EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN THE STUDY OF NATURAL SCIENCES BY FUTURE SPECIALISTS IN THE INDUSTRY OF HEALTH PROTECTION

Abstract

The ability to learn independently and effectively is a key competitive advantage that should be mastered by both future medical professionals and modern teachers, who must continuously improve their pedagogical skills and seek convenient tools for knowledge transmission. The article presents the results of sociological research conducted among first-year higher medical education students, which shows that almost all students use social networks when preparing for classes and prefer accessible educational videos posted on the free YouTube platform. Indeed, the global Internet can be both a “time-waster” and a source of valuable information and an effective auxiliary learning tool. At the same time, despite the high demand for social media content for educational purposes, the share of Ukrainian-language scientific and educational resources remains quite low, making it difficult for first-year students to independently find useful peerreviewed materials. The paper substantiates the relevance and timeliness of creating a YouTube channel tailored for educational purposes and aligned with current educational programs in medical and biological physics, which would visualize complex physical processes that are difficult to comprehend. Such a channel would enable students to receive high-quality scientific knowledge not only during classroom sessions but, equally importantly, during independent study of the fundamentals of the discipline and in-depth exploration of specific topics. It is shown that when creating content, one should adhere to the main didactic principles and goals that rely on fundamental natural disciplines in the system of training future specialists in the field of health care: orientation towards future professional activities; clarity, systematicity and consistency in the presentation of scientifically substantiated information; compliance with the current state of development of the scientific fields on which this or that educational discipline is based; and taking into account the level of preparedness and peculiarities of perception of educational material from natural sciences by the modern generation of students.