Award Presentation Ceremony for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Knowledge Exchange 2012

Message from The Vice-Chancellor

Dear Colleagues, Students, Alumni and Friends,

You are cordially invited to attend the Award Presentation Ceremony for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Knowledge Exchange 2012, which will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 in Loke Yew Hall at 5:00p.m.  We are privileged to have Dr The Hon David Kwok-Po Li, our Pro-Chancellor, agreeing to be our Guest of Honour on the happy occasion again this year.

This annual ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for us to honour and celebrate the outstanding teaching and research achievements of our distinguished colleagues.  It is also pleasing to note that, starting this year, we will present the Knowledge Exchange Award and Faculty Teaching Award at the Ceremony.

During the ceremony, the Outstanding Teaching Award under the Teaching Excellence Award Scheme, Faculty Teaching Award, Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award, Outstanding Researcher Award, Outstanding Young Researcher Award, Research Output Prize, and Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award will be presented.

These honours to outstanding teachers and researchers are only bestowed sparingly, and are a tribute to the high standards of excellence that the University of Hong Kong stands for.

I do hope you will be able to join us at the ceremony, both to salute our deserving colleagues and to share the pride of being a member of the University family that includes such distinguished scholars.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Lap-Chee Tsui
Vice-Chancellor

Note:
The list of award recipients can be found at: http://www.hku.hk/award/award_recipients.html

For enquiries, please contact Ms Shirley Yeung (Tel: 2241-5258, Email: shirley_yeung@hku.hk).

Applications for Teaching Development Grants (TDG) 2013

The Teaching and Learning Quality Committee (TLQC) invites submission of project proposals for funding support from the Teaching Development Grants (TDG). The TDG Scheme underlines the University’s commitment to furthering its mission in Teaching and Learning (T&L). The TDGs are intended to support projects and activities that will have an impact on the strategic development and promotion of T&L. Given the implementation of the reformed undergraduate curriculum in September 2012, the Committee will support initiatives beyond the exploration and development of the new 4-year undergraduate curriculum, in particular the evaluation of the impact of the new curriculum on student learning. Notwithstanding this, support will be provided to address the following areas which need further strengthening across the university: setting clear goals and standards, teacher feedback and assessment for understanding.

For details, please refer to this page.

CETL Seminar: So What Have They Really Learnt?: Looking Behind the Grade and Satisfaction Ratings – Feb 19

Date : February 19, 2013 (Tuesday)
Time : 12:45pm – 2pm
Venue : Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Speaker : Dr Iris Vardi

Abstract
The analysis of marks, grades and student satisfaction ratings often dominate the educational landscape, and are an important part of ensuring a quality education. But do they give us sufficient understanding of what students actually learnt, how we can improve that learning, and how we can express that learning to the students and others? This seminar looks behind the grade and satisfaction ratings to explore different types of learning, how (and if) they can be made visible, and how they can be identified and acted upon at the class, course and programme levels. The seminar will also share how student learning in a large newly re-constructed first year core course was examined, tracked, reported, and used to improve student achievement. In so doing, it will also explore the challenges in identifying, tracking and reporting learning.

This seminar is for academic staff who want to get to the bottom of what their students believe, know and can do, and use this information to make improvements to their course and programme outcomes.

For details and online registration, please go to http://www.cetl.hku.hk/seminar130219.

For enquiries, please contact Mr William Yieu by email wyieu@hkucc.hku.hk .

About the speaker
Dr Iris Vardi has been involved in education for over 25 years. She has worked with a variety of disciplines at the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University, and has published and presented extensively both nationally and internationally. Her research and work in different teaching methodologies, critical thinking, assessment and feedback has improved student learning outcomes and student satisfaction across a range of disciplines.

Dr Vardi is the author of the 2012 Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Guide Effective Feedback for Student Learning in Higher Education, the author of the upcoming 2013 HERDSA Guide Developing Students’ Critical thinking in Higher Education, the winner of the HERDSA 2012 Conference Creative Presentation Award, and the recipient of a 2012 HERDSA Fellowship which recognised her “important contribution to higher education at the local, national and international levels”.

Teaching Excellence Awards 2012 – A Message from The Vice-Chancellor

ota4

I am very pleased to announce the winners of the Outstanding Teaching Award (OTA) of the Teaching Excellence Award Scheme for 2012:

Individual Award
  • Dr CHAN Lap Ki, Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education & Department of Anatomy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
  • Dr Gary James HARFITT, Faculty of Education
  • Dr LAM Shui Fong, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences
  • Miss Alice LEE Suet Ching, Department of Law, Faculty of Law
  • Dr Robert Shannan PECKHAM, School of Humanities (History), Faculty of Arts
  • Mr Mathew Robert PRYOR, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
Team Award
  • Dr Susan Margaret BRIDGES (Leader), Professor Cynthia YIU Kar Yung, Dr Michael George BOTELHO, :Professor Edward LO Chin Man, Dr Peter TSANG Chiu Shun, Dr Rory Munro WATT, Dr YANG Yanqi and Miss Jessica WONG Wai of the Faculty of Dentistry for the PBL 2.0: E-learning for problem-based learning (PBL) at the Faculty of Dentistry
  • Dr Hayden SO Kwok Hay (Leader), Dr Edmund LAM Yin Mun and Dr Kenneth WONG Kin Yip of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering for the Design Thinking, Problem Solving, and Team Building: Reshaping the First Course in the EEE Curriculum

The Selection Panel was deeply impressed by the awardees’ dedication to their students, their tireless and creative efforts to make learning enjoyable and challenging, and the impact that they have made on their students’ learning.

The awardees will be honoured at the upcoming award presentation ceremony for excellence in teaching, research and knowledge exchange, which has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, 2013; and their names will be posted for a period of five years on the Teaching Excellence Awards Honour Board in the Main Library. Many congratulations!

I would like to thank our external assessor Professor Michele D. Marincovich (Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stanford University) providing us with her expert advice in situ during the final selection process. I would also like to thank Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Teaching and Learning), Professor George Tham, Dr. Gayle E. Morris and Mr. Ernest C.H. Cheung (student representative) for their assistance in this important exercise.

Last but not least, I wish to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to all the other nominees for the teaching excellence awards for their devotion and sustained contribution to promoting excellence in teaching at this University.

I look forward to seeing you all at the ceremony on March 27, 2013.

Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor
Chairman, Selection Panel for Teaching Excellence Awards 2012

ITS Orientation Seminars in 2013 Jan

Message from Information Technology Services

Dear colleagues and students,

As the Second Semester is fast approaching, we are arranging the following orientation seminars for new University members to help them familiarize with the use of the central IT services and facilities.

Introduction to Information Technology Services 18 January 2013
(Fri)		 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm RR-201, Run Run Shaw Building Course Description and Registration
Introduction to Information Technology Services 23 January 2013
(Wed)		 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm RR-201, Run Run Shaw Building Course Description and Registration

You are welcome to attend either one of above seminars.  Please register your attendance through the HKU Event Management System at the links provided above.

For any question on the above, please feel free to contact us at ithelp@hku.hk.

Veronica Yick
User Services
Information Technology Services

Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme & Workshop – Jan 25

Applications are invited for the Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme, which was introduced by the Teaching and Learning Quality Committee in 2010-11.

Objectives
The Scheme aims to enhance the scholarship of teaching at the University through enabling academic staff members to share experience and to collaborate on teaching and curriculum development initiatives at reputable universities where excellent pedagogical practices or curriculum innovation are being implemented, and to facilitate reciprocal visits to the University by academic staff of these institutions. The Scheme is a measure also to ensure that our curriculum and pedagogy are benchmarked against international best practice.

Eligibility
All full-time teaching staff with a minimum of two years of service at the University are eligible to apply.

Deadline for Application
Interested colleagues are encouraged to attend the CETL Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme Workshop at January 25, 2013, which will provide an overview of the Scheme and advice on the preparation of the application. All applications and supporting documents should reach Ms. Synthia Chau, Secretary of the Teaching and Learning Quality Committee (c/o Academic Development and Quality Assurance Section of Registry) on or before March 15, 2013. Enquires may be directed to Ms. Synthia Chau at 2859 2440 or via email to schau@hku.hk.

Applicants will be notified of the results in April/May 2013.

For more details, please read the circular below.
Announcement circular from the Chairman of TLQC (document 139/1112) (HKU Portal login required)

Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme Workshop
Organized by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning
Facilitator: Dr. Gayle Morris, CETL, The University of Hong Kong
Date: 25 Jan, 2013 (Fri)
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Venue: Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building

Abstract
This workshop provides an overview of “Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme.” This workshop is open to all teaching staff who are interested in finding out more about the Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme. Staff will be provided an overview of the scheme, the key objectives, eligibility and advice in preparing an application. Staff who are thinking about applying in the next round are strongly encouraged to attend. Staff who are not sure, or would simply like to know more about the scheme, are most welcome.

Registration

For registration, please contact:
Ms Ivy Lai , CETL Phone: 3917 8996; Email: laichun2@hku.hk.

U21 Educational Innovation Conference 2012

Video: Nurturing global citizens in undergraduate education
Keynote presentation by Professor Amy B.M. Tsui at the U21 Educational Innovation Conference 2012

On November 8-9, 2012, the U21 Educational Innovation Steering Group organized a sixth international conference at the National University of Singapore. The event, entitled “Transformative Education in the 21st Century”, aimed to address two themes, namely enhancing active student engagement and broadening educational experience. 46 participants from institutions around the world joined the conference and heard the following keynote speeches:

  1. Bringing breadth and integration to undergraduate education
    by Professors Daniel Bernstein (University of Kansas, USA)
  2. New media literacies and personalized learning
    by Professor Michael McManus (University of Queensland, Australia)
  3. Self-direction as a path of transformative learning
    by Professor Gary Poole (University of British Columbia, Canada)
  4. Nurturing global citizens in undergraduate education
    by Professor Amy Tsui (The University of Hong Kong)

To learn more about the conference and to download the keynote presentations, please visit this website. To read the news release of the National University of Singapore, please click here.

Library advisory service available at Chi Wah Learning Commons

Message from University Libraries

With effect from 15 October, 2012, the University Libraries has launched an advisory service for students in the Chi Wah Learning Commons (智華館).  The University Libraries will offer assistance to students in:

  • using the library services and facilities;
  • formulating search strategies;
  • searching the information resources, such as Dragon (the library catalogue) and the article databases; and
  • setting up personal consultations for in-depth information search.

The advisory service is available Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm in Zone R, i.e. the designated Student Advisory Services Zone shown in green in the following floor plan.

The Libraries aims to provide high quality advisory service to facilitate student learning experience at the Learning Commons which is developing into a campus hub for student-centered learning activities.

You are most welcome to share with us what you think about the Libraries’ advisory service at the Chi Wah Learning Commons by sending us an email to hkulref@hku.hk.

Commencement of Advisory Services for Students at the Chi Wah Learning Commons

Message from Information Technology Services

Information Technology Services announced the commencement of advisory services for students on the second floor of the Chi Wah Learning Commons (智華館) on 15 October 2012 (Monday).

On the second floor, an area (shown in green in the following floor plan) is designated as a Student Advisory Services Zone where students may seek advice from a number of departments, namely the Academic Advising Office (AAO), Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES), Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) and the University Libraries.

The Student Advisory Services Zone consists of an open space where the advisors are on duty; a Language Practice Laboratory (to be opened later); and ten interview rooms for one-on-one discussions. There is a display screen at each end of the Zone showing the servicing hours of the advising departments.

The following outlines the types of advice that students will be able to obtain in the Learning Commons.

The Academic Advising Office (AAO) will provide academic advice to students on a one-on-one basis in the following areas:

  • adjustment to university studies and development of study plans;
  • guidance on academic regulations and cross-faculty learning opportunities;
  • attending to academic areas of weakness;
  • planning for postgraduate studies; and
  • exploration of campus resources to enhance academic success.

The Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES) will provide English writing support in one-on-one sessions where undergraduates and postgraduate students can come to:

  • get advice from teaching assistants;
  • learn how to analyze and plan an assignment;
  • learn how to grow as a writer;
  • develop writing techniques in both academic and literary writing.

The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) will focus primarily on providing “non-academic” advice to students covering such areas as career advising, service and experiential learning opportunities, generic skills (e.g. time management, study and life skills, and personal growth), campus life planning (e.g. financial management, housing needs), and university life planning (e.g. goal setting, learning plans, cultural awareness).

The University Libraries will offer assistance to students in:

  • using the library services and facilities;
  • formulating search strategies;
  • searching the information resources, such as Dragon (the library catalogue) and the article databases; and
  • setting up personal consultations for in-depth information search.

Moreover, CAES and CEDARS are jointly offering the “Peer English Tutoring” scheme in the Zone; and, in conjunction with the Chinese Language Centre, CEDARS is also offering the “Survival Cantonese” scheme. More details of the schemes can be found at these websites: http://caes.hku.hk/ve and http://cedars.hku.hk

The University is committed to making the Learning Commons an inspiring, vibrant and technology-rich learning space.  The provision of high quality advisory services to enhance student experience and to enable skills development is pivotal to the development of the Learning Commons into a campus hub for student-centered learning activities.