Download ExSport II: An Interactive Sport Management Career Interest System

ExSport II
An Artificial Intelligence Sport
Management Career Guidance System
Janet B. Parks
Human Movement, Sport, and Leisure Studies
Bowling Green State University
Jianwei Sun
Digital Data Technologies
Columbus, OH
ABSTRACT
ExSport II is an expert systems model of Artificial
Intelligence that simulates the career counseling
process. Users answer 18 questions about their
professional interests. Decision rules embedded in
the system lead users into knowledge bases
describing sport management careers that appear
to be compatible with those expressed interests.
GROWTH OF SPORT MANAGEMENT
 By the mid-1980s, sport management professional
preparation programs had proliferated in
universities across the United States.
 There had been an accompanying groundswell of
interest from students and parents.
 One result was a enormous demand for reliable
career information.
 Guidance and counseling materials had not kept
pace with the demand.
RESPONSE TO GROWTH: ExSPORT I
 In 1984, BGSU had 460 sport management majors,
most of whom were seeking career advice from
faculty.
 Parks and Quain (1986; 1990) conducted a survey
of several segments of the sport industry to
gather information that could be used by advisors.
 Along with Chopra and Alguindigue (1988), they
developed ExSport I, an expert systems model of
Artificial Intelligence.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE?
 AI is a branch of computer science that attempts
to emulate mental faculties by using computational
models.
 Expert systems are Artificial Intelligence
application programs that apply substantial
knowledge of specific areas of expertise to solve
a problem.
(Parks et al. 1988, p. 197)
FEATURES OF EXPERT SYSTEMS
 The system can be used in remote locations;
there is no need for the presence of an expert
(e.g., counselor or academic advisor).
 The system collects only relevant information
(i.e., no idle chit-chat).
 The system can be easily up-dated.
BENEFITS FOR USERS
 Users are anonymous and independent.
 Users are usually comfortable and motivated.
 Users receive personalized information.
 Users receive consistent information because
the system does not get tired or careless.
DEVELOPMENT OF ExSPORT II
 The obsolete technology used in ExSport I
was updated for the WWW.
 In the future, the knowledge bases will be
updated and expanded.
 Video clips, external links, and other features
will be added.
 ExSport II will be accessible worldwide.
ExSPORT II INFORMATION FLOW
USER
6
Sport
Information
Questions
6
Sport
Organization
Questions
6
Physical
Fitness
Questions
Job Settings
Job Titles
Job Tasks
Job Settings
Job Titles
Job Tasks
Job Settings
Job Titles
Job Tasks
Sport Information
Pro Sport
Sport Marketing
Intercollegiate Athletics
Recreation
Aquatics
Physical Fitness
TESTIMONIALS
What students have said:
“I knew what I wanted to do as a
career, and the computer picked it out.”
“It is very easy to use and provides
good information for career planning.”
“…this would be very beneficial for
high school students…”