Las Redes Sociales como herramienta en la metodología docente. Aplicación en las asignaturas de Toxicología de la USAL

Abstract

Social networking has created a communication environment where people can selectively exchange prompt, effective, confidential and secure information to be "shared". The objective of this project is to use a social network (Facebook®) as a tool to: 1) Involve Toxicology students at USAL in the election process of social content related to Toxicology , 2) Place themselves in a toxicological culture 3) Promote critical capacity of literature in the area, 4) encourage students participation through an "playful" activity as positive reinforcement to study the subject, 5) familiarize themselves with new technologies, literature web searching, websites management ... With this in mind, we have created a group called "Toxicology USAL". Several students were web administrators and the rest of students were added to the group upon request. Throughout the course, 71% of Pharmacy Degree students and 79% of Environmental Science Bachelor took part in this activity. The Degree students were involved more actively. They uploaded a total of 300 publications, news, videos, links, scientific papers of interest which, in turn, were discussed and they weekly uploaded information about toxicological disasters. A survey was designed to assess the effectiveness of this project through student’s views. Survey results showed that the activity was more efficient to acquire specific skills than cross skills. In addition, students who participated more actively were most benefited from the activity.