Innovative online faculty development utilizing the power of social media

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Social Media in Healthcare

Background:

• Faculty development (FD) is crucial for professional growth but faces barriers like cost and distance.
• Social media (SM) presents a free and accessible alternative to traditional FD methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility and effectiveness of a national online FD activity conducted on Facebook.
• To evaluate participant perceptions, usage patterns, and facilitator challenges associated with using SM for FD.

Main Methods:

• A national FD program activity was hosted on a private Facebook group.
• Participants engaged in educational postings, article abstracting, and peer commenting.
• Quantitative data from Facebook activity and surveys (pre, post, 6-month follow-up) were analyzed, alongside qualitative data from open-ended survey responses.

Main Results:

• High participation rates were observed, with participants completing the activity and evaluations.
• Pre-activity, 12% of participants used SM professionally; this increased to 35% six months post-activity.
• 76% recommended using Facebook for future FD activities, highlighting its acceptability and accessibility.

Conclusions:

• Conducting national FD activities on Facebook is feasible and effective, yielding positive participant engagement.
• Facebook can serve as a valuable tool for educators in faculty development due to its accessibility and user acceptance.
• The study indicates a significant increase in professional social media utilization among participants.