This study aimed to: 1. investigate and develop a model of a virtual learning environment on the Metaverse for distance education at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), 2. assess the quality of virtual learning environments on the Metaverse for distance education at STOU, and 3. evaluate the effectiveness of the developed virtual learning environment model. A mixed-methods research approach was employed, incorporating qualitative and quantitative analyses. 1) The qualitative analysis involved typological analysis, content analysis, and frequency analysis to identify key components of the virtual learning environment model. and 2) The quantitative analysis was conducted with a sample of 142 undergraduate students enrolled in Course 10151: Thai Studies at STOU during the 2023 academic year, all of whom owned mobile devices with the Roblox application installed. The sample was selected using purposive sampling. Research instruments included: (1) a structured interview to collect expert opinions on the virtual learning environment model, (2) the virtual learning environment developed on the Metaverse for distance education, (3) an evaluation form for assessing its quality, (4) pre-tests and post-tests to measure learning outcomes, and (5) a satisfaction survey regarding the virtual learning experience. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, as well as a paired-samples t-test to compare pre-test and post-test scores.
       The findings revealed that: 1. The STOU Metaverse model comprises five key components: 1) Virtual Learning Environment, 2) Tasks in the Metaverse, 3) Class Collaboration, 4) Learning Community, and 5) Evaluation. 2. A total of 15 virtual learning environments were developed. The quality assessment of the virtual learning environment yielded an average score of 4.70, indicating the highest level of quality. and 3. The effectiveness of the virtual learning environment model for distance education at STOU was evaluated based on two aspects: 1) Learning Achievement: The post-test scores were significantly higher than the pre-test scores, with a statistical significance level of .05. and 2) Student Satisfaction: The overall satisfaction score was 4.18, reflecting a high level of satisfaction.