Using social media platforms Twitter and Pinterest to engage undergraduate students in vaccinology and immunology.

Abstract

Abstract Recent studies have shown that biomedical scientists and healthcare professionals are increasingly more likely to use social networking sites such as Twitter for professional correspondence and to remain informed of advancements in their fields. For this reason, pre-professional health students in vaccinology and immunology courses engaged in out-of-class social media assignments using Twitter and Pinterest, respectively. The objectives of these assignments were to demonstrate appropriate social media etiquette, enhance scientific communication skills, and provide a channel for students to relate in-class material to current events. Students in the vaccinology course were tasked with maintaining an active presence on Twitter to share accurate and personal experiences regarding vaccines and immunizations. At the end of the course, 20/20 students (100%) reported that participating on Twitter “enhanced their familiarity with current events in vaccinology,” while 90% reported that it also enhanced scientific communication skills and social media skills. Additionally, >95% of students felt that the assignment was worthwhile for teaching others, perhaps increasing their feelings of contributions to the field. Students in the immunology course used Pinterest to collect information regarding immunology-related study tools, prominent immunologists, current events in immunology, and immunotherapies. Students reported that the Pinterest assignment helped them learn in-class material (40%) and felt that it helped them relate in-class material to ‘real-world’ issues (60%). The majority of students in both classes reported that they were willing to continue to use the respective social media platform for professional use.