Mursion uses avatars to role-play situations such as classrooms or difficult conversations. A single “simspecialist” or “interactor” voices all of the avatars, following a pre-written scenario that is not scripted, meaning the simspecialist needs to have a background in improvisational theater. Artificial intelligence animates the avatars. The simulations can be experienced by a single person virtually using Zoom or in a group setting in person or virtually with students taking turns in the simulation. It has been used for both formative and summative assessments.

The main benefit of this simulation is to provide students across a range of WSU programs opportunities to engage in difficult workplace interactions in a low-risk environment. Students join the simulation by joining a Zoom meeting hosted by the course instructor.

Types of Departments Using Mursion

Education departments use it for performance evaluation and formative feedback. It also is used in journalism, business, nursing, social work, psychology, residential life centers, marketing, counseling, hospitality, speech pathology, and criminal justice. It is also being used with community partners.

Most universities began using Mursion 2-6 years ago, before Covid-19, as a way to meet the needs of distance learners, particularly in rural areas. This research team explored Mursion as a teaching innovation in the current Covid-19-affected environment but found that it would also be useful in classroom situations as well as distance learning. However, because of the interactor's role, it must be used synchronously.