ELR-News

November 2005

Newsletter of ELR Software Pty Ltd

ABN 67 090 738 702
http://www.elr.com.au
news@elr.com.au

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), Rude Readers, Word Meanings 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) is available online at www.elr.com.au/news and an email version is sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).

In this issue -

  1. New and Changed eLr Materials
  2. Sydney Workshops Re-scheduled
  3. Free Downloads
  4. ELR 2005 Calendar

  1. New and Changed eLr Materials

    New - tasks added to "Sentence Processing" and "Semantics"

    A total of 32 new tasks have been added this month.

    Twenty-four tasks have been added to "Sentence Processing - Single Clause Active Sentences - Using Descriptive Phrases - Future Tense". These tasks are word based, and use two models - "Typing with words", and "Typing with phrases". Over the past few months we have been adding activities to each of the subsections in the "Sentence Processing" section.

    These materials are designed to strengthen the ability to:
    • - understand sentences which increase in length
    • - use sentences flexibly
    • - solve language based problems
    • - understand how changing the word order of a sentence affects meaning

    Within each section a number of features are controlled for:
    • - verb tense - there are activities for present, past and future tense passive sentences
    • - verb complexity - there are activities which involve either "easily visualized" or "less easily visualized". The verbs in the "easily visualized" section are those that are concrete in nature and are used more frequently (eg run, chop, swim, drink), while those in the "less easily visualized" are more abstract and less frequent (eg plan, cure, expect, receive).
    • - length of sentence - sentences range from "subject - verb", to "subject - verb - object", "subject - verb - indirect object - object", and sentences with 1, 2 or more than 2 descriptive phrases.

    These tasks may be useful for clients who have language and learning disabilities, and also for those who have acquired language disorders following stroke or head injury. The client is able to initially complete a set of sentences using the "Typing with phrases" model, and then complete the same set of sentences using the "Typing with words" model. This helps the client see the structure of the sentence first, and then be encouraged to rearrange the words in as many different ways as possible to see how the meaning can be changed.

    Eight tasks have also been added to "Semantics - Categories - Word Generation - High level". These tasks use the "Fortune Cookies" model. This model displays 9 large buttons on the screen. The client clicks one of the buttons and is then encouraged to verbally respond to the prompt. This section is designed to encourage the ability to generate words within a given category. The high level tasks in this month's edition use words that are abstract and less frequently used. For example, the client may be asked to name as many things as possible that are "miniature", "precious", "scalding", "desiccated", "imminent" etc. These activities are excellent for improving vocabulary and the ability to detect connections between words and ideas. There are many ways to extend these tasks. For example, the client may be encouraged to:

    We hope these new tasks are useful within your therapy sessions. Please feel free to email or phone with comments and suggestions.

    Changed - slight fixes to "Session Planner" and "Program Goals Editor"

    Minor revisions have been made to restore eLr Directory function for Win98/MSIE 5.0 users and to fix the display of model 1035 tasks seen when copying a "Goalsheet" to the clipboard. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by these "bugs".

  2. Sydney Workshops Re-scheduled

    We are planning to be in Sydney from Wednesday 16th November to Friday 18th November. We had originally planned to be there this month (October), but due to our car's "pragmatically inappropriate communication" with a much larger farm vehicle, we were delayed (no human harm done). Our car will complete its therapy program within the next couple of weeks, so we look forward to being in Sydney after that. We are arranging some informal ELR demonstrations, so contact if you'd like to know the details.

  3. Free Downloads

    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.


     
  4. ELR 2005 Calendar



Subscribing/Unsubscribing to this Newsletter

You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au

Copyright ©2005 ELR Software Pty Ltd

Postal ELR Software Pty Ltd
PO Box 1456
Bairnsdale
VIC 3875, Australia
Phone
 
International
(03) 5156 8309
1800 018 309
+61 3 5156 8309
Fax
International
(03) 5156 8609
+61 3 5156 8609