Ka-fu Wong's Journal

I am writing this journal to share my views with my friends and students. I write about anything that I see and feel. Although this is not a blog, your comments are welcome. Comments, if any, should be directed to kafuwong@econ.hku.hk.

 

2023-12-14

Initially, I heard many negative feedback from seniors about the course, but I quickly realized they were mistaken.

2023-12-12

An awakening!

2023-05-25

Templates on sale, anyone?

2023-05-23

Who is to blame? The Observatory? Or yourself?

2023-05-20

I hope all students would be just as willing to learn and reach out for help from us!

2023-05-05

Can students late-drop their worst performing course?

2023-01-16

We shall overcome! We shall overcome the GPA killer's challenge!

I received an email from a student thanking me for ECON1210 (Introductory Microeconomics).

Her message was full of encouraging words not just to me and my teaching team, but also to many students who might be struggling to pass the course.

The message is included here to inspire other students to overcome the killer’s challenge like she did.

----- Thank you for ECON1210 -----
Dear Dr Wong,

I would really like to thank you for ECON1210 which I have taken in the previous semester. I was never the brightest student, and I worried quite a lot that I would not pass the course. I have received warning emails from you regarding poor quiz and midterm performance, but at last I am so touched I received a B grade.

I really witnessed my growth during the past semester. The unrelenting emails and reminders from the teaching team, which I always found annoying. The spirit and devotion that you and the teaching team have put into this course is so admirable. From ignoring your emails to reading through each line of instruction, replaying your tutorial videos, reading your teaching journal, this was to me a very eye-opening period. I never spoke to you in person, but I have always felt your presence. This is exactly what we need in an undergraduate teaching. With so many students it is not possible for teachers to know each student personally like in high school, but with your personalised exam papers, eCommons arrangement and personal coaching sessions, I feel like each student have equal chance of being heard. Of course, students can always email a teacher or TA, but it really made a difference to motivate students when the teaching team unceasingly initiates contact, despite how many students always underestimate the importance of getting in touch, especially in the beginning. I was one of them, a student who didn't pay too much attention at the beginning, but I was very lucky to have received your email after the failure in the midterm and it changed not only my attitude but of course the final outcome. Thank you for giving me a second chance!

Best regards,
xxx

2022-12-30

Rules! We follow rigid rules!

2022-12-30

I am honest. Why don't you trust me?

2022-12-17

How many times do I have to repeat before you listen and follow my instructions?

2022-12-06

Teaching Innovation Award

2022-11-07

Our expectation: 10 hours per week for 12 weeks!

2022-09-28

Is it possible to late drop?

2022-06-21

Why not implement zoom invigilation on top of personalized exam papers?

2022-03-21

DO NOT PANIC. YOU CAN DO IT. WE CAN HELP YOU, ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!

2022-01-27

Can you help supervise my project?

2022-01-19

Please help me to enroll in Introductory Microeconomics NOW!

2022-01-15

Thank you, for putting in your best effort, thus letting me achieve what I wanted to achieve.

2022-01-06

It is never easy to face failure, but it can be an important learning experience.

2021-12-30

University life is not just about getting good grades, but also exploring your limit and understanding yourself.

2021-10-04

Reasons for disapproving late drop requests

2021-08-04

It takes two to tango!

2021-08-02

ECON1210 a killer course? KF Wong a killer?

2021-07-20

Shock and sad to see student's poor performance in 2021 Spring

2021-07-14

Cooling-off period

2021-03-17

Online data are cheap and easy to find, but they have limitations!

2021-02-08

Mini-projects to build up research ability (1)

2021-01-11

Be our advisor, please!

2020-12-21

Why do we need this transparency? For fairness! For learning!

2020-11-23

You want to build some muscle but do not want to use your time exercising? I can help by exercising for you!

2020-11-18

Feedback to feedback

2020-11-15

General comments on participant's performance in a competition

2020-11-04

Yes, 1200+ personalized versions of the test paper!

2020-02-18

Let students focus on learning, teachers on teaching, and thus together achieve the intended learning outcomes.

2020-02-10

Online learning requires Discipline, DISCIpline, DISCIPLINE!

2019-01-15

Supposedly not difficult to get a B grade.

2018-12-11

This quality is more important than grades.

2018-11-15

Late dropping

2018-11-15

Unreliability of average SETL scores due to the high non-response rate

2018-11-13

Let go!

2018-10-24

No, please do not use my lecture time for your society's announcement.

2018-09-26

Scheduling an appointment

2018-08-27

None of my business

2018-08-21

Course evaluation bounds and response rate

2018-08-09

Be a responsible job applicant

2018-02-10

No calories browsing....

2018-01-24

Would "uncertain" help your postgraduate study application? I would say, CERTAINLY NOT!

2017-09-14

When helping your friend is NOT HELPING YOUR FRIEND!

2017-09-13

My life as a student -- AGAIN

2017-09-05

You like easy grade, easy honor, easy graduation?

2017-07-18

My Facebook friends, please protect me just as I protect you.

2017-07-12

An internship

2016-03-01

You know me. But, do I know you?

2015-12-17

Why learning fails to happen despite the great design of the course and the great teacher?

2015-10-20

Can I trust you, my friend?

2015-10-17

If we have the second chance to "retake", failing or getting a low grade would not be so stressful.

2015-09-18

My first-hand experience on why learning is not taking place in lectures!

2015-08-20

Are you sure Econometrics is useless?

2015-05-04

Eating 100 bowls of rice in a day

2015-01-31

You say you love me. How can I tell whether you truly love me?

2014-10-24

I would be happy to write recommendations letter for your PhD or Master application if ....

2014-10-23

Master of Finance at MIT

2014-10-06

Are you sure what you saw was black?

2014-03-05

GOLDEN opportunity -- only to the hard-working students.

2014-03-01

What to do when your teacher's teaching style does not fit your learning style?

2013-11-28

A negative experience? Not completely. It can be made into a positive one!

2013-11-27

Many thanks for your appreciation of my teaching (II)

2013-07-23

My next stop is Barcelona!

2013-06-01

Her decision to pursue Master of Finance after her undergradaute study at HKU

2012-11-10

What should I do at HKU (activities versus study and many other things)?

2011-09-12

Coach, can you teach me to swim?

2010-02-18

How government policy with good intention can create frustration and political instability?

2009-12-01

Cherish our beloved ones who are still around us -- when we still can!

2009-11-27

Trust your teachers, but don't trust them blindly!

2009-11-26

You can give me a low score but please write some comments to help me improve my teaching.

2009-08-26

The similarity in health care service provision and fire fighting service provision

2009-03-23

Be brave. Visit your teachers. Ask them questions. Your teachers are a lot nicer than you think.

2009-03-14

How can you verify this is really you -- Dr. Ka-fu Wong of HKU?

2009-03-09

I dream to work in the business sector. Should I pursue a master degree before I join the private sector?

2009-02-19

Any economist can predict this... Can you?

2008-12-21

My students performed poorly in the final exam. Help me help them.... please.

2008-12-20

Learning should not end with the final exam!

2008-11-19

Exchange in Europe can be very rewarding!

2008-11-18

UC Berkeley is my top choice for exchange!

2008-11-02

Why did we not have fresh mushrooms twenty years ago?

2008-02-23

Dialogue is preferred to monologue.

2008-02-13

If I were a single unemployed old man who lives on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)

2007-12-17

Is forecasting a pure guessing game?

2007-12-16

I want zero emission of CO2!

2007-11-30

How would I choose universities for exchange?

2007-11-28

Excuse me. Can you write a recommendation letter for me?

2007-11-12

No pain, no gain!

2007-09-14

Teaching is to be enjoyed, and so is studying. Grades should only be secondary.