The polygonal model: A simple representation of biomolecules as a tool for teaching metabolism

Abstract

Metabolism involves numerous reactions and organic compounds that the student must master to understand adequately the processes involved. Part of biochemical learning should include some knowledge of the structure of biomolecules, although the acquisition of such knowledge can be time-consuming and may require significant effort from the student. In this report, we describe the "polygonal model" as a new means of graphically representing biomolecules. This model is based on the use of geometric figures such as open triangles, squares, and circles to represent hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups, respectively. The usefulness of the polygonal model was assessed by undergraduate students in a classroom activity that consisted of "transforming" molecules from Fischer models to polygonal models and vice and versa. The survey was applied to 135 undergraduate Biology and Nursing students. Students found the model easy to use and we noted that it allowed identification of students' misconceptions in basic concepts of organic chemistry, such as in stereochemistry and organic groups that could then be corrected. The students considered the polygonal model easier and faster for representing molecules than Fischer representations, without loss of information. These findings indicate that the polygonal model can facilitate the teaching of metabolism when the structures of biomolecules are discussed. Overall, the polygonal model promoted contact with chemical structures, e.g. through drawing activities, and encouraged student-student dialog, thereby facilitating biochemical learning. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(1):66-75, 2018.

LEGO Biochemistry: Fatty Acid Beta-Oxidation Made Visual

“…The complex and overlapping nature of metabolic pathways hinder students' overall view of the processes, making it challenging for educators to teach and for students to learn metabolism effectively without the need to memorize. [1][2][3] Various efforts to improve the situation have been reported over the years ranging from the implementation of special teaching arrangements, 1 role-play, 4 The Polygonal Model, 5 team-based learning, 6 animation, 2 virtual reality (VR), 7 augmented reality (AR) 8 and LEGO brick modeling. 9 Together, these efforts were targeting metabolism as a whole, with selected few putting emphasis on glucose metabolism.…”