Leveraging Social Media to Demonstrate Aptitude and Promote Real-World Relevance of Course Content

Abstract

Undergraduate students in agriculture often struggle to connect theoretical course concepts with real-world agricultural practices. Additionally, with expanding digitalization of professional markets, building a professional online presence is becoming increasingly important for students entering a competitive job market. We sought to address this challenge by incorporating social media as a tool for teaching and engagement. Students were tasked with creating multiple social media posts throughout the semester, displaying their understanding of key course concepts while engaging a real-world audience. The goals of this assignment were to demonstrate real-world application of course content, develop professional confidence and communication skills across multiple modalities, and assist students in building professional digital profiles that showcase their aptitude and connect them with industry professionals. This social media assignment engaged students in scientific communication while enhancing professional readiness.