Abstract:

In the modern world, people are exposed to vast amounts of information available, and it is vital that they are able to apply critical evaluation to determine its veracity. In the field of education, information is provided based on proven experiments, knowledge, and facts. In the field of the natural sciences, the Slovak educational system provides bachelor study programs, mainly at the Comenius University in Bratislava and the University of P.J. Šafárik in Košice. The Institute of Chemical Sciences provides higher education in science with a focus on chemistry through a bachelor’s study program. Based on practical requirements and the experience of chemistry teachers from this faculty, it is clear that the medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial environment in Eastern Slovakia feels the need to provide education in the field of biosciences. On this basis, we decided to prepare a bachelor's study program in Biochemistry within the framework of KEGA Project no. 007UPJŠ-4/2024 entitled "Preparation and creation of a new bachelor's study program Biochemistry at UCHV PF UPJŠ in Košice" which will serve as a basis for further studies in life sciences. The preparation of the program was preceded by a detailed analysis of the state of teaching in secondary schools.

This contribution focuses on the opinions and attitudes of third-year high school students towards biochemistry and its teaching. The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between the perception of biochemistry education and students' interest in continuing their study in biochemistry at university.

Biochemistry is taught in the third year of high school in Slovakia as part of chemistry classes, and follows on from the teaching of general, inorganic, and organic chemistry. Some topics and concepts are also covered in biology lessons.

The research was conducted in the 2024 school year using a questionnaire as a research tool which aimed to obtain data in three areas: general information about the students, their perception of biochemistry education, and their attitudes towards studying biochemistry at Slovak universities. The research sample consisted of 97 students from the East Slovakia. Based on the analysis of the students' responses to the questionnaire, it was found that the students consider biochemistry to be an interesting but relatively challenging subject.

Students noted that biochemistry is mostly taught in a traditional manner focused on the mechanical acquisition of knowledge. Students would appreciate the use of more active methods such as animations, videos, and didactic games, thereby emphasizing the need to connect biochemistry with biology and everyday life.

Furthermore, the analysis revealed that universities do not inform students about the possibilities of studying biochemistry; students are often unaware about where it can be studied and what it entails; similarly, they are largely uninformed about the technical and material infrastructure of Slovak universities and often opt to study at foreign universities instead. The analysis of the responses highlights the need to modernize the methods of teaching biochemistry by integrating the use of engaging methods at high schools and by actively promoting information about biochemistry courses at universities.

Keywords:

Biochemistry, education, high school, questionnaire.