Proposal of activities for improving tuition process learning of General Chemistry to the residents in Basic Sciences based on problematic teaching

Abstract

Introduction: Several scientific investigations report that the problem-based learning of Chemistry is dynamic and effective, and that the students reject science lessons which are based on memorization learning.

Objective: To assess a proposal of activities based on task-based teaching for the improvement of the teaching-learning process of General Chemistry, given to residents in specialties of the Basic Biomedical Sciences.
Material and Methods: The modeling method and system conception were both used, and a group of methodological actions was also included. The proposal was also assessed by a group of 11 specialists that used the prospective method "Link among specialists or experts´ opinions". An anonymous questionnaire was also applied to the students after the application of the proposal during the teaching-learning process, and the results were assessed using the descriptive statistics.
Results: It was confirmed that there is a degree of agreement on the criteria expressed by the specialists. The proposal fulfils the objectives of the subject, and provides residents´ motivation for the study after applying their knowledge in an integrated form. The questionnaire showed that the activities proposed provided approximately a 95 % of benefits in the understanding of the contents of the subject, and approximately 54 % of these contents have been put into practice during the professional fulfilment of the specialties in the Basic Biomedical Sciences.
Conclusions: The proposal of activities based on task-based learning contributes to the improvement of the teaching-learning process of General Chemistry in the specialties of the Basic Biomedical Sciences.

Keywords: teaching-learning process, problem solving, Basic Biomedical Sciences.