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 a new model called Icon Positioner has been created to provide material that encourages expressive language for a variety of concepts. A scene is depicted on the screen: You, or your client, clicks "Go" and icons appear at specific target locations on the scene. For example, if the target concept is "on/under", the icons will appear "on" things, or "under" things. The client is encouraged to describe where the icon has been placed.
The first 12 tasks using this new model are in "Semantics - Concepts - Spatial", in the sub-sections "In/out" and "On/under/beside/next to". Within each sub-section, the tasks start with scenes that are uncomplicated, and build up to scenes that have more items. This allows you to teach the concept initially in a more concrete way, and progress to scenes that are more representative of real situations.
There are a number of ways the clinician or helper can modify the task in this new model. You can decide to work on only one, or all of the concepts, or have the icons go randomly anywhere on the scene. This allows you to focus the task initially, and then later provide a more spontaneous activity to encourage generalization. You can also select to have "one", "two", or "many" icons appear each time you click. This allows you to work on plurals, and concepts of "few, many, most" etc. All icons can also be dragged around the scene which means you can first talk about the concept word, and then change its position to provide contrast. To make the activity more challenging, or form part of a game, you could tell your client that they need to watch for icons that go "on" things. Then click "Go", and the client calls out when an icon has gone "on" something in the scene.
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 2010 National Conference:
Sunday 16th - Wednesday 19th
We will have trade stand #46 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
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