Technology-enhanced learning and self-regulated learning: A pathway to enhance medical students’ outcomes

Table 1 Implementation pathways, mechanisms, and effects of technology-enhanced self-regulated learning (technology-enhanced learning-self-regulated learning)

Pathway	Key technologies	Mechanism	Effects on psychological adaptation	Effects on learning outcomes
Emotional regulation (safe trial-and-error)	Virtual patient systems; immersive VR diagnosis/treatment; highfidelity simulators	Creates a lowrisk “safe space” allowing repeated trial-and-error without harming real patients; builds successful experiences, reduces fear of decisionmaking	Reduces anxiety and fear of failure; enhances self-efficacy; psychological resilience scores +25%[18]	Improves clinical operation proficiency; reduces cognitive load by 25%[18]
Cognitive optimization (personalized guidance)	AI-driven adaptive learning platforms; intelligent tutoring systems; mobile learning tools	Dynamically matches task difficulty to individual ability levels; supports goal setting and time management	Prevents learned helplessness; builds confidence through successive small successes; enhances intrinsic motivation and engagement[25]	Knowledge test scores +20%[7]; improves knowledge retention and application
Metacognitive awakening (visualized feedback)	Learning dashboards; knowledge graph visualization; ePortfolios; peer review platforms	Makes implicit learning processes (trajectories, time use, knowledge structures) explicit; triggers “cognitive conflict” and deep self-reflection, social comparison	Clarifies awareness of one’s learning status; increases sense of control and professional identity	Metacognitive monitoring ability +18%[19]; knowledge test scores +15%[19]; enhances non-technical skills (e.g., communication, empathy)[15]
Integrated effect (closed loop)	Integration of the above technologies with SRL training	Psychological adaptation (low anxiety, high confidence, high control) serves as a mediator, reducing cognitive interference and promoting deeper processing; improved outcomes reinforce positive psychology, forming a virtuous cycle	Significantly reduces burnout[5]; enhances resilience and professional identity[18]	Clinical reasoning ability +25%[26]; improves Objective Structured Clinical Examination performance[13,18]; strengthens teamwork and leadership[27]

VR: Virtual reality; AI: Artificial intelligence; SRL: Self-regulated learning.