Author Information
Yu-Hsuan Chang, National Tsing Hua University, TaiwanCheng-Hao Chang, Taipei Youhua High School, Taiwan
Shih-Ta Liu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Su-Chu Hsu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Abstract
To fulfill the USR goals prioritized by Taiwanese universities, we adopted the global Design for Change (DFC) model by Kiran Bir Sethi to develop the Place Change Maker (PCM) strategy. This strategy integrates place exploration, design thinking and making, and place-based change practices. Using PCM, we carried out social service projects at four rural primary schools – each with over 80 years of history and fewer than 50 students, which are at risk of closure. Through digital fabrication, we developed an upgraded “digital microscope” and led the Micro Project – Small Plants, Big Discovery workshops. In these workshops, students built and customized their own microscopes, using them to explore the microscopic ecology of characteristic campus plants. We provided “M2M ChatGPT” procedures to investigate the connection between microscopic plant features and real-world landscapes. For example, they observed that the nodal structures of bamboo leaves resembled the bamboo plant itself. Using AI-assisted image recognition, they found aerial photos of car factories arranged in a pattern similar to that of bamboo leaves. Similarly, the umbrella-like structure of pennywort leaves under the microscope resembled the Place Charles in Paris when viewed from above. This innovative exploration not only enhanced students’ digital literacy but also broadened their global perspective. Our initiative reimagined the value of rural schools and supported the Sustainable Development Goals of “Quality Education” and “Reduced Inequalities,” advocating against the closure of schools in remote areas.
Paper Information
Conference: KAMC2025Stream: Education / Pedagogy
This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Chang Y., Chang C., Liu S., & Hsu S. (2026) Micro Project – Small Plants, Big Discoveries: AI-Driven Exploration ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 453-461) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.37
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.37
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