Reaching Students Where They Scroll: Facebook as a Learning Platform in Undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology Education

Social networking platforms offer promising educational value, particularly for undergraduate students whose daily lives are deeply embedded in online spaces. Yet in most courses, instructional technologies remain limited to institutional learning management systems (LMS), which often do not foster informal interaction or community. This study examined whether supplementing LMS with a Facebook group could enhance academic outcomes and retention in undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) courses. Over two semesters, two student cohorts (N = 39) were taught by the same instructor using identical materials; one cohort also used a closed Facebook group for course-related engagement. Students in the Facebook cohort scored significantly higher on mid-semester unit exams (p < .001 to p = .006). Though final course grades were not significantly different (p = .186), regression analysis revealed a 9.4% higher mean final grade among Facebook users. Importantly, the pass rate in the Facebook cohort was 94.7% compared to 45% in the control group, with dropout rates significantly lower (5.3% vs. 55%, p = .001). These findings suggest that incorporating social media into undergraduate science instruction may promote academic success and retention by providing a familiar, collaborative space for active learning and peer support.