Application of Virtual Simulation in Education: Current Status, Hot Spots and Trends

The use of virtual simulation in teaching and learning has become increasingly widespread. However, there is still a lack of systematic reviews in the field of virtual simulation education. Using CiteSpace visual analysis software and bibliometric methods, we analyzed 223 articles from the Web of Science core dataset to examine the current status, key areas, and trends in virtual simulation education research. Additionally, we identified existing gaps and proposed future research directions. Our findings indicate that virtual simulation technology is most commonly integrated with medical education. China leads in the number of annual publications, with a significantly higher research output than other countries. However, research collaboration between countries remains limited. Regarding research themes, the integration of artificial intelligence with virtual reality in intelligent virtual simulation is expected to expand further. Researchers should enhance international collaboration, introduce emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence into education, explore innovative teaching methods, and reshape the virtual simulation learning environment