The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study
Abstract Background In recent years, social networking sites (SNSs) have evolved beyond connection and networking to become a powerful instructional tool. There is still a dearth of knowledge on the professional use of SNSs for education particularly among students from diverse backgrounds. This stu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03569-3 |
| _version_ | 1811219156215791616 |
|---|---|
| author | Nihar Ranjan Dash Ahmed Alrazzak Hasswan Jacqueline Maria Dias Natasya Abdullah Mohamed Ahmed Eladl Khaled Khalaf Ajmal Farooq Salman Yousuf Guraya |
| author_facet | Nihar Ranjan Dash Ahmed Alrazzak Hasswan Jacqueline Maria Dias Natasya Abdullah Mohamed Ahmed Eladl Khaled Khalaf Ajmal Farooq Salman Yousuf Guraya |
| author_sort | Nihar Ranjan Dash |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In recent years, social networking sites (SNSs) have evolved beyond connection and networking to become a powerful instructional tool. There is still a dearth of knowledge on the professional use of SNSs for education particularly among students from diverse backgrounds. This study examined the extent and pattern of SNSs usage for education across six institutions and then conducted an interventional workshop to fortify and regulate the educational use of SNSs. Methods This multicenter study was done in two phases. In the first phase, an online cross-sectional survey using a validated inventory was administered to determine the prevalence, extent, and preferences of SNSs usage by undergraduate students in medicine, health sciences and dentistry across five centers. Later, the second phase of the study was undertaken in a 75-min guided live workshop about the appropriate use of SNSs in academia. Additionally, pre- and post-test surveys were conducted to assess the impact and outcome of workshop. Results Of the 1722 respondents, 1553 (90%) reported using SNSs with the frequency of once a month to three to five times per day for education and to stay in touch with others. Most students agreed with the benefits of SNSs for education mainly in terms of information gathering, networking and collaboration. Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest were noted as the most preferred SNSs for education. Nevertheless, 63% perceived that proper instruction was required for the efficient use of SNSs. Following the guided workshop, there was a significant improvement in web technology understanding, digital professionalism, skills and knowledge on the productive use of SNSs. Students rated the efficient for conceptual learning, connection to community practice, e-portfolio, and collaborative learning as the top four major teaching and learning strategies, respectively, in the post-workshop survey. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that SNSs can be used as learning tools in medical education. However, SNSs usage should be regulated and guided for a more collegial and coherent learning climate in the digital realm. We urge medical educators to integrate SNSs into their courses for a technologically advanced and impactful curriculum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:20:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-667a89a73c544cee87cf94cc66c2bf6b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:20:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-667a89a73c544cee87cf94cc66c2bf6b2022-12-22T03:42:20ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202022-07-0122111110.1186/s12909-022-03569-3The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional studyNihar Ranjan Dash0Ahmed Alrazzak Hasswan1Jacqueline Maria Dias2Natasya Abdullah3Mohamed Ahmed Eladl4Khaled Khalaf5Ajmal Farooq6Salman Yousuf Guraya7Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of SharjahClinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of SharjahDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains IslamDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Surgery, Ameer-Ud-Din Medical CollegeClinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of SharjahAbstract Background In recent years, social networking sites (SNSs) have evolved beyond connection and networking to become a powerful instructional tool. There is still a dearth of knowledge on the professional use of SNSs for education particularly among students from diverse backgrounds. This study examined the extent and pattern of SNSs usage for education across six institutions and then conducted an interventional workshop to fortify and regulate the educational use of SNSs. Methods This multicenter study was done in two phases. In the first phase, an online cross-sectional survey using a validated inventory was administered to determine the prevalence, extent, and preferences of SNSs usage by undergraduate students in medicine, health sciences and dentistry across five centers. Later, the second phase of the study was undertaken in a 75-min guided live workshop about the appropriate use of SNSs in academia. Additionally, pre- and post-test surveys were conducted to assess the impact and outcome of workshop. Results Of the 1722 respondents, 1553 (90%) reported using SNSs with the frequency of once a month to three to five times per day for education and to stay in touch with others. Most students agreed with the benefits of SNSs for education mainly in terms of information gathering, networking and collaboration. Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest were noted as the most preferred SNSs for education. Nevertheless, 63% perceived that proper instruction was required for the efficient use of SNSs. Following the guided workshop, there was a significant improvement in web technology understanding, digital professionalism, skills and knowledge on the productive use of SNSs. Students rated the efficient for conceptual learning, connection to community practice, e-portfolio, and collaborative learning as the top four major teaching and learning strategies, respectively, in the post-workshop survey. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that SNSs can be used as learning tools in medical education. However, SNSs usage should be regulated and guided for a more collegial and coherent learning climate in the digital realm. We urge medical educators to integrate SNSs into their courses for a technologically advanced and impactful curriculum.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03569-3Social networking sitesSNSMEMedical educationCurriculum |
| spellingShingle | Nihar Ranjan Dash Ahmed Alrazzak Hasswan Jacqueline Maria Dias Natasya Abdullah Mohamed Ahmed Eladl Khaled Khalaf Ajmal Farooq Salman Yousuf Guraya The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study BMC Medical Education Social networking sites SNSME Medical education Curriculum |
| title | The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study |
| title_full | The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study |
| title_fullStr | The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study |
| title_short | The educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students: a cross campus interventional study |
| title_sort | educational use of social networking sites among medical and health sciences students a cross campus interventional study |
| topic | Social networking sites SNSME Medical education Curriculum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03569-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT niharranjandash theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT ahmedalrazzakhasswan theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT jacquelinemariadias theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT natasyaabdullah theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT mohamedahmedeladl theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT khaledkhalaf theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT ajmalfarooq theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT salmanyousufguraya theeducationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT niharranjandash educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT ahmedalrazzakhasswan educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT jacquelinemariadias educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT natasyaabdullah educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT mohamedahmedeladl educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT khaledkhalaf educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT ajmalfarooq educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy AT salmanyousufguraya educationaluseofsocialnetworkingsitesamongmedicalandhealthsciencesstudentsacrosscampusinterventionalstudy |