Through this course, I was exposed to a new branch of study in the science field that uses the principle and language of chemistry to explain biology. I also learnt that biology and chemistry can be and are interconnected. I was also able to understand the connections between biology and chemistry and applied this knowledge to my daily life as well as in the Aquatic Science program.
Dr Hashimatul is a great lecturer. Not only was she approachable but her teaching methods were also effective which allows me to understand the subject better. She encourages critical thinking among her students to allow us to explore and understand the subject on our own terms and also encourage us to approach her, during or after class and through Whatsapp and email if we do not understand any of the topics or concepts taught in the course. In this way, it allows the students to be more independent and expressive in their opinions. Besides that, she makes learning the subject fun and interesting by making quizzes on the Kahoot! app. Plus, she makes her own lecture notes by adding additional information that cannot be found in the existing lecture notes which allows us to fully focus during the lecture in addition to being very useful during examinations.
Besides the lectures, we also did a few practical and problem-based learning (PBL) sessions which allows us to put the knowledge that we have acquired from the lectures to real-life situations. The practical sessions challenged us to complete experiments based on theory alone and also forces us to think critically when doing the experiments as well as gain more knowledge related to the topics that we learn in the course. It also exposed us to the types of work that will be done in the near future if we decided to pursue a job in the Biochemistry field. For PBL, we are presented with a real case which tests our problem-solving skills as it requires us to produce ideas and actions that are fact-supported to solve the problem. The two sessions also tested our ability to work with our peers and establish good communication and networking skills.
Furthermore, we are also required to complete our E-portfolio which is a reflection-based learning. This method is useful as it allows the students to reflect and express their understanding of the course to show their development and improvement throughout the semester. It also gives the opportunity to the students to show creativity in the way the wish to retain the information that they have learnt from each topic in the course by making infographics, videos and mind-maps.
As an Aquatic Resource Science and Management student, Biochemistry helps me to gain insights on biochemical processes occurring in the variety of aquatic species, which will be helpful during my final year project. The course also exposes me to the different elements and compounds that are useful in the study of genetics of aquatic species. I can also apply the knowledge that I have gained in my daily life to understand how life works in a fundamental way. Not only that, it also helps me to understand the nutritional contents in the food I eat on the daily basis and the importance of this elements in regulating the processes in my body as well as the biological processes that occurs within our body.
BioChemistry e-Portfolio 