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

     Grade 1-9 Curriculum Guidelines have clearly pointed out that the main purpose of the course is to "train holistic citizens with democratic accomplishment, disposition, integration capability, local and international awareness, and lifetime learning spirit". It stresses that the curriculum should be centered on life, respect development of personality, cultivate initiative exploration and introspection, initiative concern for society, environment, and nature, have deep understanding and acknowledgement of local culture, and respect and appreciate other cultures.

     Therefore, we selected "Chin-fu Shih Woodcarving Workshop" as our research topic, discussed the content of the topic, made proposed study plan, distributed task, and visited schools. We also interviewed folk art masters in communities to understand the cultural background, classification, and ways of cutting of traditional carving, and symbolic meaning of carving works. We served as volunteers to understand, appreciation, and promote the traditional arts of our hometown. Through data search from Internet and production of website, we learned how to summarize knowledge via technology and cultivated our spirit of active exploration. During our study, we divided tasks, helped each other, and solved problems initiatively. Moreover, we integrated the fields mentioned in Grade 1-9 Curriculum and local courses into our study and implemented the spirit of Grade 1-9 Curriculum in our study.

Language

     Traditional carving mostly has auspicious meaning and extends feelings and blessings via metaphor, euphony, and other techniques, such as, "lian lian you yu" (which has similar pronunciation as "nian nian you yu" which is a Chinese idiom meaning that "Every year have enough things to spend."), "da li chang hong" (The word "荔" (li) has the same pronunciation as "利" (li) which means profit. The phrase means long-term profit and prosperity.), "tai ping you xiang" (which refers to peace and good harvest.), and so on.

Social Studies

     We searched information related to the woodcarving development of China, Taiwan and Lukang so as to have deeper impression of the content learned in textbook. Our dialogues with masters and students enhanced our understanding of the society and our recognition of local culture.

Arts and Humanities

     Traditional carving is a type of art, containing much knowledge. Its topics have combined people's blessing and are sources of unique beauty. Via appreciating carving works, we could see profound culture and tradition and gain much fun.

Nature and Life Technology

     In the advent of information age, we must strengthen our ability to use information, think independently in much data, and integrate information so as to put forward creative ideas. The website production this time could cultivate our ability to process information, embrace new challenges, and keep abreast with the latest development of the world.

Comprehensive Activities

     We learned how to respond to questions in interviews. We helped others by serving as volunteers and promoted local arts. Moreover, teamwork and individual time management were in the scope of integrated fields.

2.What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your Cyberfair project?

Hardware:

1. Computer:Surf internet, search for data, process photos and make web pages.

2. Removable Hard Drive :Big capacity and easy to carry.

3. Recording Pen:Used to record our interview process, and help us to type report to enrich web page content.

4. Scanner:Used to scan calligraphic work and document into images.

5. Digital Camera:Used to take pictures and short videos for web page to use.

6. Book:Used to enhance web page production and computer capabilities

Software:

1. Word 2003:Word processing

2. PhotoImpact X3:Image processing

3. FrontPage 2003:Web production

4. Ulead Photo Explorer 8.6:Web production

5. Macromedia Flash MX:Animation production

3. In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your Cyberfair project both on-line and in person?

     With the mechanization of modern woodcarving, the techniques of traditional woodcarving are rapidly declining. In the process of information collection and interviews, we heard the sigh of the craftsmen for the change, so our greatest wish was to introduce this traditional art to everyone. We worked very hard to collect and organize information, interview people, participate in onsite production, and present our achievements in the website to present the cultural connotation of traditional woodcarving. We hope that more people can come to experience the beauty of woodcarving. Even though our strength is tiny, we still insist on our original intention to attract more people to join the creation of woodcarving and pour new strength into this art.

4. What has been the impact of your project on your community?

     Woodcarving is the most representative handicraft of Lukang. Master Chin-fu Shih has engaged in woodcarving for 40 years. He has deliberately preserved traditional works, tools, and artifacts. Combined with his personal creation, his workshop is like a small museum. A visit to "Chin-fu Shih Woodcarving Workshop" is like a visit to the history of Lukang woodcarving. Because of lack of publicity, many people do not know it. Therefore, the production of the website can introduce the items in the museum so that more people will learn about relevant knowledge of woodcarving. Maters helped us during our production of the website. They taught us how to serve as commentators and showed us around the exhibition hall and Chin-fu Shih Woodcarving Workshop. They also explained the works to tourists to help more outsiders understand the beauty of woodcarving of our hometown.

5. How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

     In order to complete Cyberfair project, we visited "Chin-fu Shih Woodcarving Workshop" several times. Thanks to the instruction by master Chin-fu Shih, his wife, and other craftspeople in the workshop, we learned professional knowledge, such as work process, selection of woods, use of tool, symbolic meaning of patterns, and so on. We also experienced how to carve and use jigsaw. They taught us how to serve as commentators. We benefited a lot from the visits. While participating in "Luban Festival", Mr. Tung-liang Li, the President of Chaoyang Association at Lukang Township, and Teacher Chih-nung Huang explained keenly to us so that we could quickly understand the situation. Thank you very much for the help of so many teachers so that we can successfully complete the website.

6. Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises?

     After a few months of efforts, we became very familiar with the project. We learned skills of organizing information and make the website. We experienced frustrations and hard times, but we encouraged one another and built each other up. Through collecting information and interviews, we opened up our vision and enjoyed the beauty of wood furniture. Even though we sacrificed the sleep time and playtime, when we saw our work completed one after another, all the hard work has already turned into a cloud.

     Each piece of work is a painstaking effort of masters. The complicated process includes selecting materials, sawing, planning, carving, and painting. Every step has to be precise for making a piece of superior work. There are simple and quiet hearts hidden behind the techniques silently inheriting traditional techniques. We were very happy to introduce these beautiful things to everyone through our website, so that people can enjoy these beautiful art works and understand Lukang more. It is the responsibility and pride of Lukang’s children.