The ability to manage the constantly growing information in genetics available on the internet is becoming crucial in biochemical education and medical practice. Therefore, developing students skills in working with bioinformatics tools is a challenge to undergraduate courses in the molecular life sciences. The regulation of gene transcription by hormones and vitamins is a complex topic that influences all body systems. We describe a student centered activity used in a multidisciplinary “Functional Organ System“ course on the Endocrine System. By receiving, as teams, a nucleotide sequence of a hormone or vitamin-response element, students navigate through internet databases to find the gene to which it belongs. Subsequently, student’s search how the corresponding hormone/vitamin influences the expression of that particular gene and how a dysfunctional interaction might cause disease. This activity, proposed for 4 consecutive years to cohorts of 50-60 students/year enrolled in the 2nd year our undergraduate medical degree, revealed that 90% of the students developed a better understanding of the usefulness of bioinformatics and that 98% intend to use them in the future. Since hormones and vitamins regulate genes of all body organ systems, this web-based activity successfully integrates the whole body physiology of the medical curriculum and can be of relevance to other courses on molecular life sciences.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: João Carlos Sousa, Manuel João Costa, Joana Almeida Palha

Palavras-chave: bioinformatics, hormones, active learning

The benefits of using interactive computer softwares in Education have been discussed for some time. This approach can improve cognitive capacity, better learning and, mainly, it makes information acquisition easier. This work presents the development of a software called SISFISIO. It is an “exercise and practice” system designed for teaching Physiology in biomedical courses. It was developed using the Delphi interface system and Macromedia Flash. The Flash components were integrated with Delphi using an ActiveX control. The internal structure of the software has two linearly-linked lists (a linked list is one of the fundamental data structures used in computer programming): one for the exercises and another for the question of each exercise. The information is stored in a text file that should be filled by the instructor. The SISFISIO software uploads this file and it fills the data structures cited above. Upon completion of a Physiology module, the student’s answers can be immediately verified, the scores tallied and the duration of the exercise measured.SISFISIO was incorporated into biomedicine classes at USS. The student’s evaluation, based on the 5-point Likert questionnaire and spontaneous comments, has indicated that the software has facilitated the learning of physiological concepts and was a very stimulating activity.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Tallita Vassequi Silva, Alves, R.s.p., Avelar, J.l.v., Guiné, A.a.a., Pêgo, P.n., Carvalho, C. V. A., De Mesquita, J.f.

Palavras-chave: Education, Physiology, Software

After new campi as Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde (IMS/UFBA) started working, it was necessary to develop practical classes using domestic reagents at Biochemistry to Pharmacy (IMS078). Firstly, students visited a supermarket to read nutritional information at label and select possible products to be used in class. Moreover, chemical processes and fermentation were discussed as different foods and drinks were analysed. Some food were token to laboratories so that biomole cules qualitative analysis were carried on. Domestic use reagents as pharmaceutical iodine solutions, commercial NaOH and vegetable pigments were used. The substances identified were reductant glycid, starch, fatty acid, triacylglycerol and protein. Reactions allowed to identify fungi and vegetable tissues. Moreover, invertase and alfa-amilase activities were determined. After discussions in class, students could improve biochemical knowledge as well as distinguish between milk or lactic drink, animal fat or vegetable hydrogenated fat, honey or glucose. After that, students produced kits and wrote laboratorial notes for use in classes with the rest of the group.

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Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Freitas-Rego, F. R., Pereira, M. G., Loureiro, S. O., Santana, M. T. De, Garrido, R. G., Fabíola De S. R. G. Garrido

Palavras-chave: Education, biochemistry, laboratory

International and national institutions concerned with higher education recommend the inclusion in curriculum of strategies to promote development of aditional skills thentraditionals memorazing habilities and contents reproduction. Between this, special attention is given to stimulating the critical capacitie. To develop this skills, was given a project, included into the Biochemistry discipline, with freshmen students in the Nutrition course of the Saúde Pública College of USP. The project consisted into the scientific articles analysis and in the elaboration of research projects at the Scientific Initiation level. The first part presented the way how Science is divulged and the second, the mold that the scientific knowledge is generated. All activities was always conducted by active communication strategy. The general goal was bring near the students of scientificproceedings, contribute to developed scientific attitude, that is to say, critical sense. The proceeding was evaluated by quantitative methods (questionnaire) and qualitative (interview with differents participant) and the results point for a significative increase of knowledge of scientific job and a developed of yerned skills.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: André Amaral Gonçalves Bianco, Bayardo Baptista Torres

Palavras-chave: Scientific formation, scientific articles, scientific method.

Since 2003, the CBME Scientific Dissemination Coordination has developed a project related to the production and distribution of a scientific dissemination newspaper, called CBME InFORMAÇÃO, directed to high-school students and teachers. It is a quarterly publication and shows the concepts and advances of studies in molecular biology and biotechnology. In order to evaluate the newspaper, a research was accomplished in 2005. It involved 177 students from six high schools of São Carlos and region. In addition, opinions of five science teachers that worked with the newspaper in their classrooms, as well as eight Biology undergraduates were collected. The teachers received some questionnaires that had to be answered by them and their students after a specify activity with the periodical – basically, the activities consisted of three stages: individual reading of the newspaper; formulation of questions by the teacher and, finally, group discussion on the chosen theme. The research confirmed the importance of the use of the periodical as a tool in the formation of critical readers of facts related to the biotechnology and molecular biology, what should contribute with the citizenship development in the students. Moreover, it provided a possibility to reorganize the periodical.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: F.m. Escanhoela, A.c.r. Guerra, F.m. Chiari, M.r.g. Oliveira, L.m. Beltramini

Palavras-chave: Education, Dissemination, Newspaper, Publication, Biotechnology

Biochemistry underlays many subjects taught in high school but most teachers lack enough biochemical bases to explore them properly. To investigate their alternative conceptions we have applied the distance course Biochemistry of Drugs to public school teachers, with class load of 30 hours and six modules: Statistics and basic concepts; Marijuana; Tobacco; Inhalants; Alcohol; Legalization vs Criminalization. The conceptions were analyzed through the course records and the most important was the lack of knowledge on the protein chemical structure, which impaired the comprehension of proposed molecular mechanisms (involving receptors, neurotransmitters, enzyme inhibition, etc.). Several interventions promoted the overcoming of many misconceptions as detected by written tests on chemical nature of involved compounds; neurotransmission mechanism and the role of drugs in neurotransmission. Among 63 questions only 10 had less than 50% correct answers. The teachers’ performances were impaired by reading difficulties and poor scientific background that difficult their distinction of facts and scientific models from common sense or personal opinion. The teachers’ and the course staff evaluations were highly positive. Most of them declared that their knowledge was amplified and that they would recommend this course to colleagues. They also were favorably surprised with the deep level of the topics, the demanded dedication and the fact that the course was addressed to themselves instead of to their students.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Silvia Lopes De Menezes, Bayardo Baptista Torres

Palavras-chave: alternative conceptions, high school teachers, protein structure

The importance of the teaching of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology is evidenced by the progress of those areas and it generates a demand in the updating of science and biology teachers. In that sense, a project was proposed inside of the Public Education Program of FAPESP, in partnership with CBME. The goal was evaluate, among other educational tools, the contribution of the plastic models - Building the molecules of the life: DNA and RNA - in the teaching and learning of these concepts. Nine science teachers of public elementary schools had an updating course after which they elaborated a diagnosis questionnaire in order to subsidize the application of the activities in the classroom. The activities were planned seeking contextualize the subject in classroom, taking into account the difficulties detected in the diagnosis questionnaire. A sheet of notes was elaborated, where the teachers could record their observations and thoughts after the application of the activities, as well as their possibilities and the students` difficulties. These registers indicated that the teachers were satisfied with the use of the material, which made possible a deepened study on the content and a greater interest and participation of the students. It also allowed a reflection on their practice, glimpsing new ways to teach.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: F.m. Chiari, Nelma Regina Segnini Bossolan, Oliveira, M.r.g, Leila Maria Beltramini

Palavras-chave: Educational Models, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology

Introduction in Biochemistry is a discipline held by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UFC. It is offered to the students of the Sciences Centers. The majority of the classes employs as pedagogical tools, theoretical lectures and problem solving activities. To avoid that the learning process is restricted to memorizing, it was elaborated a learning project aiming a better comprehension of the explored content. The methodology included seminars given by the students on subjects analyzed on previous classes. These students were divided in two groups of ten members and each group was assigned to topics of carbohydrates metabolism with the approach on applied Biochemistry. After presentations, a survey was applied revealing that students approved this methodology. The reason given was a better perception of fundamental Biochemistry and its application to their professional field. The evaluation of this methodology was also done based on the grades and it was as follows: in the first evaluation before the seminars, the average score was 4.7 and after, in the second evaluation involving the seminars, the average increased to 7.18. The third and last evaluation without seminars, it was observed a reduction of the average score to 5.63. These results suggest that seminars on Biochemistry were an effective pedagogical methodology in the process of learning/teaching.

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Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Vasconcelos, M. S., Miranda, M. R. A., Fernandes De Melo, D.

Palavras-chave: Learning/Theaching process, Fundamental Biochemestry, Seminars

The current evolution of the science and technology generated a demand in the teachers formation that needs constant updating. In that sense, CBME has been elaborating courses and workshops to update teachers of Sciences and Biology involving current themes. The activities on Molecular Biotechnology were elaborated, especially on restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis. Thirtyseven teachers of public schools participated in the activities. Firstly, it was made an experiment demonstrating the digestion of a plasmidial DNA by two restriction enzymes (DraI and EcoRI), with the subsequent application in gel, in order to elucidate the electrophoresis technique. After the demonstration, simple and practical exercises were distributed to the teachers to simulate those processes using paper ribbons and charts, being concluded with an exercise of a paternity test. A questionnaire was applied as an evaluation tool and from the teachers answers it was observed, among other data, that 100% of the teachers classified the activities as interesting, 43% classified the thematic as actual, 22% defined it as appropriate to their school reality and 19% pointed it as a subject on which they have doubts. Also, it was observed that the teachers felt confident dealing with the most specific subjects, when relating it with the daily events and visualizing a possibility of didactic transposition of those themes.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Barbuto, V.s.;, Miranda, E. M., Nelma Regina Segnini Bossolan, Oliveira, M.r.g, Leila Maria Beltramini

Palavras-chave: Activities on Molecular Biotechnology, Gel Eletrophoresis, Restriction Enzymes, Teachers of Sciences and Biology, Updating High School Teachers

Our intent is to present our experience on teaching Molecular Cell Biology and Protein Chemistry at UNIRIO through an innovative approach that includes myosin II extraction and purification. We took advantage of the properties of muscle contraction and propose a simple method for purifying myosin II by affinity chromatography. This original method is based on the preparation of an affinity column containing actin molecules covalently bound to chitin particles. We propose a three-week syllabus that includes lectures and bench experimental work. The syllabus favors the active learning of protein extraction and purification, as well as, of scientific concepts such as muscle contraction, cytoskeleton structure and its importance for the living cell. Italso promotes the learning of the biotechnological applications of chitin and the applications of protein immobilization in different industrial fields. Furthermore, the activities also target the development of laboratorial technical abilities, the development of problem solving skills and the ability to write up a scientific report following the model of a scientific article. It is very important to mention that this syllabus can be used even in places where a facility such as ultra-centrifugation is lacking.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Souza, M. G., Grossi, A. L., Pereira, E. L. B., Cruz, C.o., Mendes, F.m., Cameron, L. C., Paiva, C.l.a

Palavras-chave: actin immobilization,, affinity chromtography, myosin II purification, teaching Protein Chemistry and Molecular Cell Biol

Many people fail to properly evaluate INTERNET information. This is often due to a lack of understanding of the issues, by responsible authorities, and, more specifically, a lack of understanding of the structure and modis operandi of the INTERNET tool. The aim of this project was to analyze biochemical issues available in WEB pages, evaluating contents quality, coverage, accuracy, authority and currency. Twenty three sites were analyzed for their contents, presence of bibliographical references, authorship, titles responsibility and adequacy to target public. The great majority (95%) did not mention bibliographic references and target public. Less than half divulged names and/or graduation status of responsibles. Some sites contained critical conceptual errors, such as: oxygen is essential for anaerobic respiration; presence of H2O in photosynthesis dark phase; yeast is a pluricellular fungal; the overall equation of photosynthesis with errors; NADH2 instead NAD+; etc. None of the analyzed sites was thus considered excellent. Although the use of the internet is expanding rapidly on college campuses, little is known about students usage; how they perceive the reality of internet information and how successful they are in searching through it. Our data strenghthen the need for rigorous evaluation concerning to educational research of biochemical themes on the WEB.

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Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Rodrigo Maciel Lima, J. Xavier-Filho, J. E Fernandes, K. V. S.

Palavras-chave: Education, Internet, Tool

Besides to equip the students to perform, analyze and interpret laboratory investigations and to demonstrate familiarity with handling and using laboratory instrumentation, the laboratory-based practical exercises expect to integrate theoretical concepts and practical skills. This work is a preliminary study to investigate the relationship between the concepts learned in the lectures and the concepts applied in the lab classes. Firstly we compared the students grades obtained in the exams with their grades in the laboratory exercises reports. It shows a non-significance correlation (Spearman) between the exams and reports grades. In a second moment we compared the students grades obtained in a preselected exam question with the grades obtained in the related laboratory exercise report. In this case, we could observe a significant correlation between the exams and the reports grades. This preliminary study held with 82 biology students suggests that the top scored students in the exams are not necessary the same top scored students in the laboratory exercises reports, but the students who have the higher scores in the laboratory exercises reports have also the higher scores in the questions related to the laboratory exercise asked in the exam. These results suggest that the laboratory classes have an important role in the theoretical concepts learning.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Eduardo Galembeck, Bianca Caroline Rossi-Rodrigues

Palavras-chave: laboratory-based practical exercises, practical skills, theoretical concepts

Considering that since the 1980’s it has a paradigm change, strengthening the perception of Science as a human construction and not as

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Daniel Bovolenta Ovigli, Nelma Regina Segnini Bossolan, Oliveira, M.r.g, Leila Maria Beltramini

Palavras-chave: Biotechnology, Cell Biology, History of Science, Microbiology and Immunology, Science Museums

In the recent years, Bioinformatics has emerged as an important research tool. The ability to mine large databases for relevant information has become essential for different life science fields. On the other hand, providing education in bioinformatics to undergraduates is challenging from this multidisciplinary perspective. Therefore, it is important to introduced undergraduate students to the available information and current methodologies in Bioinformatics. Here we report the results of a course using a computer-assisted and problem -based learning model. The syllabus was comprised of theoretical lectures covering different topics within bioinformatics and practical activities. For the latter, we developed a set of step-by-step tutorials based on case studies. The course was applied to undergraduate students of biological and biomedical courses. At the end of the course, the students were able to build up a step-by-step tutorial covering a bioinformatics issue.

 (2 votos)

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Joelma Freire De Mesquita, Paiva, C.l.a

Palavras-chave: Bioinformatics, Education, Life Science

The biochemistry discipline integrates the curriculum of all graduation courses on the Biological Area and is a basis for other disciplines. The students’ difficulties in this discipline are already widely recognized. To investigate these difficulties, we created a drop-in on line service that has two purposes: (1) To give support to students learning by answering their questions and solving their problems whenever they appear and (2) to analyze the questions presented, as a strategy to diagnose the most prevalent difficulties. After two semesters of this service on line, 217 questions were received and answered. There were few conceptual questions being the majority related to problems and exercises. The most frequent questions dealt with cell metabolism (54,4%), mainly lipid metabolism and aerobic metabolism; basic concepts (11,5%) such as about amino acids and buffer, protein structure (8,3%) and enzymes (7,8%). These percentages are correlated to the number of hours dedicated to each subjects in the disciplines. The main difficulties founded were: integration of metabolic processes in different tissues, induction of energy reserve oxidation, reciprocal regulation between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. We suppose that the lack of laboratory practice difficults the learning of basic concepts. A more in-deep analysis will be necessary to investigate the causes of the pointed difficulties.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Schoenmaker, F, Bayardo Baptista Torres

Palavras-chave: biochemistry education, drop-in on line, learning difficulties.

In the current paradigm of science education, the student acquires an active position in the teaching -learning process, which is mediated by the teacher, whose continued teacher education must supply subsidies to the didactic transposition of new educational resources. The CBME in partnership with the Center of Scientific and Cultural Dissemination (CDCC) developed a board game that represents an outline of an animal cell and simulates the protein synthesis through the dynamics of several actions and component acquisition mediated by cards. To improve this didactic tool, the game was applied and evaluated during two courses of teachers education in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology offered in 2006 by CBME: one in partnership with the Educational District of Sertãozinho (DE-SP) and the other promoted by the UFRN, in Natal (RN). The majority of the teachers of both groups considered the game applicable in classroom environment. Moreover, 59% of the Sertãozinho teachers group and 25% of the Natal teachers group had detected the following needs: a) more evident rules; b) time of game needs to be compatible with the classes duration; c) restriction of the amount of players. Considering the pointed critics we inferred that the game already demonstrates a great educationalpotential, although it needs modifications for a better adaptation to the school reality.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: J.c.q.carvalho, T.h.g. Oliveira, N.r.s. Bossolan, M.r.g. Oliveira, L.m. Beltramini

Palavras-chave: Educational Teacher, Educational tool, Protein Synthesis, Science Education

The present work considers the use of informatics as a support to the learning of the metabolism of lipoproteins. They are important to transport lipids through blood, which are insoluble in water and needs to be carried to the tissues to keep the homeostasis. Its learning is considered complex because contains many simultaneous biochemical processes. There is a great variety of information about this process to be learnt, especially if will have considered the number of molecules and events involved in the process. The complexity and importance of this content motivated us to develop LipoLS. It is a multimedia system that approaches the lipoprotein metabolism learning. This system integrates animations, texts, self-evaluation questionnaires and case studies, to motivate the collaborative learning. The methodology used for the software project was the data flow diagram and for the development of the system had been used the animation software Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and implemented with the software Macromedia Director MX 2004. The software LipoLS is an alternative resource that is able to facilitate the teaching-learning process. It takes advantage on student’s interest on informatics and changes the ways of teaching and learning Biochemistry.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Luciana Vieira Castilho, Maria Cecilia Kohler, Maria Lúcia Wambier Klüppel, Wagner Rodrigo Weinert, Patrícia Maria Stuelp-Campelo

Palavras-chave: Lipoproteins, Education, Informatics.

Exponential growing of scientific and technological knowledge of nowadays society demands new abilities and competences of theirs citizens. In the other hand, the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the low cost of equipments provide a new teaching strategy, namely distance education, through intranet or internet. The familiarity with of scientific method stimulates autonomy in obtaining information, critical thinking and logical analysis of data. These are useful abilities for science students as well as for common citizens. Aiming the development of such abilities a distance course was developed in 45 hours, using mainly forum and chat in the Claroline platform with technical support of the Centro Nacional de Supercomputação da UFRGS. All the students attending the course were from Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre. In this course the following topics were explored: (1) scientific knowledge x common sense, (2) different conceptions of science, (3) scientific method, (4) different categories of science publications, (5) principles of Logic, (6) deduction x induction (7) paper analysis simulation. Scientific project writing was taught/learned through the following items: (1) choice of a problem, (2) bibliography revision, (3) agencies for funding, (4) project presentation by videoconference and (5) analysis of results. The course was evaluated by Likert-type questionnaire and the results from students and teachers indicate a very successful outcome.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Avila Jr., P, Azevedo, A.m.p., Bayardo Baptista Torres

Palavras-chave: DISTANCE EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs), INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE, SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The comprehension of structure and function of proteins has a tight relationship with the development of structural biology. However, biochemistry students usually find difficulty to visualize the structures when they use only schematic drawings of didactic books. The representation of three-dimensional structures of some biomolecules with ludic models, built with representative units, have supplied to the students and teachers a successfully experience to better visualize and correlate the structures to the real molecules. The present work shows the developed models and the process to produce the representative units of the main amino acids in industrial scale. The design and applicability of the representative units were discussed with many teachers and some suggestions were implemented to the models. The preliminary evaluation and perspective of utilization by researchers show that the work is in the right direction. At the actual stage, the models are defined, prototypes were made and will be presented in this meeting. The moulds for the units are at the final stage of construction and trial in specialized tool facilities. The last term will consist of an effective evaluation of the didactic tool for the teaching/learning process in Structural Molecular Biology. The evaluation protocol is being elaborated containing simple and objective questions, similar to those used in research on science teaching.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Aparecido R. Silva, Leila M. Beltramini

Palavras-chave: Amino acids, Didactic, Structure

This work was accomplished in UFRPE involving three groups (A, B and C) of disciplines of Biochemistry. It presents an analysis on the teaching onli ne and a discussion theoretical-empirical about virtual environments. The disciplines were posted in www.ensinarnet.com. The content was displayed in web. It was used agenda, chat, forum, mural and classroom. At the end of disciplines three reports were analyzed: 1-From access to contents: A(2.603), B(229), C(463); 2-Access to discipline: A(477), B(157), C(263); 3-Stand online/h: A(173), B(16), C(41). There was a great variation in the frequency of users: major to A and less to B and C, some factors were observed: 1-Online agenda that remained at disposition of the students seems to guide and facilitate the access to A. 2-the fast answer from the teachers to the doubts of students seems to have increased the interest on A; 3-The dynamic of the group in the chat can have contributed with a better relationship on A. On B and C, the students were not able with the environment and this could be influenced in the results. The use of virtual environment in education is much more hard-working to the teachers than it is in presence and its applicability asks for new competency from users.

Categoria: Resumo da SBBq

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Autores: Maia,w.b., Martins, J.m., Furtado, V.c., Araújo, B.c., Marsden, A., Pimenta Filho, A.a., Aquino, I.j., Silva, L.g.c., Porto, A.l.f.

Palavras-chave: Online education, biochemistry, virtual environment