The Teaching Practice And Curriculum Policy Of Freshman Seminar

Following the great-leap-forward development of the higher education in China,the quality of undergraduate education is presented with a flinty challenge.Frcshman seminar is brought about in the context of this background.At the end of 1950s,universities represented by Harvard University wanted to break a new model on undergraduate education field,thus created freshman seminar-a new curriculum and teaching model-on the base of the old "seminar".After the 1980s,freshman seminar developed rapidly among the American universities.In 2003,freshman seminar was first lead into Chinese undergraduate courses by Tsinghua University.And many research-oriented universities have done different levels of attempt.The object of this study is the teaching practice of freshman seminar,by using the methods of literature,case,comparison and interview, discussing the curriculum policy of freshman seminar and the practical conditions between USA and China.I will analyze the problems in the process of the freshman seminar development,and put forward curriculum policy recommendations which will be in favor of freshman seminar either from nation or from universities.And I hope that I can offer countermeasures both in the undergraduate teaching reform and the improvement of the quality of teaching.Furthermore,this study also discusses curriculum project and practice. from the standpoint of the goal,the content,the method,and so on.The opinion of this study is:the topic of freshman seminar centers on the common interests between teachers and students,takes the students as the main body,uses different kinds of teaching methods. totally mobilizes students' study enthusiasm,and builds a free-learning and free-talking atmosphere.Freshman seminar has not only changed the teaching method and learning method,but also built a bridge between the freshmen and professors which is helpful in building harmonious relationship between faculty and students.Freshman seminar is helpful in cutting-edge discipline and explores academic problems.Freshman seminar has completed the curricular construction of undergraduate teaching,pushed the professors forward the platform of undergraduate teaching,and also played a positive role in improving the quality of undergraduate teaching.But apparently,the deepth and width of the freshman seminar have to be improved,and the degree of attention of freshman seminar by national undergraduate practice guidance and evaluation organizations have to be improved,too.In the practice,we should perfect academy curriculum policy,encourage more teachers to teach freshman seminar,improve teacher-training system. promote teaching standard and enhance communication and research of the teaching practice knowledge in freshman seminar.