Edmonton, Alberta, Canada -- Thanks to the University of Alberta's Health Centre, teaching Generation X about sex has been made easier. The centre has put together a software program on safer sex, AIDS, alcohol abuse, healthy eating habits and how to cope with stress. The success of the program has seen over 62 countries as far afield as Nepal, Namibia, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates request CD Roms or download the software from the centre's web site. The popularity of the program has even prompted Svenska Dagbladet, a daily newspaper in Stockholm, Sweden to report on the software.
What originally started as a student project on AIDS in Canada, has grown to such an extent that computer kiosks featuring the program can now be found on campuses around Canada and in the US. The program predominantly targets post-secondary students but can also be used in schools. A second program focussing on sexual decision making will be out in March. Judy Hancock, Health Education Coordinator of the Health Centre at the University of Alberta, who writes and produces the software, felt that it was important to design a fresh, young and "cool" program that utilizes Internet trends to reach the youth of today.
She found that many times students were not getting the opportunity to find out about these awkward subjects and that the Internet was performing this educational role, and doing it rather badly. With this program, students are able - in the privacy of their own rooms - to access pertinent and relevant information on these subjects. The language, graphics and design of the program are written in the idiom of the young, which allows the message not to be interpreted as propaganda.
Hancock prefers that parents fulfill the sex educator role but states that many times there is a lot of apprehension in approaching these subjects. With this program, health educators are able to reach a wider audience, and, according to Hancock, overcome some of the taboos surrounding these subjects.
The University of Alberta in Edmonton is one of Canada's premier teaching and research universities serving more than 29,000 students with 6,000 faculty and staff. It continues to lead the country with the most 3M Teaching Fellows, Canada's only national award recognizing teaching excellence, and with the most Academic All-Canadians, students who successfully combine academics with varsity athletics.
For more information, please contact:
Judy M. Hancock
Health Education Coordinator
University of Alberta Health Centre
(780) 492-2612 ext. 2301
judy.hancock@ualberta.ca