From March 21 to 23, College of Innovation and Experiment conducted a three-day study tour of biological science teachers to Nanjing University and Nanjing Agricultural University. Executive Vice Dean of our college, Professor Chen Yuchun presided over a study group of 12 members consisting of biological science teachers from College of Life Science and administrators of teaching affairs. This tour was conducted to take in and learn from advanced experiences of fellow universities on the design of teaching contents and the application of teaching approaches, along with their exploring thoughts and practice in teaching reform. During the three-day investigation, our university study group made thorough communication with colleges and departments concerned from Nanjing University and Nanjing Agricultural University, which benefited our teachers by intensive study and on-class observation.

    On March 21, our university study group attended the symposium at Nanjing Agricultural University, exchanging ideas with leaders of NAU Academic Division, College of Life Science and teacher representatives. Deputy Director of NAU Academic Division Gao Wulong generally introduced the overall situation of teaching management and their ideas and practice in teaching reform, who also detailed their talents cultivation program characterized with Solid Foundation, Great Adaptability and Featured Specialty and flexible curricula of Three Compulsory Platform and Four Optional Category. Professor Xia Kai from NAU Life Science College shared their experience in curricula, teaching reform and construction of teaching team. At the symposium, teachers from our university had in-depth discussion with biological science teachers of NAU about the course content, the reform in teaching methods and the training of students’ primary ability to do scientific research.

    On March 22, the study group came to Nanjing University and had an informal discussion with leaders of NU Life Science College and teacher representatives from NU experiment center. Vice Dean of NU Life Science College, Professor Kong Lingdong and College Deputy Party Secretary Zhu Aiwu respectively presented the curriculum of life science discipline, cultivation program of discipline, and the undergraduate cultivation model of Basic Curriculum Plus Professional Curriculum. The discussion involved in the systematic integration of Biology curricular, undergraduate students-involved scientific research program (SRT Program), international cooperating education and the improvement of teaching efficiency. On March 23, staff in charge of teaching management from College of Innovation and Experiment made further geared communication with representatives of AU Kuang Ya Ming College, concentrating on the selection of cultivation model of top-notch innovative talents and curriculum.

    To know better about the course content and method reform for full understanding of specific teaching reform, our teachers made full use of the three days to observe and learn the live classes at NU and NAU. There were 8 teachers successively attended the classes of General Biology, Molecular Biology, Cytobiology, Botany, Biochemistry, Microbiology and other basic courses of biological science of 13 subjects in all. By attending the classes and geared communication with teachers from NAU and NU, teachers from our university got their thoughts of teaching reform enriched, which provided instructive experience to optimize curriculum and improve teaching methods.

    In the study tour, the study group visited the public scientific research training laboratories and college students' innovation-operated laboratories, national experimental teaching demonstration center of NAU and made observation on experimental teaching of some courses. Teachers from our university exchanged ideas with teachers of NAU experimental center on how to equip the laboratory items scientifically, how to design the laboratories, how to better organize and conduct student-centered experiment programs and how to improve students’ operating ability.

    The study tour strengthens the contact and promotes mutual understanding between our university and Nanjing University and Nanjing Agricultural University, offering our opportunity for learning advanced teaching experience in optimizing the course content of biological science discipline, improving on-class teaching approaches and enhancing students’ abilities to do scientific research. Meanwhile, we benefited on the construction of essential equipments and management of biological science laboratory.

                          Study group from Northwest A& F University are exchanging ideas with people in charge of Academic
                                                    Division and Life Science College of Nanjing Agricultural University

                           Study group from Northwest A& F University were present the symposium with people in charge of
                                                                          Life Science College of Nanjing University

                        Study group from Northwest A& F University were communicating with charging people of Laboratory of
                                                                                              Nanjing Agricultural University

                                        Study group from Northwest A& F University were observing the laboratory to study