Computer program to help Year 10 students choose careers

13/10/94

State-of-the-art computer wizardry will soon help Western Australian high school students plan their future.

The University of WA has produced a unique computer software package to allow Year 10 students to gaze into their own academic and career future via interactive computer multi-media.

Education Minister Norman Moore today received the first copy of the CD-ROM disk and ELVIS (electronic visual) multi-media interactive program from UWA.

Mr Moore said that ELVIS would be provided from the start of 1995, to the State's more than 260 Government and non-Government secondary schools.  The program would enable more than 24,000 Year 10 students to view the future career consequences of subjects they chose for Years 11 and 12.

ELVIS was produced by the UWA Department of Human Movement's Information Technology Unit with a $200,000 Federal Government grant.  It would enable students to choose the most appropriate subjects for their post-compulsory years of high school.

The state-of-the-art software would enable students to examine career paths based on subject choices, and to thus make more informed decisions about their future.  Students could 'click' on proposed subjects and have the further education and career opportunities open up.

"This is a fine example of the practical application of contemporary computer technology, with which most students are comfortable and familiar, to help them properly plan their future," Mr Moore said.

"It is a further example of technology being integrated into the State's education system in a fun, user-friendly fashion, which will encourage students to adopt a sensible long-term view."

The ultimate plan was to ultimately have this technology available by computer network across the globe, so people can learn more about UWA and Perth city, including video presentations, cost-of-living details and general statistics.

"Such programs indicate the way of the future in education and communication of the attributes of our State to the world."

Media contact:  Ross Storey   321 1444   222 9595