Issuing Authority: Department of Education
In recent years, the Yunlin County Government has actively promoted technology education, from installing smart blackboards to implementing the “One Tablet per Student” program, demonstrating its determination to narrow the digital gap between urban and rural areas. This commitment received strong support this year as the Chicony Education Foundation provided resources for rural education and partnered with the Taiwan Smart Teaching and Learning Promotion Association to bring the “Mobile Smart School” to Yunlin, launching a three-month county-wide tour.
Today (30th), a press conference titled “VR Technology Leads the Way – Yunlin Youth Soar” was held at Yunlin Elementary School to showcase the achievements of the Mobile Smart School tour across nine rural schools. Deputy Magistrate Hsieh Shu-ya, on behalf of Magistrate Chang Li-shan, presented a certificate of appreciation to the Chicony Education Foundation, celebrating the fruitful results of technology education.
The successful implementation of the Mobile Smart School tour was made possible thanks to the strong support of the Chicony Education Foundation, established in April this year. The foundation’s sponsorship acted like timely rain, empowering the Mobile Smart School to go further and realizing the dream of the Taiwan Smart Teaching and Learning Promotion Association to “sow seeds of hope.” This initiative injected a powerful stream of educational warmth into Yunlin’s rural areas, giving local students the opportunity to connect with global technological trends.
Deputy Magistrate Hsieh stated that we are now in the era of AI, and as the saying goes, “To do a good job, one must first sharpen one’s tools.” The county government has long been committed to promoting digital and technological education, from the tablet-for-every-student program and smart blackboard installations to the full introduction of YunlinGPT. We firmly believe that technology does not replace teachers but serves as a vital tool to inspire learning and broaden horizons. Only by continuously bringing resources into schools can we truly bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
Hsieh emphasized that this Mobile Smart School tour, which reached nine rural schools, owes special thanks to the Taiwan Smart Teaching and Learning Promotion Association for its professional dedication in transforming VR, interdisciplinary learning, and creative teaching into authentic learning experiences for children. She also expressed sincere gratitude to the Chicony Education Foundation for its mission of “supporting excellence and uplifting the disadvantaged,” turning corporate warmth into educational strength and enabling rural children to access world-class technology, dream boldly, and learn freely.
Chicony Education Foundation CEO Lee Yi-fen stated that Chicony, rooted in technology, places great emphasis on cultivating technological talent. The foundation was established to nurture outstanding students and improve rural education environments. By sponsoring the Mobile Smart School program, the foundation not only recognizes the passion, perseverance, and vision of the Taiwan Smart Teaching and Learning Promotion Association but also hopes to spark children’s interest, encourage joyful learning, and help develop future technology talent.
The Mobile Smart School has visited over 100 schools across Taiwan, with nine in Yunlin this year. This tour was not limited to hardware experiences but represented a profound teaching innovation. For example, at Yuan-Chang Elementary School, under the guidance of teacher Yang Chang-chun from the association, the team designed six interdisciplinary creative courses for students. These ranged from the eye-opening “VR First Experience” and the physically engaging “VR Sports Activities” to the most popular “Immersive Interdisciplinary Creation”, which integrated technology with art, drama, and music to guide students in digital storytelling. Children were amazed by the blend of virtual and real worlds, learning enthusiastically while having fun. Additionally, the teaching team organized teacher workshops after class to help frontline educators master emerging technology applications, ensuring that educational resources continue to thrive in schools.
The Mobile Smart School tour began on October 1 at Yunlin Elementary School and traveled across mountains and coastal areas. The nine participating schools included Yunlin Elementary (urban), Yongding Elementary (remote), Honglun Elementary (remote), Chongxing Elementary (semi-rural), Dongxing Elementary (remote), Yuan-Chang Elementary (semi-rural), Xialun Elementary (remote), Linnei Junior High (remote), and Mingli Elementary (remote), before concluding at Yunlin Elementary School.
Principal Kuan Sheng-chou of Yunlin Elementary expressed that this event continued the enthusiasm of the Digital Carnival, thanking all rural schools for demonstrating the spirit of “sharing and mutual benefit.” He also sincerely thanked the Chicony Education Foundation, Yunlin County Government, and all participating units for their joint efforts. He hopes that the Mobile Smart School will continue to visit in the future, contributing to Taiwan’s education and creating more enriching learning memories.
SDG 4: Quality Education – Ensure inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education and promote lifelong learning.