Metaverse-Based Education for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Students

Investigating the Effects of the Metaverse-Based Education Model on Motivation and Academic Achievement in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Students: A Randomized Controlled Study

In the modern era, university students, especially those from Generation Z, are true digital natives who have grown up with technology and embraced it wholeheartedly. This hyper-cognitive generation has different characteristics than their predecessors and emphasizes educational approaches integrated with innovative technologies over traditional methods. Rather than traditional classroom learning, Generation Z prefers to learn through various media, such as digital games, YouTube videos, and smart devices. Science and technology have made rapid and transformative progress in recent decades. One of these developments is the emergence of the metaverse, a rapidly expanding three-dimensional virtual space. Neal Stephenson coined the term "metaverse" in his 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, combining the words "meta," meaning "transcendence and virtuality," and "verse," meaning "world and universe." Enhanced by technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence, the metaverse creates a 3D virtual sphere where individuals from around the world can come together for shared social interactions. It also serves as an arena for users to participate in various social activities. In recent years, significant events such as the pandemic, conflicts, seismic activity, and climate change have led to disruptions in higher education in certain countries. Due to the pandemic, there has been a significant shift towards distance learning platforms, and students have been denied various opportunities. Distance learning is defined as "an effective form of learning that is independent of time and place. It offers individuals the ability to conveniently configure and update educational materials electronically and integrate different technologies into the learning process. These technologies can be utilized 24/7." The goal of distance education is to ensure continuity of education and increase learner satisfaction. Consequently, universities have adopted various distance learning models to address these challenges and promote their students' academic success. Using the metaverse in education is a significant application area and is widely anticipated to be very promising in the future.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being an undergraduate student in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
• Having basic anatomy knowledge
• Having sufficient time and resources to participate in training and complete assessments
• Being 18 years of age or older
• Being a volunteer and providing written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having previously received comprehensive palpation training
• Those at High Risk of Absence During Training
• Participants who lack the necessary hardware and internet access, especially for online and metaverse groups