Uso de LinkedIn como herramienta docente en el Máster de Producción Animal

Abstract

LinkedIn professional social network was used as a common platform for exposure, discussion and analysis of information. Its use can facilitate collaborative learning of students, stimulate their motivation and enhance their professional career project. The study was conducted in three subjects of the Master in Animal Production at the Universitat Politècnica de València during 2014-2015 academic year. The specific objectives were: i) to create a virtual learning community, ii) to facilitate student's active participation, iii) to enhance teacher-student and student-student interactions, iv) to promote critical thinking, and v) to encourage the use of this professional network that favors student's professional career plan. Four actions based on the development and maintenance of a LinkedIn group and the ellaboration of a heading of critical thinking were established. The achievement of the objectives was assessed by the instrinsic network's activity, as well as by quantitative and qualitative evaluations and a survey of self perception. All students created and used their profile regularly. Discussion topics were proposed, assessing student's participation during the study. The difficulty of evaluating the development of critical thinking was demonstrated.