Students' ability to organize biochemical and biochemistry-related terms correlates with their performance in a biochemical examination

Abstract

Organization is believed to be related to understanding and memory. Whether this belief was applicable in biochemical education was examined about two years after students had experienced biochemistry classes in their first year. The ability of organizing information in biochemistry was judged from the number of correct links of 886 biochemical and biochemistry-related terms to 14 headings, and the level of understanding and memory on biochemical material was determined from the number of correct answers to biochemical items. The result showed a statistically significant positive correlation between the ability of organization and the level of understanding and memory. Thus, biochemistry teachers need to show the organization of what they teach for the help of the students who have a low level of understanding and memory. © 2007 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.