Engaging researchers with social media tools: 25 Research Things @ Huddersfield

A growing body of research from around the world has demonstrated that uptake of social media and web 2.0 tools and technologies is not yet embedded within the research community. This paper will discuss whether 25 Research Things, an innovative online learning programme enabling researchers to structure the way they engage with selected web 2.0 tools, could help researchers understand their value. Researchers were given specific tasks encouraging them to help them to assess the value and interact with web 2.0 tools and technologies. Participants established and maintained a blog to report on their experiences. This small sample showed that some researchers are interested in using web 2.0 tools to enhance their professional practice, and demonstrated that an online interactive learning course is an effective way to help them do so. The course also stimulated creative thinking, leading researchers to use tools in ways that were not necessarily envisaged by the course creators. The course is now being taken forward as part of Huddersfield’s ‘Informed researcher’ programme of events.