Evaluating the Students' View of Medical and Paramedical Sciences About Perceived Benefits and Barriers of Virtual Social Networks for Learning Purposes.

Abstract

Social networks are new technologies that facilitate the sharing and exchange of information and knowledge as well as the communication between students and professors. The purpose of this study was to investigate views of medical and paramedical sciences students about benefits and barriers of virtual social networks for learning purposes. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2017 and the research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on a literature review. The majority of students (medical= 93% and paramedical sciences= 84.7%) tended to use social networks for learning purposes. Also, the results showed that "sending and receiving educational videos" and "sending and receiving educational texts, posts and contents" was the highest priority for medical and paramedical sciences students for using social networks. Overall, the results of our study showed that the social networks can play an effective role in educating medical students and improve students' motivation for learning. However, the use of these technologies also brings problems and challenges.