325 administered centrally through the instruction group. The final scores of the "PRP"programs are ranked as "Project-based experiments"afforded participants an “Fail,"“Pass,”and“Excellent"while the number of pro- opportunity to explore some specific projects in more grams that get the "Excellent"level should not exceed detail.It also allowed for a discussion of the pros and 10%of the total.The individual scores of the students cons of several components of these programs.In addi- are divided into five ranks,which are "Excellent"(90-100 tion,participants were introduced to some methodolo- points),"Good"(80-89 points),"Middle Level"(70-79 gies that have proven to be successful at each institu- points), “Pass”(60-69 points),and“Fai”(below60 tion.The students also discuss the progress and prob- points),and the students who get the "Excellent"rank lems in their work with others in the seminar once a should be strictly controlled to be under 15-20%of the week.According to the problems,the group leader total,and everyone will receive one grade.Each student points out the disadvantages and opinions for improve- (or group)will write a research thesis and make an oral ment and illustrates his/her own ideas on how to perform presentation of his/her work at the end of the term.It is efficient experiment with the purpose of developing rele- suggested that the students begin their research projects vant skills in Course Design.Certainly,in various phases, at the end of their second academic year so as to allow the subjects are different and so are the desires for stu- them to use two full summers as well as their third year dents in different grades.Finally,students must complete of studies to complete their projects. the paper writing process according to the "Instructions In general,the students must write a paper or labora- for authors"of a journal that has been published.The tory reports,through which,we may evaluate their work. manuscript is revised by the students,tutors,and teach- A paper (or reported)returned with a grade and no com- ers,respectively,and then submitted to the management ment is useless as a learning tool,as students are left department or recommended for publication.Through with no indication of how to improve.The tutors should these processes,the skills of the students'report writing not attempt to rewrite laboratory reports or assignments will be improved greatly. for their students,whereas feedback on where the stu- The key of a successful program depends on the pro- dent erred is essential for improving the future perform- fessors who are active in research.The criteria for stu- ance.Sometimes,the management committee may be dent selection are the scientific significance of their pro- required for investigating the skill level of the students by posals,their abilities to complete the project in time,and an operation for 10-20 min.The indicator system of eval- the commitment and quality of their research advisors. uation is relative to the learning level of the student when Moreover,these programs encourage interdisciplinary entering the PRP program,but not the development level research. of subjects.For instance.how to evaluate the "creativity of the theory and methods?"If a student does not learn STUDENT SOURCES molecular biology,but uses the techniques relative to it Because of the diversity of the course,there is no (e.g.,PCR technique),it can be concluded that the stu- dent is creative.The advantage of task,and theoretical entirely suitable single textbook.Consequently,the differ- and realistic significance was evaluated with the advant- ent undergraduate degree programs develop the in- house laboratory manual,select a publication as a labo- age using techniques (modern techniques or general techniques),and if it can solve the practical problems in ratory manual [15],or write a book of operational instruc- tion [16].In general,"Instructions to authors"of journals agricultural and industrial production.The evaluation of is recommended as a guide for writing technique.In the the difficulties and labor intensity is as same as the "cre- biological degree programs in some universities,"A ativity of the theory and methods,"mentioned earlier. Guide to Writing about Science and Technology Papers" However over 90%programs of total were completed, as a minicourse is required for the undergraduate degree. the reliability of experimental datum and language must In addition,published scientific papers are added to the be verified under the management of relating to a recommended reading lists to assist research endeavors teacher (tutor). especially those published in specialized high-quality journals,such as Plant Cell,Cell,etc.,and students are DISCUSSIONS encouraged to use databases and other electronic resour- ces of the university library. Much progress has been made in life sciences in the recent years;consequently,the need of an advanced biology course for training experimental skills is reasona- EVALUATION ble and has long been recognized in the Chinese univer- The course is evaluated in five parts.The creativity of sities.The objective of life science education is to equip the theory and methods contributes 40%of the total undergraduates with a wide range of experimental skills. score.The other factors comprising the evaluation including some highly sophisticated technologies [17].To include the advantage of task,theoretical and realistic accomplish the purpose,many courses and relevant significance (20%),the difficulties and labor intensity techniques are assigned in different semesters,and (20%),investigation harvest relating to the program some specialty operation techniques are even provided (10%),reliability of experimental datum,and language as a course to students for practical learning [18,19]. precision in writing (10%).The final achievement is indi- Students,particularly those at the lower grades,are cated as the point average evaluated by 5-7 scholars required to develop cognitive and analytical capacities in and professors the four years of study including the delivery of a lot ofadministered centrally through the instruction group. ‘‘Project-based experiments’’ afforded participants an opportunity to explore some specific projects in more detail. It also allowed for a discussion of the pros and cons of several components of these programs. In addi￾tion, participants were introduced to some methodolo￾gies that have proven to be successful at each institu￾tion. The students also discuss the progress and prob￾lems in their work with others in the seminar once a week. According to the problems, the group leader points out the disadvantages and opinions for improve￾ment and illustrates his/her own ideas on how to perform efficient experiment with the purpose of developing rele￾vant skills in Course Design. Certainly, in various phases, the subjects are different and so are the desires for stu￾dents in different grades. Finally, students must complete the paper writing process according to the ‘‘Instructions for authors’’ of a journal that has been published. The manuscript is revised by the students, tutors, and teach￾ers, respectively, and then submitted to the management department or recommended for publication. Through these processes, the skills of the students’ report writing will be improved greatly. The key of a successful program depends on the pro￾fessors who are active in research. The criteria for stu￾dent selection are the scientific significance of their pro￾posals, their abilities to complete the project in time, and the commitment and quality of their research advisors. Moreover, these programs encourage interdisciplinary research. STUDENT SOURCES Because of the diversity of the course, there is no entirely suitable single textbook. Consequently, the differ￾ent undergraduate degree programs develop the in￾house laboratory manual, select a publication as a labo￾ratory manual [15], or write a book of operational instruc￾tion [16]. In general, ‘‘Instructions to authors’’ of journals is recommended as a guide for writing technique. In the biological degree programs in some universities, ‘‘A Guide to Writing about Science and Technology Papers’’ as a minicourse is required for the undergraduate degree. In addition, published scientific papers are added to the recommended reading lists to assist research endeavors, especially those published in specialized high-quality journals, such as Plant Cell, Cell, etc., and students are encouraged to use databases and other electronic resour￾ces of the university library. EVALUATION The course is evaluated in five parts. The creativity of the theory and methods contributes 40% of the total score. The other factors comprising the evaluation include the advantage of task, theoretical and realistic significance (20%), the difficulties and labor intensity (20%), investigation harvest relating to the program (10%), reliability of experimental datum, and language precision in writing (10%). The final achievement is indi￾cated as the point average evaluated by 5–7 scholars and professors. The final scores of the ‘‘PRP’’ programs are ranked as ‘‘Fail,’’ ‘‘Pass,’’ and ‘‘Excellent’’ while the number of pro￾grams that get the ‘‘Excellent’’ level should not exceed 10% of the total. The individual scores of the students are divided into five ranks, which are ‘‘Excellent’’ (90–100 points), ‘‘Good’’ (80–89 points), ‘‘Middle Level’’ (70–79 points), ‘‘Pass’’ (60–69 points), and ‘‘Fail’’ (below 60 points), and the students who get the ‘‘Excellent’’ rank should be strictly controlled to be under 15–20% of the total, and everyone will receive one grade. Each student (or group) will write a research thesis and make an oral presentation of his/her work at the end of the term. It is suggested that the students begin their research projects at the end of their second academic year so as to allow them to use two full summers as well as their third year of studies to complete their projects. In general, the students must write a paper or labora￾tory reports, through which, we may evaluate their work. A paper (or reported) returned with a grade and no com￾ment is useless as a learning tool, as students are left with no indication of how to improve. The tutors should not attempt to rewrite laboratory reports or assignments for their students, whereas feedback on where the stu￾dent erred is essential for improving the future perform￾ance. Sometimes, the management committee may be required for investigating the skill level of the students by an operation for 10–20 min. The indicator system of eval￾uation is relative to the learning level of the student when entering the PRP program, but not the development level of subjects. For instance, how to evaluate the ‘‘creativity of the theory and methods?’’ If a student does not learn molecular biology, but uses the techniques relative to it (e.g., PCR technique), it can be concluded that the stu￾dent is creative. The advantage of task, and theoretical and realistic significance was evaluated with the advant￾age using techniques (modern techniques or general techniques), and if it can solve the practical problems in agricultural and industrial production. The evaluation of the difficulties and labor intensity is as same as the ‘‘cre￾ativity of the theory and methods,’’ mentioned earlier. However over 90% programs of total were completed, the reliability of experimental datum and language must be verified under the management of relating to a teacher (tutor). DISCUSSIONS Much progress has been made in life sciences in the recent years; consequently, the need of an advanced biology course for training experimental skills is reasona￾ble and has long been recognized in the Chinese univer￾sities. The objective of life science education is to equip undergraduates with a wide range of experimental skills, including some highly sophisticated technologies [17]. To accomplish the purpose, many courses and relevant techniques are assigned in different semesters, and some specialty operation techniques are even provided as a course to students for practical learning [18, 19]. Students, particularly those at the lower grades, are required to develop cognitive and analytical capacities in the four years of study including the delivery of a lot of 325