Background and purpose: Recent studies suggest that social media use in the classroom leads to improved engagement and participation. However, student attitudes regarding classroom engagement, academic performance, and overall teaching effectiveness toward this tool have been mixed. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of live-feed on students' classroom engagement.
Educational activity and setting: This study included the use of live-feed in a research and statistics course for first-year pharmacy students. At the end of the course, students were invited to participate in a post-survey to assess impressions on classroom engagement after the usage of live-feed in the classroom.
Findings: Fifty out of 62 students (81%) responded to the survey. Seventy percent reported that live-feed application promoted collaborative learning and discussion, and 68% stated that it increased their understanding of the topic. Sixty-six percent reported that live-feed application created a supportive anonymous environment, and 64% felt it encouraged them to ask questions. Sixty percent of the students reported that live-feed did not increase their engagement in the classroom but agreed that it lowered their anxiety toward class participation. Sixty-four percent of the students were positive about live-feed boosting their willingness to participate in topic discussions and 72% believed that live-feed made learning a fun activity.
Summary: Live-feed can be a useful tool in academic settings to provide a supportive environment and promote students' willingness to participate in classroom discussions.
Keywords: Classroom discussion; Live-streaming software; Student engagement.
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