Open education and science in the digital age: virtual reality and competency development in Physiology Learning within Health Sciences

Abstract

[ES]This quasi-experimental study evaluates the impact of Virtual Reality (VR), implemented as an open educational resource, on teaching physiology to Health Sciences students. Recent studies have shown that immersive technologies enhance conceptual understanding and increase students’ active engagement; however, their adoption remains limited in formal higher education contexts. Building on this background, the present study seeks to confirm these benefits and examine whether integrating VR into the classroom contributes to developing additional generic competencies relevant to professional performance in dynamic environments. An experimental group (VRG, n = 100), which used classrooms equipped with VR technology, was compared with a control group (CG, n = 63), which followed the traditional dissection-based method. The results show a significant increase in academic performance and knowledge retention in the VRG (a 25.93% improvement compared to a 9.87% decrease in the CG), as well as a strengthening of generic competencies such as practical application, autonomous learning, adaptability to change, decision-making, and collaboration. This research aligns with the goals of the UNESCO Dubai Declaration on Open Educational Resources, by highlighting VR’s potential to democratize access to knowledge and foster the development of open, inclusive, and sustainable educational and scientific ecosystems.