Falling in Love with Railways: An Introduction of Railway Related Scenic Spots in Changhua

The Elements of the Research

1.The Combination of the Research Project Activity and the School’s Enlightening Courses

A.The Research Theme Closely Intertwines with the Listed Seven Fields

Language	Reinforces Articles Organizational and Analytical Capabilities: The students drafted the visit plan, recorded the process details and made a final integration of the information. Cultivates Listening and Expressing Capabilities: They learnt to use good manners when visiting and clearly stated their questions. Elevates Writing Skill: Through taking down and recording the activity, their writing and compilation abilities improved.
Social Study	Gains the Knowledge of the Railway Scenic Spot Related Development History: They got to know the importance of how railway scenic spot changes the life style for the people in earlier periods. Participates in Field Investigation and Visit: Through field investigation and visit, the students walked out of the classrooms and experienced life in a different and enlightening depth. Reinforces Communication Skill: Through many discussions, communications, the group members shared their point of views and learnt to work as a team.
Scientific Technology	The students used the network to collect information and by using different software, they sorted out the data and edited photos. By making good use of computer software, they leant to compile photos and information. They completed the research briefing collaboratively and enjoyed the outcome of their hard work.
Comprehensive Bearings	They acquired communication skill and were able to express their opinions appropriately and clearly. The research activity has nurtured their enthusiastic and responsible attitudes and dawned upon them team spirit.
Arts and Humanities	Through captioning and editing the photos they took, the students acquired the ability of art editing. By taking photos, they learnt photography skills and cultivated aesthetic sense. Through visiting railway scenic spot related exhibition halls, the students cultivated and elevated their aesthetic perceptions.
Health and Physical Education	Through a field trip to the railway scenic spots, the students experienced their hometown in a novel and different light. They also tasted the delicacies and specialty goods of their hometown.
Significant Issue Information Technology Education	Through learning to search for information via information technology, the students extracted railway scenic spots related information from the data treasury –network.

B.The Research Process Cultivates Ten Basic Capabilities

Getting to Know Oneself and Understanding the Developing Potentials	During the research process, the students completed the field trip on their own. Through the process, they also got to understand the importance of cooperation.
Appreciation, Performance and Innovation	By taking the roles of little researchers, the students got to reinterpret the distinguishing features of Changhua railway scenic spots and their cultural values.
Pre-planning for the Future and Lifelong Education	Aside from obtaining the knowledge related to the research, the project also fostered children’s independent thinking, the abilities to integrate information and to work as a team and also it broadened their horizons.
Expression, Communication and Sharing	During the process of the interview given by staff members at the railway scenic spots, the students had learnt to raise questions spontaneously. They had been coy and self-conscious about asking questions, but after a few attempts, their abilities to communicate and express ideas were improved.
Respect, Showing Care and Cooperation	Owing to the massive amount of the research information, it was not possible to rely on only a few people to complete the project. Therefore, team work is vitally important. During the activity, the group members showed care for each other and helped each other out. They shared the outcome of the hard work together.
Cultural Learning and Global Vision	During the field trip, the students got to see that there are people who preserved railway relics and established historical relic halls for them. Besides, they also made every effort to introduce the relics and their integrated cultural tourism to the world.
Planning, Organizing and Performing	They drafted research procedure based on the research project. They participated in the field trip to visit the railway scenic spots and historical relic halls and recorded it accordingly. Every part of the project prompts the students to learn actively.
The Application of Technology and Information	During the research, the students use digital library and network to search for information, and they also used digital media to complete the research.
Active Exploration and Research	The group members collected, integrated and analyzed the information. From the information, they came up with questions. They applied the acquired knowledge and skills to complete the research project as a team.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving	Owing to the massive amount and unorganized order of the information, the students asked for the teachers’ and parents’ assistance at proper time. Through discussing with the adults, they found solutions to unravel the problems.

2.The Technology Used to Do the Research:

Technology Used	Its Application
Online Library	To search for railway scenic spots related information and learning materials
Field Study	To do an interview at railway scenic spots and historical relic halls
Scanner	To convert photos provided by staff members and Letter of Authorization into soft copy
Computer, Notebook	To transcribe the interview recording, look for information online, analyze and arrange the data and make a website
Projector	To project related information to illustrate or explain how to use software in group discussion
Telephone	To contact the staff members of the railway scenic spots or historical relic halls and invite them to give interviews
Cellphone, Pad Computer and Pen Recorder	To record, take photos and videotape during the field visit
Cellphone Camera	To take photos and videotape the activity
Flash Drive/ Online Hard Drive	To save and backup the information
Computer Software	Office Software：Excel、Word、PowerPoint Pic Software：PhotoCap、Pixlr EDITOR Mind Mapping Software：Xmind Website Maker：Dreamweaver CC、Visual Studio 2015、jQuery Browser: Google Chrome 、Firefox、Microsoft Edge Communication Software:Gmail Cloud Drive:One Drive、Google Drive

3.Who assisted or participated in the research and how they offered their helps？

(1) Our school faculty fully supported us: The principal, directors, teachers and parents fervently helped and guided the students during the interview, photos taking and reports writing. They also offered to pick them up. Their encouragement is our biggest motive.

(2) Our appreciation also goes to the staff members and relevant people of Nantou Checheng , Changhua Roundhouse, Jingsiou Railway Cultural Park, Shetou Township Farmers' Association, Shetou Fu Jing Restaurant, Shetou Tong Ren She, Shetou Hosiery Industrial Association, Shetou Xin He Chun Sauce Factory and Changhua Xi Hu Sugar Refinery and etc. They took time out of their busy schedules to give us interviews, offer us relevant information and share valuable knowledge and experiences with us and we benefitted a lot from it.

4.How our team members personally or cooperatively played the role of ambassadors：

● The New Force of Railway Scenic Culture Heritage:

Through participating in the research project, we found that most of the students were pretty keen on participating in it and learning about the development history of traditional railways and the use application of relevant relics. Their interests to have a profound exploration into the development history of the railway scenic spot had been aroused, which further spurred the railway relic heritage and scenic spot development.

● The Vanguards who Leant and Pass On the Railway Relics:

Besides personally visiting Nantou Checheng , Changhua Roundhouse, Jingsiou Railway Cultural Park, Shetou Township Farmers' Association, Shetou Fu Jing Restaurant, Shetou Tong Ren She, Shetou Hosiery Industrial Association, Shetou Xin He Chun Sauce Factory and Changhua Xi Hu Sugar Refinery, through our visit and research, we also hope to arouse others’ interests in railway scenic spots, which will accelerate the promotion of it.

5.Websites and Intellectual Property Rights:

The information and the pictures are mostly written and taken by our team members. Those that are quoted or cited from books or websites, the citations are marked in the reference. Please ask for permission if you want to cite us; if you cite or quote directly, please mark the source. You are welcome to link our website, but if you do, please link the home page to avoid error in linking after the website contents are amended.

6.Influence and Impact:

（1）Members of Team Felicitous Train:

　　After many field trips and much time put in information search, we got to know a lot of things we didn’t know, for example, we did not know that there are many railway scenic spots and historical relic halls in Changhua County. Therefore, we want to share our acquired knowledge and experience with more out-of-towners through the website, so that they will be encouraged to visit these spots which will lead to an animation of local tourism industry and tourist attractions.

（2）School and Community:

　　In the process of our study, we received the supports not only from the school but also from the community and people from the town or from other towns. There was an intertwining connection between the school and the community, and that made us feel the warmhearted hospitality of our hometown.

（3）Residents and the Environment:

　We hope our website show the world the beauty of Changhua railway relics and we also aim to draw people’s attention to their values, which will benefit local tourism industry.

7. Discoveries, Lessons and Surprise:

Discoveries

In Changhua, there are three rail systems, including Taiwan High Speed Rail, MRT and TRA.
Railway related relics had not been quite nicely preserved and many of them had been dismantled sequentially. Fortunately, there were many rail fans that made efforts to protect the relics from damages and turned them into local attractions. They attract many people from different places and that is a brilliant promotion of the local tourism.

Lessons

Before the interview, we need to absorb a lot of information and practice asking questions; otherwise, we will not know what to ask during the interview.
Remember to take notes because you will need them to remind you of the important details.
Finish taking notes of the interview right after the interview is done; otherwise, you will not have a clear memory of it.
Save the files in many places and make good use of online hard drive so you don’t lose them by accident.
There is always a possibility of divergences in opinions and things don’t always go our ways. We have to be prepared for different possibilities.

Surprise

After participating in the research project, we realized that the railway in our hometown, Yuanlin, is a strikingly special station on Changhua and that arouses our vigor to preserve the railway relics. We hope that there are more people who can carry on the spirit of the rail fans and promote such attraction.