The Tutorial Program in Biochemistry at UFV is reaching the objectives since the creation, in 2001. Based on the accomplishment of weekly sessions (2h), which tutor and programs students reunite to effects the apprenticeship marked by the inter-activity, the Program aims to give support to students with deficiency of basic knowledge. For this reason, reproved students or students with poor performance in pre-requisites subjects are automatically inscribed. The attending students receive satisfactory grade (S, frequency greater than 75%), or not satisfactory grade (N). The work methodology has been modified to obtain better results. This study aimed evaluate the performance of the Programs students through modifications, as the elimination of the theoretical session of 1h-weekly and the implantation of didactic little-books containing script classes and exercise lists. Satisfactory results indicated that in 7 analyzed semesters (from I-2001 to I-2004), the attending students (S) got similar average final-grade (70.48) if compared with students not enrolled in the Program (71.64); not attending students (N, 56.81) got significantly lower final-grade. The failure rate for S grade students (8.69%) was similar to the rate of not-enrolled students (8.97%), both very lower than N grade students (30.71%). Based on the necessity of additional didactic material, two didactics little-books were prepared to be used in sessions. The little-books Tutoria em Bioquímica: Biomoléculas and Tutoria em Bioquímica: Metabolismo Celular guide discussions in classes, emphasizing exercises. It constitutes a considerable advance, according to Programs students: it guides and encourages the studies. A questionnaire revealed the high acceptance degree (97.29%) of these didactic little-books. Considering the obtained results, the Program is reaching the proposed goal. Implanted modifications are contributing to the success of the Tutorial Program. Supported by MEC/Brasil.
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