Effectiveness of social media as a medical teaching tool
Social media is effective as a medical teaching tool improving enthusiasm in academics, kindling interest in clinical learning, making learning fun and lively, without much distraction to students and can be integrated in the medical educational context.
Abstract
Introduction: Social media has become a pervasive force in the lives of 21 st century learners. Mobile learning has been increasingly used in the educational context. However, its adoption in medical education has been slow, and its effectiveness in medical education is a new area of inquiry. This study was conceived to assess the effectiveness of social media as a medical teaching tool. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as a cross sectional, observational study with 150 III year MBBS students as study participants who were already enrolled in social network groups for educational purpose. A questionnaire catering to the objectives of the study was distributed and the response was evaluated. Results: 54% of the students answered that social media as a teaching tool, significantly made learning fun and lively. 55% of students responded that it significantly improved the academic enthusiasm. 66% of students observed that it was significantly effective in kindling interest in clinical learning. 61% felt that it simplified the difficult concepts moderately and 28% felt that it significantly simplified difficult concepts. 60% of students felt that it did not distract them from their routine studies. 42% and 54% of students rated the usefulness of the social media as an educational tool as excellent and as moderate respectively. Conclusion: Social media is effective as a medical teaching tool improving enthusiasm in academics, kindling interest in clinical learning, making learning fun and lively, without much distraction to students and can be integrated in the medical educational context.