Be in the Digital Room Where it Happens, Part II: Social Media for Neurology Educators

Abstract

Social media has changed the way we communicate and interact. Unsurprisingly, it has also changed how we teach and learn. Younger generations of learners have transitioned from traditional educational sources to digital ones. Medical educators need to adapt to trends in medical education and develop fluency in the digital methods used by medical learners today. This is part two of a two-part series on social media and digital education in neurology. This article provides an overview of how social media can be used as a teaching tool in medical education and provides an overview in which it is grounded. We offer practical strategies on how social media can promote lifelong learning, educator development, educator support, and foster educator identity with accompanying neurology-specific examples. We also review considerations for incorporating social media into teaching and learning practices and future directions for integrating these tools in neurology education.

Keywords: COVID-19; Instagram; Twitter; child neurology; curriculum; information dissemination; medical education; neurology education; pandemic; social media.

Figure 1.

Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) encompasses learning that occurs solely in the digital realm (Digital Education) and the use of technology within a traditional learning environment (E, Hybrid, or Blended Learning).

Figure 2.

Example tweetorial focused on the basics of EEG interpretation—courtesy of Dr Rachel Gottlieb-Smith.

Figure 3.

Example of an Image of the Day. Learners are asked to submit their answers to a question identifying a finding or diagnosis based on an image. While points are awarded to participants from the specific residency program, learners worldwide can engage with the content and learn the targeted teaching concept—image Courtesy of Dr Rebecca Fasano.

Figure 4.

Proposed framework for consideration of digital educator formation, with individuals moving from a novice level, engaging primarily as a consumer or bystander to an expert, creating content, and considering innovative strategies for incorporating SoME in teaching and mentoring others in use.