During the summer break, Taiwan Tech’s Teacher Education Center led 25 teacher education students to conduct camps at Jinshan High School Junior High Division in New Taipei City and Green Island Junior High School in Taitung County. The main focus of the camps was on information technology literacy, with courses featuring interactive robots, mechanical arms, Arduino system implementation, etc. Additionally, practical courses were designed to assist Green Island Junior High students in developing project ideas and participating in creative invention competitions, enhancing the junior high students' practical skills and problem-solving abilities. Simultaneously, the initiative aims to cultivate the teacher education students' broad perspectives and spirit of dedication while encouraging rural students to explore future aspirations through these activities.

Group Photograph during the opening ceremony of the Shi Hwa Jer Spirit Educational Service Project on Green Island.

This marks the Teacher Education Center's first resumption of summer camps since the onset of the pandemic. Led by Professor Wang Chia-Yu, Director of the Teacher Education Center and Chair of the Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education at Taiwan Tech, a team of enthusiastic teacher education students, guided by Professors Hou-Chiang Tseng and Ming-Kuo Hung, embarked on a mission to Jinshan High School Junior High Division and Green Island Junior High. The collective objective was to “embody the spirit of Shi Hwa Jer and support students in rural areas” guiding them to explore diverse fields in the age of technology. Activities included assembling mechanical arms and independently completing tasks such as presentations and web design. Students showcased their creativity, demonstrating a spirit of courage in exploring the unknown.

Green Island Junior High students conceived project ideas independently and actively engaged in hands-on implementation.

From selecting teaching materials to designing a series of instructional activities, all aspects were collaboratively executed by teacher education students from Taiwan Tech. Throughout the nearly one-month duration of this initiative, the participants not only cultivated their teaching expertise but also actively immersed themselves in and experienced various situations that occur within the teaching environment. This practical involvement enabled them to gain insights into the needs of junior high students, prompting reflection and refinement of course content. The ultimate goal was to prepare these aspiring educators to become outstanding vocational and technical education professionals.

At their initial interaction with interactive robots, the curiosity of students from the affiliated junior high section of Jinshan High School in New Taipei City was sparked.

Wei-Tong Lin, a teacher education student providing service at Jinshan High School's affiliated junior high section and currently pursuing a master's degree in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, expressed appreciation, stating, “I am grateful for the robust support extended by the principal of Jinshan Junior High. Despite encountering some challenges during the camp, this experience has emerged as an optimal learning opportunity for teacher education students, laying a robust foundation for their future endeavors.”

Ya-Chu Lin, a fourth-year student majoring in Department of Applied Foreign Languages, who traversed half of Taiwan to serve at Green Island Junior High, remarked, “Embarking on a service journey to the outlying islands has deepened our understanding of the challenges faced by children in remote areas of Green Island.”

Students from the affiliated junior high section of Jinshan High School in New Taipei City assembled mechanical arms independently and utilized Arduino for program control.

A group photo was taken during the opening ceremony of the Shi Hwa-Jer Spirit Educational Service Project at Jinshan.

Recently, teachers and students from Green Island Junior High visited Taiwan Tech, actively participating in the “Practical Operation of Instructional Media” course led by Professor Cathy Weng from the Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education. The interaction between the two institutions served as mutual inspiration, providing Green Island Junior High students with a deeper understanding of university campuses. President Jia-Yush Yen of Taiwan Tech was also present to encourage, stating, “Believe that you are meaningful”. Principal Hsiang-Ping Hsu of Green Island Junior High expressed gratitude, stating, “Thanks to the university students from Taiwan Tech for bringing a unique experience to the children at Green Island Junior High before the summer break”.

Since 2006, the Ministry of Education has been promoting the “University Teacher Education Students Practicing the Shi Hwa Jer Spirit Educational Service Project”, covering schools in metropolitan disadvantaged areas, rural areas, and outlying islands. This initiative provides teacher education students with practical learning opportunities and allows children in underserved areas to explore knowledge and skills beyond their academic subjects during the summer camp. This aims to provide more resources and care, bridging educational gaps, fostering mutual growth in teaching, and creating a win-win situation.

Green Island Junior High students, accompanied by Principal Hsiang-Ping Hsu, visited Taiwan Tech, and President Jia-Yush Yen's presence offered encouragement, continuing the friendship between the two schools.