations in classes, so that more students can learn about Taiwan Deaf Women's Basketball Team, and by which we hope to nurture compassion and caring for physically or mentally challenged friends around us. From this CyberFair Project, we are given the chance to learn and share the Team’s stories, and hope that through the power of the Internet, we can elevate the support for deaf sports in Taiwan.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

We interviewed with the team players, the team coaches (Pi-cheng Teng and Pi-yun Teng), director of the documentary film “Power in 2009” (Wen-ching Lin), and founder of Taiwan Deaf Women’s Basketball Team (Hsin-da Lee), for an in-depth understanding of the demanding process in formation and development of the Team. To further understand the resources and future policy of the governing authorities, we also interviewed Secretary-General of Chinese Taipei Sports Association of the Deaf (Yu-ping Chao), Head of ‘Sports-for-All’ Division in Sports Administration of Ministry of Education (Ting-peng Yeh), and Chief Secretary of Department of Sports for Taipei City Government (Liang-hui Chen). In addition, we also talked with three sports editors for “Double Pump” who have long since followed and focused their attention in women's basketball, and a famous TV sports commentator (Marc Tien), to help us explore possible ways to further promote Deaf Women's Basketball Team.

Authorization from Ms. Wen-ching Lin.		Authorization from “Double Pump”.		Authorization from Mr. Yi-cheng Chen.

During all of the above interviews, we first obtained interviewees’ consents to record, photograph and document the interview process, and also received authorizations for photos and videos displayed on our WebPages. We want to give special thanks to Mr. Yi-cheng Chen for offering to provide photos of women’s basketball in the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics for use on our WebPages.

5. Support from the Locals

2009 Deaflympics in Taipei provided the primary incentive to start the first deaf women's basketball team in Taiwan. Mr. Hsin-da Lee was responsible for formation of the team, and also served as the team’s first coach. Thereafter, the famous twin basketball coaches, Pi-cheng Teng and Pi-yun Teng, became the key figures for continuing to drive and urge the team forward. With their passion for basketball, they accepted this position to train a team with almost zero background. They offer strict and solid training, and yet they also care about the players’ personal life and career plan. They transformed Deaf Women's Basketball Team to becoming number one in Asia.

Because of her love for basketball, Director Wen-ching Lin spent three years following and filming Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, and produced the documentary film “Power in 2009”. This inspired Yi-ling Lin, the team captain and also a teacher at Taipei School for the Hearing Impaired, to collaborate with other team players to publish a book of their own, “Rookies, Fly Faster”. This book not only helped raise funding for the team, but also increased the team’s publicities. Just as FOX TV senior sports commentator Marc Tien mentioned during our interview with him, to get the attention of the general public, the team must tell stories of their own, and identifying key figures to represent the Team.

Because of their passion for basketball, the three sports editors of Double Pump Women’s Basketball Weblog set up their website to focus reporting on women's basketball, and they have long since followed the progress of Deaf Women's Basketball Team. Mr. Yu-ping Chao, Secretary-General of Chinese Taipei Sports Association of the Deaf, is hearing-impaired himself, and was once elected “Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the Year” for his strive and determination. Mr. Chao and the Association support and promote deaf sports by funding, providing resources and assisting with the training and competitions. Sports Administration of Ministry of Education and Department of Sports for Taipei City Government also put in efforts from the government side to promote deaf sports.

Basketball is a team sport. The persons mentioned above all share the same passion for basketball and sports, forming an imperceptible force jointly contributing their efforts in various forms to make Deaf Women’s Basketball the team it is today. As Taiwan’s first deaf women's basketball team, they will certainly advance further with everyone’s support, and making greater progress in the 2017 Turkey Deaflympics.

6. Role of Ambassador

“Compare with yourself, not with others. Trust your coach, trust your teammates, but most importantly, trust yourself.” This is one of the phrases coaches Pi-cheng Teng, Pi-yun Teng, and Yi-te Chiang often use to encourage the team players. These three national coaches transformed the team that possessed almost zero background and training in basketball, into a team that can unite and cooperate. With professional and rigorous training, the players learn the spirit of teamwork, which help them overcome any difficulties confronting them.

With curiosity and enthusiasm, our team members began our journey to explore. From the many interviews and basketball experiences, we realized how each player has gone against all odds to come to the stadium and to sweat under the basketball hoops. And during this long road of training, we see the players’ persistence and the coaches’ diligence. Everyone is putting in her best efforts to push Deaf Women's Basketball Team to its peak.

As the saying goes, “One minute of performance in a ball game, ten years of practice behind the scenes.” The sweat and tears behind every player are often unknown to outsiders. Apart from the inherent motivation of the players and coaches, the external social support is also very important. It is even more powerful, providing players the intensive and continuous motivation to elevate their skills to the next level. We hope through our project, we can promote public support and enthusiasm for the players and coaches. "Taiwan NO.1" – let’s support Deaf Women's Basketball Team to continue to shine in international competitions.

7. Contributions to the Local Community

Taiwan Deaf Women's Basketball Team started without a solid background in basketball, until coaches Pi-cheng Teng and Pi-yun Teng took over the training. They trained hard, overcame difficulties, to becoming the best team in Asia carrying Chinese Taipei badges. In 2014 and 2015, they achieved great records in the DIBF Asia Pacific Cup and the World Deaf Basketball Championships, respectively. They are the pride of Taiwan! Their spirit to excel, to bring glory to Taiwan, is worth promoting, and also a great representative of Taiwan’s precious vitality and energy!

During the process as we document the stories of Deaf Women's Basketball, we came to realize the difficulties confronted by the deaf communities. Hearing-impaired athletes of the team face a tougher challenge than normal people, whether in communications with the coaches and teammates or in carry out the tactics during the game. And in the beginning when the team first started, deaf women's basketball was not a popular category in deaf sports, so they often needed to find resources themselves. But with the coaches’ persistence and the players’ perseverance, they not only triumphed in international competitions, but also raised public awareness about the hearing-impaired community, so that more and more people are now willing to give support and encouragement. This is a valuable and positive energy for the society.

8. Discover Lessons and Surprises

Our research topic is Taiwan's first Deaf Women's Basketball Team. We divided our research into two main directions, one is to understand the establishment and development of Deaf Women’s Basketball Team, the other is to understand the causes for hearing-impairment, and the difficulties in participating in deaf basketball. We found that the biggest problem they encounter is the communication between coaches and teammates. So we experienced silent basketball to see how they deal with the obstacle. Other problems the team faces are acquiring adequate resource and training for the players.

During most of the interviews, a lot of interviewees commented that currently we are just elementary students, but if we start to care for deaf sports now, we will grow up to have greater influences in the future. So we made poster and promoted in school; we made videos and PowerPoint to present in classes. Even though we are only a group of eight elementary students, but with every eight people we touched, these eight will spread and reach eight more. Continuing and progressing, we too can achieve enough influences to make a difference!