TEACHER EDUCATORS’ EXPERIENCES OF USING THE MURSION® SIMULATION PROGRAMME: A CASE OF A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of teacher educators at a South African university regarding their use of the Mursion® simulation program during pre-service teacher training. The study aimed to investigate these teacher educators’ experiences and perceptions of using the Mursion® simulation software by means of semi-structured interviews, and subsequent thematic analyses. Three themes were predominantly discussed during the interviews, namely, initial impressions of the Mursion® software, favourable aspects associated with the software, and less-favourable aspects associated with the software. The respondents’ initial impressions revealed a mixture of satisfaction, excitement, and uncertainty. The favourable aspects included the realism of the virtual classroom environment and experience, the opportunity for practice and skill development, and the potential for increased pre-service teacher preparedness. The less-favourable aspects highlighted were some anxiety and intimidation related to the technical nature of the software and the initial learning curve. The findings suggest that the software has the potential to enhance teacher education by providing a realistic and immersive classroom experience for pre-service teachers. The importance of technological support and training for educators to fully utilize such programs is also highlighted.