Outstanding Performance in Teaching – Individual Award

Dr CHEUNG Ka Luen
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology

Dr Cheung is a passionately devoted mathematics educator. He firmly believes in “teaching as inquiry” and encourages students to think for themselves in logical and creative ways. Dr Cheung is well recognised for his dedication to the planning and organisation of his learner- centred instructional design and development of teaching resources to enrich students’ learning experiences. He is very resourceful, equipped with a rich repertoire of interesting activities and stories to engage students with different learning needs. He is versatile in contextualising mathematics in real-life activities and is perceptive in connecting mathematics to other fields of study.

Dr Cheung’s care for students goes beyond the classroom, and he is committed to fostering their all-rounded development. One significant example is the operation of an open library based on an honour system. Dr Cheung provides professional and pastoral care to students, including career guidance and mentoring. He has been commended by his students as being “a perfect mathematics instructor” and as having “enthusiasm about teaching that has great impact on students”.

Dr Cheung seeks continuous improvement to his teaching through self-reflection, feedback from students and colleagues, and engagement in educational research. His teaching excellence is evidenced in consistently positive feedback from his students and colleagues. His exemplary teaching was recognised with the conferment of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010/11.

At the Institute, Dr Cheung has been extensively involved in programme committee work, serving as the programme leader for a number of programmes. He has also actively engaged in developing the mathematics curriculum and teaching resources. He has participated in many new initiative, such as the Shi-Tu (師徒) Scheme and course development for Master’s and professional development programmes. He also represented the Institute in the cross-institutional Hong Kong Virtual University Project.

In the public arena, Dr Cheung devotes much time and effort to the enhancement of the learning and teaching of mathematics and mathematics general education. He has provided expert services to various sectors – schools, government and professional organisations such as Curriculum Development Council of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education and the Executive Committee of the Hang Lung Mathematics Awards. His contributions have clearly reached out to the impacted on various parts of the community.