Levels of Assimilation and Preservation of Knowledge in the Discipline “Biochemistry” Among 2nd Year Students (on the Example of the Ural State Medical University)

Abstract

Introduction. At all stages of the pedagogical process, it is necessary to control and evaluate the assimilation of educational information for the successful development of further education. The level of survival of students’ knowledge is a relevant indicator that evaluates their retention. Pedagogical technologies in the 2^nd year involve the creation of the initial first (choice from the proposed answers) and second (independent action) levels of assimilation. The aim of the study was to assess the success of studying the discipline of biochemistry by 2^nd year students by determining the safety (survival) and mastering the levels of knowledge. Material and methods. Carried out in 4 groups of 2^nd year students studying at the same faculty of Ural State Medical University (USMU) self-assessment of knowledge in relation to the topics studied; anonymous questionnaire to assess the levels of assimilation and electronic testing to assess the preservation of knowledge 3 months after the scheduled testing. Results. The scores when testing the survival of knowledge were carbohydrates (50.0±12.2) and lipids (48.6±15.0); the results of planned testing, respectively (78.5±10.9) and (75.4±14.3) out of 100 possible points. The retention of knowledge was in the range of values for the topic carbohydrates 56–69 %; on lipids 54–71 %. Self-assessments of the assimilation of the topic carbohydrates were (3.10±0.32) points, those of lipids (3.65±0.32) points out of 5 possible. Discussion. The high value of the coefficient of pair correlations r = 0.74 of the results of scheduled testing shows a close relationship between carbohydrates and lipids in the assimilation of knowledge. Processing a total of 550 answers for each questionnaire to determine the levels of knowledge of students revealed that the number of correct answers to recognition is almost 3 times higher than the number of answers demonstrating the second level of assimilation. Conclusions. The surveyed students have the same retention of knowledge 55–70 % on the topics of carbohydrates and lipids. The 1^st level of mastering knowledge prevails, which is insufficient for mastering the discipline of biochemistry at a medical university.

For citation
Danilovtseva AV, Zvedeninova UV, Kaminskaia LA. Levels of assimilation and preservation of knowledge in the discipline “Biochemistry” among 2^nd year students (on the example of the Ural State Medical University). Bulletin of USMU. 2023;(2):82–92. (In Russ.). EDN: https://elibrary.ru/NOGHFK.