Teaching students to use social media to do scientific research

Abstract

Social media are a set of internet applications that create and exchange user‐generated information. They are valuable tools for scientists especially when utilized to create and exchange scientific data, ideas, hypotheses, etc. The objective of this project was to teach Neuroanatomy students to use a WIKI to work collaboratively to perform a research project. Students were shown an experimental protocol and then asked to use the WIKI to to develop a hypothesis and protocol, perform the experiment, develop consensus on the conclusions, and write a lab report. In this way students learned to use social media to disseminate information, advocate positions, contest claims, evaluate the contributions of collaborators, and work collectively on a common goal. The Project assessed the social media skills of the students in 3 conditions: an exchange of information on the WIKI, an evaluation of peer contributions to the WIKI, and ad hoc discussion about the design and performance of the experiment. All students (n=8) posted ideas in the information exchange but only 87.5% evaluated peer contributions. All students contributed postings to the ad hoc discussion board and postings (1–4 per student) appeared as needed for project progress. While 62.5% of the students initiated topics or questions essential to the progress of the project only 25% of the students summarized contributions, or posted a consensus decision.