Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
Throughout our lives, each of us will have a few cities that feel uniquely our own—our “destined cities.” At different stages of life, such as growing up, studying, working, and starting a family, the cities we live in shape our experiences. In turn, our interactions with these cities influence their future development, affecting urban resilience and sustainability (SDG 11). The story of this connection begins the moment we start to truly "know a city." This course takes the historic downtown area of Hsinchu City, near National Tsing Hua University, as a learning field, guiding students step by step in methods for understanding a city. In the first half of the semester, the theme is "Local Exploration." The instructor will lead students through various corners of the city, helping them learn how to start conversations with strangers, develop interview techniques, and organize their findings using the ORID Focused Conversation Method. In the second half, the theme shifts to "Fieldwork Practice." Students will conduct three independent field investigations, experiencing the excitement of exploring the unknown while applying the ORID method to analyze and organize their research. Through this course, students will develop fundamental skills in observing a city's industries, daily life, and cultural landscape. Additionally, they will be guided in creating their own fieldwork projects, helping them find personal connections between their studies, life, or future careers and the city of Hsinchu.
Results/Contributions

Compared to classroom learning, which emphasizes theories and professional "rules," students discover the "unwritten rules" of societal operations through field research. This course guides students in observing how individuals navigate life’s rules within a densely populated and culturally diverse urban environment, allowing them to understand how long-established norms shape the city’s landscape.

The first half of the semester focuses on "Local Exploration," including instructor-led field visits, an ORID Focused Discussion Method workshop, and in-class learning sessions to help students practice field research techniques. The second half of the semester centers on "Fieldwork Implementation," featuring three independent field research assignments where students engage in in-depth urban explorations and learn to apply the ORID method in compiling field notes.

For the final presentation, students will collaborate with the course Historical Thinking: Everyone is a Historian in a “market stall” format, sharing their field research findings, future research directions, or action plans.

Throughout the semester, students conducted in-depth field research on topics such as Hsinchu City’s public transportation system, temple religious culture, international students’ after-school lives, historical streets in Hsinchu County and City, and local exploration activities at Hsinchu Elementary School. They also proposed relevant recommendations and developed preliminary action project ideas.

Keywords
Field research, Focus conversation, Qualitative data analysis, Regional revitalization, Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)
Contact Information
陳泓維
hungwei.chen@iss.nthu.edu.tw