Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education

Gülcan Gencer; Nazlı Şensoy; Kerem Gencer

doi:10.53850/joltida.1521626

EN

Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education

Abstract

The metaverse is defined as an inevitable evolution of the internet and holds great potential as a new medium for social interaction. Its integration into educational environments has been increasingly recommended. This study aimed to explore a technology-supported solution for the challenges experienced in the problem-based learning (PBL) process used in medical faculties, taking into account the characteristics of the current digitally native generation. Twelve medical students who had previously received face-to-face PBL training participated in the study. They were asked to evaluate both virtual and face-to-face PBL sessions in terms of the educational facilitator, physical infrastructure, educational process, and scenario. Descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare the groups. All participants reported higher satisfaction with virtual PBL across all sub-dimensions. The overall score comparison revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of virtual PBL (p < 0.05). A significant difference was also found among female participants (p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed among male participants (p > 0.05). Gender-based comparisons showed no statistically significant difference in satisfaction (p > 0.05). In conclusion, virtual PBL sessions can effectively enhance medical students' clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and communication skills while providing a flexible and engaging learning environment with high levels of satisfaction.

Keywords

Problem-based learning, Medical Education, Metaverse, Virtual, VR

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Artificial Reality

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gülcan Gencer ^*
0000-0002-3543-041X
Türkiye

Nazlı Şensoy
0000-0001-7449-7513
Türkiye

Kerem Gencer
0000-0002-2914-1056
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 2, 2025

Submission Date

July 24, 2024

Acceptance Date

May 2, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 10 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1521626

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA66HR38EX

APA

Gencer, G., Şensoy, N., & Gencer, K. (2025). Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, 10(2), 109-121. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1521626

AMA

1.Gencer G, Şensoy N, Gencer K. Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education. JOLTIDA. 2025;10(2):109-121. doi:10.53850/joltida.1521626

Chicago

Gencer, Gülcan, Nazlı Şensoy, and Kerem Gencer. 2025. “Problem-Based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education”. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 10 (2): 109-21. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1521626.

EndNote

Gencer G, Şensoy N, Gencer K (July 1, 2025) Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 10 2 109–121.

IEEE

[1]G. Gencer, N. Şensoy, and K. Gencer, “Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education”, JOLTIDA, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 109–121, July 2025, doi: 10.53850/joltida.1521626.

ISNAD

Gencer, Gülcan - Şensoy, Nazlı - Gencer, Kerem. “Problem-Based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education”. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 10/2 (July 1, 2025): 109-121. https://doi.org/10.53850/joltida.1521626.

JAMA

1.Gencer G, Şensoy N, Gencer K. Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education. JOLTIDA. 2025;10:109–121.

MLA

Gencer, Gülcan, et al. “Problem-Based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education”. Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age, vol. 10, no. 2, July 2025, pp. 109-21, doi:10.53850/joltida.1521626.

Vancouver

1.Gülcan Gencer, Nazlı Şensoy, Kerem Gencer. Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education. JOLTIDA. 2025 Jul. 1;10(2):109-21. doi:10.53850/joltida.1521626

Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age 2023. This is an Open Access journal distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.

Journal of Learning and Teaching in Digital Age. Open Access Journal, 2023. ISSN:2458-8350

Abstract

Problem-based Learning in the Metaverse Environment: Evaluation of Virtual Reality Applications in Medical Education

Abstract

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