Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses

Abstract This study implemented a novel virtual simulation operation (VSO) teaching platform to enhance offline teaching in clinical microbiology laboratory courses, specifically addressing biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) for SARS-CoV-2 isolation and culture. The study focused on the practical teaching co...

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Main Authors: Jiaxue Wang, Yunshui Jiang, Jun Yang, Qian Zhou, Hui Hu, Yan Chen, Jinqin Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07603-y
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author Jiaxue Wang
Yunshui Jiang
Jun Yang
Qian Zhou
Hui Hu
Yan Chen
Jinqin Jiang
author_facet Jiaxue Wang
Yunshui Jiang
Jun Yang
Qian Zhou
Hui Hu
Yan Chen
Jinqin Jiang
author_sort Jiaxue Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study implemented a novel virtual simulation operation (VSO) teaching platform to enhance offline teaching in clinical microbiology laboratory courses, specifically addressing biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) for SARS-CoV-2 isolation and culture. The study focused on the practical teaching component, comparing the effectiveness of VSO against traditional online video teaching. The study divided undergraduate medical laboratory technology students into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received teaching combining offline courses with online VSO exercises, while the control group participated in offline courses supplemented with standard teaching video reviews. Assessment criteria included comprehensive practical performance, operational skills, laboratory biosafety awareness, and aseptic awareness. An anonymous questionnaire evaluated teaching effectiveness. The integration of VSO with offline practical teaching demonstrated significant improvements in student performance, particularly in comprehensive practical skills, experimental operations, and laboratory biosafety awareness. These findings validate the effectiveness of this virtual simulation teaching platform as an innovative educational tool, offering valuable insights for curricular reform across other disciplines.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6920
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series BMC Medical Education
spelling doaj-art-63eabff551ab40dbad8190fc0f0dad5c2025-08-20T03:42:51ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-07-0125111410.1186/s12909-025-07603-yApplication of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory coursesJiaxue Wang0Yunshui Jiang1Jun Yang2Qian Zhou3Hui Hu4Yan Chen5Jinqin Jiang6School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical CollegeSchool of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical CollegeSchool of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical CollegeSchool of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical CollegeSchool of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical CollegeDepartment of Family-oriented wards, Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical UniversitySchool of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical CollegeAbstract This study implemented a novel virtual simulation operation (VSO) teaching platform to enhance offline teaching in clinical microbiology laboratory courses, specifically addressing biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) for SARS-CoV-2 isolation and culture. The study focused on the practical teaching component, comparing the effectiveness of VSO against traditional online video teaching. The study divided undergraduate medical laboratory technology students into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received teaching combining offline courses with online VSO exercises, while the control group participated in offline courses supplemented with standard teaching video reviews. Assessment criteria included comprehensive practical performance, operational skills, laboratory biosafety awareness, and aseptic awareness. An anonymous questionnaire evaluated teaching effectiveness. The integration of VSO with offline practical teaching demonstrated significant improvements in student performance, particularly in comprehensive practical skills, experimental operations, and laboratory biosafety awareness. These findings validate the effectiveness of this virtual simulation teaching platform as an innovative educational tool, offering valuable insights for curricular reform across other disciplines.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07603-yVSOBSL-3SARS-CoV-2Clinical microbiology laboratoryPractical teaching
spellingShingle Jiaxue Wang
Yunshui Jiang
Jun Yang
Qian Zhou
Hui Hu
Yan Chen
Jinqin Jiang
Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
BMC Medical Education
VSO
BSL-3
SARS-CoV-2
Clinical microbiology laboratory
Practical teaching
title Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
title_full Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
title_fullStr Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
title_full_unstemmed Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
title_short Application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
title_sort application of virtual simulations in the practical teaching of clinical microbiology laboratory courses
topic VSO
BSL-3
SARS-CoV-2
Clinical microbiology laboratory
Practical teaching
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07603-y
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