Lamanna M, Muca E, Buonaiuto G, Formigoni A, Cavallini D
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
J Dairy Sci. 2025 Feb;108(2):1659-1671. doi: 10.3168/jds.2024-25347. Epub 2024 Dec 9.
This study evaluates Instagram's efficacy as an educational tool in veterinary sciences, focusing on dairy cow nutrition and management. Using the Instagram account "Stalla Didattica Unibo," established in December 2020, a survey was conducted with 102 respondents, primarily consisting of university students (44.12%). The respondents were divided into 2 major groups: students and the general population, with the latter comprising professionals and others not currently in educational programs. In the overall population, the age group of 25 to 34 yr accounted for 51%, but among students, it was 73.3%. In terms of gender distribution, there was a female majority in the general population (59.8%) and a male majority among students (73.3%). Most responders were from Italy, with Emilia-Romagna contributing significantly. Engagement was measured not only by the length of time participants followed the account but also by active interactions such as likes, comments, and shares. Among the total population, 47.1% had followed the page for over a year, compared with 37.8% of students. Importantly, engagement metrics showed active participation, with a majority reporting improved knowledge (75.6% of the total population and 74.5% of students) and practical application of content (64.4% of the total population and 67.6% of students). Content preferences varied, with the general population favoring quizzes (33.3%) and stories (17.8%), whereas students showed a stronger preference for standard posts (36.3%). Impact was defined as the perceived influence of the Instagram content on the respondents' learning and professional practices, with 46.7% of the total population and 52.9% of students agreeing or strongly agreeing that the page had a positive impact on their knowledge and practical skills. Furthermore, 84.3% of students and 77.8% of the total population stated they would recommend the page to others, underscoring the account's effectiveness as a digital educational tool. The study highlights Instagram's potential to enhance veterinary education and suggests further research to explore the broader application of these strategies across different educational contexts and platforms.
本研究评估了照片墙（Instagram）作为兽医学教育工具的有效性，重点关注奶牛营养与管理。利用2020年12月创建的“博洛尼亚大学教学”（Stalla Didattica Unibo）照片墙账号，对102名受访者进行了一项调查，受访者主要是大学生（占44.12%）。受访者分为两大群体：学生和普通人群，后者包括专业人士和其他未参加当前教育项目的人。在总体人群中，25至34岁年龄组占51%，但在学生中占73.3%。在性别分布方面，普通人群中女性占多数（59.8%），学生中男性占多数（73.3%）。大多数受访者来自意大利，其中艾米利亚 - 罗马涅地区贡献显著。参与度不仅通过参与者关注该账号的时长来衡量，还通过点赞、评论和分享等积极互动来衡量。在总体人群中，47.1%的人关注该页面超过一年，而学生中这一比例为37.8%。重要的是，参与度指标显示出积极参与，大多数人表示知识有所提高（总体人群中占75.6%，学生中占74.5%）以及能够实际应用所学内容（总体人群中占64.4%，学生中占67.6%）。内容偏好各不相同，普通人群更喜欢测验（33.3%）和故事（17.8%），而学生对标准帖子的偏好更强（36.3%）。影响力被定义为照片墙内容对受访者学习和专业实践的感知影响，总体人群中有46.7%、学生中有52.9%同意或强烈同意该页面对他们的知识和实践技能有积极影响。此外，84.3%的学生和77.8%的总体人群表示他们会向他人推荐该页面，这凸显了该账号作为数字教育工具的有效性。该研究突出了照片墙在加强兽医教育方面的潜力，并建议进一步开展研究，以探索这些策略在不同教育背景和平台上更广泛的应用。
