How to use social media to reshape education for clients, funders, therapists.

Posted on May 4, 2023

Written by: Michelle Harvey, BSc Hons OT, RRTS®

Social media has revolutionized the way we connect and communicate with each other. TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are everywhere, and we participate with these platforms every day in our professional and personal lives.

It’s how we celebrate our wins and losses, get our news and communicate with each other. The potential of using social media to educate and empower clients, funders, therapists and our colleagues is boundless.

In different industries, the best educators are embracing social media’s role in education, and we all should jump on and begin exploring and using it.

“IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, THE BEST EDUCATORS ARE EMBRACING SOCIAL MEDIA’S ROLE IN EDUCATION, AND WE ALL SHOULD JUMP ON AND BEGIN EXPLORING AND USING IT.“

HOW TO START?

The first step is to look at ways to increase digital content.

I’ve explored three ways everyone can use to get started.

1. IN-SERVICE TRAINING

We do many in-service trainings with clients, funders, manufacturers and therapists each year. Offering these in-services, both in person and digital, allows you to reach a bigger audience. What if we recorded these sessions? Recording sessions would allow you to send this content out again and again. After the in-services, you can then send out the content on your social media channels and run a simple contest with a few questions, and therapists and clients can submit their answers for a prize.

Additionally, you can add the In-service recordings to your website to allow clients, staff and therapists to use it as a reference. Your company can also use the recordings as a training guide for new staff members.

2. QR CODES

Post-COVID, QR codes are everywhere. What about using them to add to products and marketing brochures? It is easy for therapists to download a digital copy to their phone, making all your brochures easily accessible. What about recording a video on a common product like a manual wheelchair, and then adding the QR code as a sticker on the chair? That way, when the client hovers their phone over the QR code, a video of how to fold the wheelchair or simple wheelchair maintenance checks pop up.

These QR codes help empower therapists and clients and reduce frustrations and endless online “how to” searches.

3. INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK

These platforms are perfect for sending out quick one to two-minute clips on topics such as battery maintenance, how to adjust a positioning belt, how to adjust your hospital bed, and how to adjust your wheelchair brake.

These platforms also allow you to upload pictures for clients and therapists on the latest products, cool customization work you might have done, an incredible product you saw at a tradeshow, and fun videos “day in the life” videos of techs and sales reps in the field.

Advantages of Using Social Media in Education

One of the most significant advantages of using social media is engagement, which is critical to success. It aids clients with vendor and product selection, creates a cool community and allows for sharing of content. In addition, social media provides opportunities for active and passive learning. Social media can connect us all, whether you are in Canada, Australia or America. It allows you to connect with resources and experts around the world. It facilitates communication and collaboration and provides a platform for sharing of ideas. I personally follow many companies, therapists and clients and have shared and learned so much while watching their social media.

Integrating social media into your company or business can bring your educational material to life.

This article was originally published at https://issuu.com/nrrts/docs/directions_2023v2_issuu/s/21655029

Contact The Author

Michelle may be reached at michelle.harvey@hmebc.com

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