Research Afterthoughts

Debbie │ Grade: sixth │ Personality: outgoing │ Interests: playing the piano, drawing

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

This is my second Cyberfair. Unlike the last one, where I was in the supporting role, I have been in charge of a team. Being a team leader is a big job because I need to communicate with team members, delegate work, and deal with a lot of minor things. It is a job that cannot be toyed with, and I also need to learn to handle things on my own. There is a saying ‘you reap what you sow’, and that’s why after hard work, we are able to enjoy the sweet rewards!

Besides becoming a better leader, I also got to know Taiwanese temples better through our research. We were able to learn the stories behind each temple from its decors on the roof and pillars. While the city is progressing with time, we were able to find the oldest temple in Yonghe, a piece of history that is in the religious center of its people!

Discoveries:

Even though I joined Cyberfair last year, with a different topic this year, I was able to do different activities like stop motion animations and making deity puppets. They were different activities designed to let us explore and experience the topic more thoroughly. The ever-lasting stop motion animations were made by making a great deal of photos flow continuously. I have seen a lot of stop motion animations, but I have never understood the secret behind them. I’m glad I learned how stop motion animations were made, and I also had the chance to make one as part of this year’s research. This is the vibrant aspect of Cyberfair, and we will always have a new mission ahead, waiting for us to learn and conquer.

Amber Ou Yang │Grade: sixth │ Personality: a bit on the crazy side │ Interests: playing the piano and cello, reading detective and magic novels, dancing

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

Over the past six months, I have changed from a timid girl to someone who is no longer afraid of making a fool of herself. I won’t be stopped by my looks, and I will be the first one to raise a hand and ask questions.

Our topic, Fude Temple on Dianzai Street, allowed me to gain more insights into the traditional Taiwanese folk religion, and I was able to share my findings with my families and friends. I used to think that all temples were managed the same way, but after our in-depth research I realized that every temple has its unique characteristics. After this research, I have gained more respect for temples. Our research on Fude Temple on Dianzai Street has enabled me to examine and appreciate temples from different perspectives.

Discoveries:

The topic of our research is the temple, so we must follow the proper etiquette and show respect. For example, once we entered the temple, we should lower our voice and avoid the use of vulgar language because any disrespect to the deity may result in misfortune. So we must watch out for our usage of words at the temple. The research activities that we did in Cyberfair were not as simple as one might have thought. Before we conduct an interview, we had to do a lot of work learning about the interviewee and the subject before formulating questions for the interview. The questions also need to be well thought out, and the interviewers must be well-prepared to be able to listen to answers given by the interviewee and formulating the next question at the same time.

Candy │ Grade: sixth │ Personality: witty │ Interests: reading, going to the movies, watching TV (Pepa Pig), playing video games, playing drums

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

Over the past few months with Cyberfair, I got a lot of valuable opportunities and picked up a few skills like doing a survey, producing stop motion animations, giving guided tours, conducting interviews, and hosting an event. Most importantly, I learned the importance of teamwork because it is impossible for one person to finish the project report or mind maps. I learned not only professional knowledge, but also determination, time allocation, and efficient working from Cyberfair. I started out as a passive learner, and now I learn actively. What seemed like an insignificant and easy task may turn out to be a complicated job when we have to do it ourselves. Every work is the finished product of countless hard work put in by its original creator.

I want to thank Cyberfair for giving me the opportunity to expand my horizon and increase my exposure to research work before I graduate from elementary school.

Discoveries:

Before joining Cyberfair, I was quite afraid to talk to strangers. After joining Cyberfair, I had to make a change because I needed to conduct interviews and surveys. After a few practices, I gradually got the hang of it. I know how to have a conversation with people, and when the interviewee deviated from the topic, I would bring the focus back to the original topic. I hope in my next research project, I would be able to apply these skills to further improve my oral skills.

Oscar│ Grade: sixth │ Personality: dare to innovate, double-faced │ Interests: reading, playing MFF

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

This was my second Cyberfair. With experience from last year, I was better at conducting researches and interviews, and I was able to lead my team to finish our tasks.

From Cyberfair, I saw the importance of teamwork. Any team member slacking off would hinder the performance of the team. If we worked together, like one family, we could get works done efficiently. From the past few months of Cyberfair, I was in a constant state of surprises because there were so many things that needed us to think. I have learned some new skills, like making stop motion animations, deity puppets, and giving guided tours. The Cyberfair experience has been unforgettable.

Discoveries:

We made some interesting stop motion animations in the project, and I found out that stop motion animation was made by playing pictures quickly one by one to fool our eyes, so the characters in the pictures would look like they were moving. In order to make our characters move smoothly, we cannot make their movements change too much from one picture to another, otherwise it would seem unnatural.

Linus │ Grade: sixth │ Personality: sometimes outgoing, sometimes quiet, sometimes noisy │ Interests: play ball, editing videos

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

Even though I signed up for Cyberfair just for fun, after I made it to second round, I decided to work hard if I get selected on the team. I think Cyberfair is a testament on our patience and heart. If you have plenty of both, you would be alright; otherwise you would be in a lot of trouble. We also need good stamina and the ability to handle pressure because we needed to work during recess, holidays, and after school hours. It got better when Cyberfair clashed with exams and track meets; we really needed to manage our time wisely.

Discoveries:

At first, I was trying to avoid assuming responsibilities, but then I realized as long as I give my best shot, there is nothing too difficult to overcome. When I put my mind into finishing a job, I may even forget about sleeping or eating. I once worked until 6 P.M., and I complained about not having enough time. I think as long as I am persistent with my work, I am capable of doing anything! That was the mentality I had that got me through Cyberfair. The project has left me with lots of fond memories.

Sophie │ Grade: fifth │ Personality: outgoing, optimistic │ Interests: reading

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

With Cyberfair coming to a close, I found that I have become more confident of myself after joining the team. When I first conducted interviews, I wasn’t able to look at the interviewee in the eyes. With more interview practices, I got over that fear, and I have also learned lots of interviewing skills, like reading into the feelings of the interviewee. When doing surveys, I was afraid to get rejected. Then I learned to observe before asking anyone for a survey, and surveying wasn’t hard at all.

I have learned a lot of valuable experiences through Cyberfair, and I also got to experience lots of things that I wouldn’t normally have the chance to. I learned to work as a team, and I think that will help me tremendously in the future. I will cherish my time at Cyberfair.

Discoveries:

From Cyberfair, I learned that everyone has his or her unique talents. Some are good at drawing, some are good at filming, some are good at interviewing, and some are good at performing. With the team working together, we were able to get the project done quickly and smoothly. After each activity, I always picked up valuable experiences that weren’t available from classes. I will cherish opportunities like Cyberfair, and I will do my best.

Amber Wang │ Grade: fifth │ Personality: introverted, shy │ Interests: play table tennis

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

It has been almost five months since Cyberfair started in September, but it felt like just five weeks. Throughout the project, we conducted interviews, gave guided tours, asked for surveys, and performed in front of the school. We even had to speak to them in a lively tone of voice. After countless practices, I went from someone who slouched and spoke with a flat voice to being able to speak freely in front of an audience. I want to thank my teachers for pointing out my flaws on the spot so I can learn from them. Even though Cyberfair took up a lot of my resting time, I did have the time of my life!

Discoveries:

Before working on the scripture reciting choir, I thought it would be a dull activity. However, after observing them reciting the scripture, I noticed they would hold two special instruments in their hands – a drum and a bell. The sound of the bell was loud and crisp. I got so curious that after I went home, I looked it up on the Internet and found out that the bell was actually a Buddhist instrument!

Delta │ Grade: fifth │ Personality: optimistic │ Interests: dancing

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

Through my time at Yu-Tsai, I have heard our school’s Cyberfair team winning medals one after another, so I have been mystified by the name. Finally, after becoming a fifth grader, I got into the Cyberfair team. Before joining the team, I thought Cyberfair would require a lot of computer skills. After I joined the team, I found that Cyberfair was all about working together as a team. I visited Fude Temple on Dianzai Street quite often, interviewed people, conducted surveys, and even performed in front of our schoolmates. I learned a lot of things that were not available in the books. For example, I have learned to be more confident of myself, and that’s something we need if we want to be successful in life.

Discoveries:

Even though the temple has been actively promoting replacing paper money with rice, a lot of worshippers couldn’t accept such a substitution. They believe that only through the burning of paper money would the deities see their sincerity. I think we need to work harder to change their habit by reminding them it’s the sincerity that mattered, not the amount of paper money burned.

Katie │ Grade: fifth │ Personality: gets nervous easily │ Interests: listening to music

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

I used to hear so much about Cyberfair at school, and now I’m actually on the team. After more than five months of hard work on the project, I realized I was capable of so many things. I was able perform in front of an audience and give a guided tour around the temple; those were things that I couldn’t have imagined myself doing before joining Cyberfair. Now, we are nearing the conclusion of the project, I think I have learned to excel the old me, and I have also learned the importance of teamwork. It was teamwork that got us through the Cyberfair project. We helped each other out, and that’s what Cyberfair is all about. I will never forget this valuable experience, and if time permits, I would definitely join Cyberfair again in sixth grade.

Discoveries:

At first, I did not know anything about Fude Temple on Dianzai Street other than it was located near Lehua Night Market. After the project started, I was surprised to learn that it was the first temple in Yonghe, and it has more than three hundred years of history. It is a historic treasure waiting for students and people of Yonghe to uncover. Therefore, we came up with stop motion animations, plays, storybooks, puppets, and guided tours to help more people learn about Fude Temple on Dianzai Street and how folk religion has evolved with the passing of time.

Laura │ Grade: fifth │ Personality: extroverted │ Interests: reading comics

│ Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │

Even though the Cyberfair project was filled with challenges, the team had gone through a lot, and it left us with lots of memories. I learned something that couldn’t be learned with money, which was teamwork. We had a lot of activities this year, so we formed different teams for different activities. I will never forget the Cyberfair experience.

Discoveries:

While we were gathering information on the temple, I realized Fude Temple on Dianzai Street was indeed a unique temple. Aside from its more than three hundred years of history, it is also keeping up with the progress of time by promoting worshipping with rice instead of burning paper money. With the rice, worshippers could take them home to cook or donate them to charities. The most important thing is it will greatly cut down air pollution that came with the burning of paper money. After the research, we found out that the temple staffs were really enthusiastic about helping us out, and they have also shared a lot of stories about the temple with us. We also got to experience some of the activities offered by the temple.

Source Text: The Wondrous Temple Expedition │ Photos: The Wondrous Temple Expedition