Google News, Thursday, June 16, 2021

Teaching methods keep changing with the times,................... the blackboard of the old days ........... electronic teaching today. Mr. Kam, physics instructor the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is one of those who has changed ......... the times.

Mr. Kam employs a two-pronged approach. First, he uses multimedia teaching materials during lectures. Second, he arranges internships for undergraduates. These can take the form of learning assistantships at the university or teaching assistantships at secondary schools, and also there’s always the odd science project at the Space Museum.

The initiatives have earned him the Faculty Exemplary Teaching Award 2020. A CUHK alumnus, he is grateful for the chance to teach at the university after earning his doctoral degree there. His teaching position actually represents the fulfillment of a dream, for the status of professors during his days as a university student was extremely high and he could meet them only during lectures.

After being a teacher for 10 years, Mr. Kam has found no apparent regression in the learning abilities of students, but he believes teachers should not just force knowledge on students - they have to pay careful attention to their needs too. 

The multimedia materials that Mr. Kam uses to illustrate his area of interest includes animation and video clips. He encourages students to read popular astronomy magazines and share any note-worthy content they find. Mr. Kam also gets his undergraduates to help prepare students sitting for physics papers in public exams or to help out on research projects undertaken by meteorological officers at the observatory.

He also arranges for his undergraduates to teach students from other faculties during physics liberal studies classes through talks and star-gazing expeditions. Such responsibilities serve two greater purposes.

First, undergraduates become even more motivated to learn when they find out they have to guide other students. Second, physics students are, unlike arts students, not at their best when called upon to express themselves. Acting as assistants allows them to practice their skills and build up their self- confidence.

I asked Mr. Kam what he found most satisfying in teaching.

And the answer is obvious. It is the deep friendship he forms with students. Mr. Kam says many former students still come back to see him occasionally despite being busy parents. He draws considerable satisfaction from seeing his students grow into mature adults.

For Mr. Kam, the best teachers will never find extracurricular activity a burden because the good work that is done today plants the seed for future generations.