Preparation of models of macromolecules as a teaching tool for teaching biochemistry

Abstract

Inserted in Health, Biological and Agrarian Sciences courses, biochemistry includes concepts of Biology and Chemistry that study phenomena in organisms whose understanding is impaired by the amount of information and the need for abstraction of content, as current teaching tools are insufficient to facilitate understanding. It is necessary to develop recreational activities to view the structures. This work aims to elaborate macromolecules models present in living beings as a didactic tool for teaching biochemistry and contribute to student education. The work was developed with biochemistry students in an undergraduate course at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. First, they answered a questionnaire to investigate previous knowledge and they were divided into groups in order to make the macromolecule to be presented at the end of the subject. After the culmination of the activity, a survey was applied on the contents of the discipline and the practice performed. The responses were analyzed qualitatively. Initially, the students showed disinterest and little previous knowledge. Ahead, they perceived a co-relation between the discipline and the environment, as well as the presence of previously absent or insipient concepts. The assignment was satisfactory for learning, and applicable in teaching practice. The material produced helped in the teaching-learning process and expanded the existing teaching methodologies to approach the biochemistry content.