Effects of gamified robot-assisted instruction on medical students’ learning outcomes, motivation and fatigue

Abstract

As digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to reshape vocational and professional education, innovative instructional approaches are increasingly needed to enhance learner engagement and facilitate effective knowledge acquisition in clinical training environments. This study developed a gamified AI robot-assisted instruction system that integrates gamification elements with AI-driven robotic instruction to enhance learning motivation and reduce fatigue during clinical training. A single-group design was employed, involving 17 medical students participating in respiratory therapy clinical training. The results showed that learning outcome scores improved following the intervention, although the increase did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, learning motivation increased significantly, while fatigue levels decreased significantly after using the gamified AI robot-assisted instruction system. No significant gender differences were found across the measured variables. These findings suggest that the integration of gamification and AI robot-assisted instruction can create a more engaging and supportive learning environment, helping learners maintain motivation and alleviate psychological burden during clinical training. From a vocational education and training perspective, the study highlights the potential of gamified AI robot-assisted instructional systems to foster learner-centered, interactive, and motivating educational experiences in healthcare training.