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

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…”