A useful free biochem pre course?

[42pines]

Biochem seems to be a bugbear for many. I had hoped to start with the July cohort but cannot and so I'm looking about to see how to get a leg up when I do start WGU probably in November or December by taking some online courses. (I must be careful such that my second semester ends in a different year than the 1^st semester ends otherwise I'll forgo the second employer reimbursement and WGU only allows a maximum 3 month break between semesters).

I found a really neat free online biochem course that I'm impressed with. It has a ~400 page iPad or .pdf book and the book links to many youtube lectures.

To find it use: Biochemistry Free and Easy | Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

If the link is not allowed (I'm not sure, if it's not allowed it will be promptly removed by an admin, so if the link is not there search use keywords: Biochemistry Free & Easy Kevin and Indira have published an electronic book aimed at helping students learn the basics of biochemistry in a fun and engaging format.” Beware: It's free but one site charges for it as an e-book, so avoid that site.

If anyone downloads the course who is taking or has taken WGU's biochemistry I'd love to hear your opinion of the free course to find out if it's really useful.

[featherzRN, MSN]

I've seen that before. Actually, I think WGU used it for some pieces of the course back when I took it, several years ago. It was mixed in with the videos of the captain kangaroo guy (you'll know who I mean when you take the class).

Biochem is more of an arts and crafts project than a class - the mentor videos are helpful in figuring out what to do for each task, but the graders tend to be rather picky so expect a few frustrating revisions. :)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Biochem is more of an arts and crafts project than a class

I'd agree with this assessment. The creators of the curriculum have dumbed it down to the extent that it seems more like a series of 6th grade projects than anything.

You'll be making models of fatty acids using toothpicks and gummy bears. You'll be making models of amino acids using various vegetables. A real biochem course taken at a community college or state university would be grueling, but WGU's version was straight-up childish, IMHO.

[featherzRN, MSN]

I'd agree with this assessment. The creators of the curriculum have dumbed it down to the extent that it seems more like a series of 6th grade projects than anything.

With you on that.. I keep hearing about all the trouble people have with that class, and it befuddles me.. Hasn't changed much since I took it and except for the whacky grading (they'll find one little piece of the citric acid cycle that isn't perfect) it is kind of a joke.. I did it in a week.. WGU does have some very good courses, but biochem is kind of strange.

[flipflopsNsweetTea]

I don't know what my problem is, but I really struggled with biochem. Every task got returned with little adjustments that I had to make. It took me twice as long to complete than I hoped for. I turned in my last assignment today. I can certainly see why you all describe it as childish and dumbed down, but drawing those diagrams was very difficult for me. I certainly don't consider myself a dummy, but that class certainly made me feel like one!

[featherzRN, MSN]

I don't know what my problem is, but I really struggled with biochem. Every task got returned with little adjustments that I had to make. It took me twice as long to complete than I hoped for. I turned in my last assignment today. I can certainly see why you all describe it as childish and dumbed down, but drawing those diagrams was very difficult for me. I certainly don't consider myself a dummy, but that class certainly made me feel like one!

It's the grading, not you. The class isn't difficult, but more and more the graders are really nitpicking stuff. I think they should turn it into a real class, with a text and OA - would be less frustrating for everyone who is trying to figure out which piece of an amino acid is missing or which of the krebs cycle parts aren't perfect. :)