Publication:

Medical students’ perception towards introducing Facebook as an educational tool in respiratory module-faculty of Medicine-King Abdulaziz University

Background A social-network is often a kind of social media that is the dedicated website or application. It can enhance, detract from, or magnify the participant’s professional image. Facebook could be of benefit in learning process This article evaluates the trial of introducing Facebook, as an educational tool for second-year medical students in the College of Medicine [The Respiratory Module], King Abdulaziz University.

Methods Introducing Facebook is directed to second-year medical students in the College of Medicine [The Respiratory Module]. A 20-point questionnaire was created and distributed online. It was designed to describe students' perception towards introducing Facebook as an educational tool. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

Results The results reveal an overall good perception score regarding most of the questionnaire items. The lowest scores were found in two items only; the role of Facebook to improve the students' writing skills as well as the proposed use of Facebook and other social networks for teaching by most of the staff members. The overall students' satisfaction index satisfaction (77%). Moreover, matching the overall students' satisfaction index to the overall success rate shows a high success rate (99%) that is matched with 77% satisfaction index.

Conclusions From the current study, it could be concluded that professional use of Facebook as an educational tool is associated with good student's perception, satisfaction index and better academic performance. So, Facebook can be used and considered as one of the most efficient online learning community tool.