ELR Software produces a range of computer programs designed by speech pathologists for speech, language & literacy intervention. Our programs may be used interactively within therapy sessions, to increase efficiency in service delivery, and to improve access to the Internet for people with special needs. We are also available as consultants to clinicians and research projects in the fields of literacy and accessibility issues associated with the Internet.
The aim of this newsletter is to inform you of developments and changes to our major products eLr (Extra Language Resources), Build-a-Sentence, Word Meanings Rude Readers and EIA (Enhancing Internet Access). We welcome the opportunity for feedback and questions, and will be pleased to consider including reader contributions and announcements.
This Newsletter (and previous editions) as well as a "print-ready" PDF version of the current edition is available online at www.elr.com.au/news. An email version is also sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).
In this issue -
This month we have continued to work in "Semantics-Concepts" and added 24 new tasks in a new subsection called "Inclusive/Exclusive". Within this subsection there are two groups of tasks covering concepts "a/both" and "either/or/both/and". The tasks use the LR Icon Placer which displays a scene and a number of icons. The prompt provides appropriate instructions to teach the target concept. This model permits the client to place the icons in any location and the clinician/helper provides feedback and modifies the task to suit the interest and learning needs of the client. Within each concept the tasks are graded in difficulty. For example, an easy instruction for "and" would be "put the banana and the apple in the fridge", while a more difficult instruction for "either/or/both" is "put either a book or a sock in both baskets".
We have also modified some of the tasks from last month and added one more task the "in front/behind" subsection. We received feedback that some of the scenes in the "in front/behind" section were too close to the icons. So the tasks have been changed to allow more room.
These tasks provide flexible material to teach basic and abstract concepts. They are also useful for clients who have auditory processing problems. In each section the instructions begin at an easier level containing one concept. The more challenging levels contain more than one concept requiring mastery of the concepts and the ability to process more than one concept at a time.
We have released a new version of Word Meanings which now works on current versions of Windows including Vista. It may be downloaded from www.elr.com.au/meanings and is also included on the current eLr-Offline distribution CD. In both cases this is the full version of the program, but if you don't have a valid "registration key" it will behave in an "unregistered" mode. If you, or your clients, have been having problems running Word Meanings on your current computer, you should download and install this new version, or contact us about obtaining a new CD.
Word Meanings by Words Work (Robyn Dower and Jan Mackey), and ELR Software Pty Ltd is a computerised version of Dower and Mackey's book "Building Language: Word Meanings", Helios Art and Book Co, 1996. This book is a manual of language exercises for adults and adolescents, and is based on cognitive neurological theory. It is used by many clinicians who work with adults who have dysphasia and/or cognitive-language disorders, adolescents with language and learning disorders, and adults with literacy disorders or who are learning English as a second language. As with the book, the exercises are graded for semantic relatedness. The program contains features such as scoring of responses, provision of feedback for correct/incorrect responses, and a summary of results at the completion of each task.
Although the program still looks the same, there were some major internal program changes needed to achieve Windows Vista compatibility. As with any such programming, some "bugs" may remain or new ones may have occurred! So we'd appreciate any feedback about problems (or no problems!) if you try Word Meanings.
We are planning to visit the UK in July/August 2009. We will be available to provide a series of free introductory workshops during July and early August. We invite interested people to contact us if you would like to attend, or if you would like to host a workshop at your workplace. Our offer is that we will provide a free 2-hour introductory workshop, if a venue is provided and if you are able to use your existing networks to publicize the event.
The Speech Pathology Australia National Conference is in Adelaide (17-21 May). We look forward to catching up with many of our current subscribers, and meeting clinicians who may not have seen our programs. Come and visit us at stand #59.
As an occasional feature of this Newsletter, we include simple, unpaid announcements of products developed by other small, independent developers, who, like ourselves, are practising clinicians who have put their ideas and experience into resource materials for general distribution. Links and brief information about these sites may be found at www.elr.com.au/links/developers.htm. To date we have listed -
If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.
ELR has a number of free or evaluation files available for downloading directly from our website. Please see www.elr.com.au/downloads.htm for specific details. For other supporting materials and documents available for free download, please see www.elr.com.au/support.htm.
ELR Software is now able to offer eLr support and short tutorials over the web. We can provide this sort of support to individuals, or to groups who would like to have an overview of eLr. Please contact us for details.
- Speech Pathology Australia 2009 National Conference:
Sunday 17th - Thursday 21st
We will have trade stand #59 at this conference. Contact us for further details
You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings, Build-s-Sentence or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
Copyright ©2009 ELR Software Pty Ltd
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