Pei-Ya An

Four months have passed since I first participated in the Taiwan School Cyberfair. When I started the project I knew nothing about Ri Xing Type Foundry. Now, I have a better understanding of the history of Ri Xing Type Foundry and also of the skills involved in the movable type printing process.

Moreover, I am full of admiration for Mr. Chang a man who has devoted himself to the preservation of his trade and therefore contributed to society by preserving an ancient tradition. Team work was also a major factor of our success. When we first met we were like strangers to each other; after working closely on that project we have created new friendship bounds.

Joining the Taiwan Cyberfair competition has not only been a way to challenge myself but also a valuable team work experience.

Chieh-Chang Li

It was second time as a participant in the Taiwan School Cyberfair. My past experience helped me a lot this time to be more aware of the use of English in the project and to deal in a more efficient way with the practical side of the assignment.

We had fewer interviews and visits than last year but we had to work harder because we held a two-day exhibition on campus. After the exhibition I was so exhausted that I went back home and fell asleep at once.

All teachers showed a lot of expertise and come up with extraordinary works. The collage took us most of the time. First, we cut it off, then we pasted on the double-sided adhesive, and we made a collage. I made four collages and it was not easy at all; however, I stuck it out. Sometimes, I had hard time to complete that task and I would think over it for a while and eventually I would find a way out. As a 6th grader, it was my last time to join the competition and I am proud with the work I have accomplished.

Yu-Chen Li

At the start of the semester, our teacher asked the students in our class to join a competition for the school team. So two other girls and I decided to go to the audition help to select the most suitable candidates I was overjoyed when my friend Fan-Yi and I were both selected.

At our first meeting, our teacher gave us an overview of the work that would have to be done in the Taiwan School Cyberfair. He strongly encouraged us to work hard and not to give up nonetheless the problems you may encounter.

Team work has played an important role in building up the project. It taught me to be hard working, and make me value perseverance. In addition, I have come over my shyness by having to present to my work on stage.

Chun-Han Lin

In October, our teacher asked us to come up with a topic and draw mind maps. After several group meetings, we decided to select Ri Xing Type Foundry as the topic and Passion Lead Type would be our team’s name. Then we started to search online to collect information about the type foundry. It turned out to be the one and only type foundry in Taiwan. We also had to prepare a list of questions when we would meet the owner Mr. Chang.

On the day of the interview, we headed to Zhong-Shan station where the foundry is. Mr. Chang answered all our questions thoroughly. He showed us the treasure laying in his type foundry: the printer, the typecasting machine, the copper printing blocks, etc.. He taught us a lot about type foundry.

At the end of December, we started to plan the 2-day exhibition in the middle of January. We had to make posters that would include all the information about Ri Xing Type Foundry. We also had to build navigation board after making posters. In addition, we needed to prepare a draft for the guided explanation. During those two weeks all tem members had been very busy. On the very first day of the exhibition, we still had to tune many things such as the speeches, content and the length of the speeches. After the exhibition, the clean up took a lot f our energy too. We also had to write a feedback and draw the mind maps.

I have learned a lot by joining the competition, For instance, the printing techniques and the printing machines. All of them are valuable for me. I am glad to participate in the activity.

Chih-Yu Tsao

It has been more than four months since I took part in the activity “Cyberfair”. At first, we didn’t know one another. Until now, we have reached such a good tacit agreement among us that we have cooperated well to hold an exhibition. What a difficult job it is! I can’t believe that we did it together. In the beginning, I had no idea about foundry type. But now I have a big picture of what foundry type is, what lead printed characters are and what copper printing is. Through the activity “Cyberfair”, I learned how to plan an exhibition and to be a guide. That makes me not only fulfill myself but also build up my other abilities.

We completed many tasks together. Those are my first tries, too. It’s an unforgettable experience for me to interview Mr. Chien-Kuan Chang, the owner of Ri Xing Type Foundry. I have never been to a type foundry before. It’s my first time to see the copper printing blocks, lead printed characters, disc printers, and typecasting machines. It’s also our first time to make woodcut works with gravers when we made the sign with resin boards. Besides, we prepared for the exhibition and introduced the outcome of our studies to the school for the first time as well.

I want to thank my teachers for helping me and encouraging me. When we were guiding in the exhibition, our teachers always gave us suggestions on how we could do better during the guided tour. We have to make sure the schoolmates are able to understand the information during the guided tour. We work hard to complete all the tasks we had in this project. Thank you, our teachers.

Shao-Ting Lin

Time flies. It has been more than four months since I took part in the activity “Cyberfair”. At first, I had no idea about “Cyberfair”. Gradually, we have already known how to do the project. During the audition, I didn’t know whether I would be chosen or not, so I was very nervous until I knew I was on the list. I was very happy when I heard the good news. In the beginning, the teachers explained the rules and told us what we were going to do. We have to decide our topic and team name. At last, out topic is “The One and Only Type Foundry in Taiwan－Ri Xing Type Foundry”. Our team name is “Passion. Lead. Type.”. After these, we began to collect information for reference.

We needed to look for some information about Ri Xing Type Foundry. What I’m responsible for is about the future changes. The teachers were also reminding us to remember to mention the references so that we wouldn’t violate the intellectual property rights.

After that, we decided to visit Ri Xing Type Foundry and interview Mr. Chien-Kuan Chang on December 5th. That day, we did the interview first. During the interview, we deeply felt that Mr. Chang had a great passion for preserving traditional printing techniques. Then, we experienced Ri Xing movable type experiential box. After Mr. Chang showed us how to operate the typecasting machine, we put an end to the interview. After the interview, we still needed to sort out the information and prepare for the exhibition at the end of the semester.

Finally, I want to thank my hard-working computer teachers. They taught me so patiently that I could make a great progress during the activity, “Cyberfair”.

Yu-Chen Wei

It has been four months since last October. During the study, we have to collect and organize information. Then, we did interview drill several times in the lab room. We visited Ri Xing Type Foundry, interviewed the owner, Mr. Chang and experienced Ri Xing movable-type experiential box. Finally, we held an exhibition in the multiple-purpose classroom at the 6th floor of the school last Saturday.

We got all the work done except the web page design. Within the last few days of the semester, we have to finish the reviews and working logs during the lunch break and homework time.

I have learned a lot through the activity, “Cyberfair”. Although I’m going to graduate, I hope that I will still have an opportunity to take part in the meaningful activity when I go to junior high school.

Chi-Wei Tsung

This is my second time to take part in the activity, “Cyberfair”. The topics are always beyond my expectation, but I’m always fulfilled every time. This time, our topic is Ri Xing Type Foundry. I haven’t known anything about the industry until the teachers told us that Ri Xing is the only type foundry of the industry in Taiwan. “The only type foundry , that’s why I was attracted. Little by little, we have found the splendid history of Ri Xing Type Foundry. Besides, we have also realized that there still are some industries that we should care about more in Taiwan. Through the activity, “Cyberfair”, we can let the whole world know that it’s necessary for us to preserve these traditional techniques together.

“No pains, no gains.” During the activity, “Cyberfair”, we collected many materials for the project, visited Ri Xing Type Foundry, and interviewed the owner, Mr. Chang, who established Ri Xing Type Foundry. After we came back to school, we also needed to sort out the information and plan out the exhibition at the same time. We were usually too busy to do many things at one time. However, we didn’t give up at all. Although we sometimes complained and argued with one another, we still could find the most acceptable way among us to cooperate well and do our best. Through the activity, “Cyberfair”, we can know not only many people but also the world that we haven’t known before. How lucky I am to be one of the members of the activity.

Fan-I Li

Not long after school starts, the teacher said to send the three students to attend the Cyberfair selection activities, I and the other two students were selected by the teacher after the selection. I was lucky to be a member of the Cyberfair.

After being the member of the Cyberfair, the teacher asked us to draw the mind map first, and then to decide a topic. After discussion, finally we decided to " Ri Xing Type Foundry " be our theme of studying topic, and our team name called " Passion. Lead. Type. " After getting in touch with Mr. Chien-Kuan Chang, the owner of Ri Xing Type Foundry through our teacher, we decided the date of the interview. Before the interview, we do some research about Ri Xing Type Foundry, and prepared the several interview questions. At the interview date, the tutor Zhang welcomed us warmly. We spent two hours on visiting the type foundry, and the tutor Zhang explained in details and we gained the knowledges abundantly.

The teacher asked us to speed up the pace for the exhibition at the end of semester. We had to design a poster, to make a poster, and to arrange the exhibition place, etc. The exhibition place was divided into four zones, namely: guided tour zone, video zone, experiential zone, and students’ work zone. Two-day exhibition was on 1 /14 and 1 /15. I was in charge of guided tour zone, "the Challenge of Ri Xing." This was my first time to be the guide, so I was a little bit nervous.

At last, I had to thank our teachers who helped us a lot. The teachers always reminded us what we should pay attention in the exhibition, and gave us very useful advice. So we could make get this exhibition done successfully. I was very grateful to them.