SECRA 3.0

Simulation of a communication exercise in a helping relationship

Lucie Trépanier
Collège de Maisonneuve

SECRA 3.0 is a multimedia software program that simulates a conversation in the context of a helping relationship. The student-computer interaction takes on the form of a real conversation: the computer (the person needing help) makes an initial comment, whereas the student (the user-helper) replies by selecting the attitude of his or her choice among the six that have been offered. The computer then makes a new comment. The dialogue continues in this way until the exchange comes to a conclusion. Multimedia aspects such as voice and images provide nonverbal clues to create a more realistic simulation. The software program offers different exchange themes.

Objectives

- Identify spontaneous attitudes

- Discover inductively the impact on the person needing help of one's spontaneous attitude

- Repeat the same situation at will by trying out all attitudes to compare their impacts, without risk to the partner

- Obtain competent and immediate feedback


French version also available: SECRA 3,0

Award - Prix du Ministre for the 1.0 version

Software Design: Robert Szczech
Grahpic Design: Christine Blais
2005