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Using Facebook as a discussion forum for teaching Medical Physiology
Author(s) -
Guadagnoli Jutta A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.lb833
Subject(s) - popularity , blackboard (design pattern) , coursework , psychology , class (philosophy) , thriving , cyberpsychology , social media , mathematics education , medical education , world wide web , computer science , medicine , social psychology , artificial intelligence , psychotherapist , programming language
Social networking technologies are an integral part of the lives of many students (Thompson, 2007). The users of social networking are growing in number, including both individual users and institutions. Upon matriculation all students are enrolled in Blackboard, our platform for the distribution of information and content about coursework. Learning theory has recognized that the process of learning includes not only cognitive function, but participation in a social realm (Lave and Wenger, 1991), which may go outside the traditional classroom to enhance the community of practice (CoP). While Blackboard is user friendly in many realms, its discussion interface is lacking. In an effort to enhance the CoP among our 135 students, Facebook was utilized as a mechanism to engender exchange of ideas and questions between students, peer teaching, and instructor involvement within our medical physiology class. Joining the “I Love Physiology” page was completely voluntary. Students were surveyed as to how useful the page was in enhancing their understanding of the material. Sixty seven percent of students enrolled in the Facebook page. Of these 48% posted or commented, while 83% read through the comments and posts as a review for their exam. Of the respondents, 84% found “I Love Physiology” to be useful. Facebook definitely enhanced the CoP so much so that students have formally requested its use other courses.