Just a few short decades ago, medical students had only a handful of ways to study their materials. They sat in classroom lectures, went to the library, studied on their own at home, or met up in a coffee shop to discuss the topics at hand. In today’s world, there are dozens of options out there – and social media is a key player. Here’s how social media is changing the way medical students around the world are studying.
Integration into Online Courses
Students choose to take their courses online for a variety of reasons. Some need the flexibility that online courses can provide, especially if they have families or their jobs make it difficult to attend lectures in real time. With the COVID-19 pandemic, some universities are closed for in-person instruction and are instead reliant on virtual learning. In many cases – and in many courses – professors rely on social media as a tool to keep their classes connected. In fact, many create Facebook groups designed for a specific course and then use them to start discussions. It’s a wonderful tool that helps medical students study more effectively.
Virtual Study Groups
Another way in which social media is changing the way medical students prepare for their exams has to do with study groups. Despite social distancing guidelines and restrictions around the world, students are utilizing social media platforms to group virtually for meaningful and helpful discussions. Facebook Rooms, which is available through the social media giant’s Messenger app, is a popular hub for these groups. It allows students to see one another in real time, which is the next best thing to an actual group.
Round-the-Clock Access to Help
Study groups are important because each member of the group has a specific set of topics they understand well – and perhaps even a topic or two that they don’t. When all of these students get together in one virtual place, they can draw on one another’s knowledge to learn in a way that lectures and reading simply can’t provide. Social media platforms give groups of students the ability to form personalized chat groups so that they can ask questions around the clock and receive answers as the other members have time.
Recommendations & More
If you’re looking for a new restaurant to try, there’s a good chance you’ll use one of several social media sites to ask your friends what they would recommend, then simply wait for some enticing answers. This works the same way when it comes to studying for medical exams. Via social media, medical students can ask questions of specific groups of friends and receive numerous answers. These questions might include, “What time is the virtual lecture?” or even, “Where can I find a specific textbook?”
Simply put, social media is a wonderful resource for not only staying in touch with friends, families, and colleagues, but also for studying and getting the most out of your medical school experience. Whether it’s a specific group put together for an online course or a place to ask your fellow students which resource or text they would recommend, every student can benefit from social media as long as they use it responsibly.