Enhancing Practical Skills in Medical Education: Evaluating the Efficacy of Virtual Simulation Teaching Through Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model

Hongmei Wei, Ning Sheng, Xia Wang, Zhigong Zhang The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhigong Zhang, Email [email protected]: This study examines the efficacy of virtual simulation pedagogy grounded in Kolb’s experiential learning model to enhance clinical practice skills and learning experiences among medical undergraduates.Methods: A cohort of 527 medical undergraduates were randomly assigned to a traditional teaching group (N = 264) or a virtual simulation teaching group based on Kolb’s experiential learning model (N = 263). Comparative analysis was conducted through practical skill assessments, self-evaluations, and course satisfaction surveys.Results: The results demonstrated that the virtual simulation teaching group based on Kolb’s experiential learning model significantly outperformed the traditional teaching group in both practical skills and self-assessment (P< 0.01). In addition, this group shows significantly high levels of course satisfaction.Conclusion: Virtual simulation teaching based on Kolb’s experiential learning model effectively enhances medical undergraduate practical competencies and learning motivation, providing a viable approach for optimizing medical education methodologies.Keywords: Kolb’s experiential learning model, virtual simulation teaching, medical education, practical skills