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 -
Twenty-four new tasks have been added to "Phonology Skills & Early Sounds - Vowel sounds", in a recently added subsection: "Diphthong vowel sounds". The aim of these tasks is to provide material targeting production of the diphthong vowel sounds in English. These include the /ay/ sound as in "day", /ow/ as in "boat", /i/ as in "pie", /ou/ as in "house", /oy/ as in "boy", /eer/ as in "deer", and /air/ as in "bear". Two models have been used. The TicTacPics model is based on the Tic Tac Toe game which involves two people. Nine pictures are displayed in a grid on the screen, and each person takes turns clicking a picture (or touching in the case of an iPad), with the aim of achieving a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row. The version used in eLr aims to encourage practice of specific speech sounds, so in these tasks, each person says the name of the picture before touching or clicking. This enables repetition and practice of the targeted diphthong vowels sound and the opportunity for the clinician or helper to provide corrective feedback about accuracy of production. The second model is called Memory Pics, also based on the well-loved Memory/Concentration games. As with the previous model, this game is also interactive and enables the clinician or helper to provide feedback and reinforce strategies about accurate production of sounds.
All models in eLr are designed to allow modification to suit the needs of the client. The default for the Memory Pics tasks is for the cards to be already shuffled, and each time you launch a game, the pictures will be shuffled and arranged in a different order. If your client needs a more predictable presentation (for example, if you are teaching the concept of "same" and "matching"), you can click "shuffle" off (top of the screen), so that the matching cards are easier to find (the diagonally opposite cards match).
In these tasks, the role of a speech pathologist is central in providing initial assessment and guiding practice where a support person may provide prompts and feedback about accurate production of these vowel sounds in words. This section may be useful for children or adults who have difficulty in the verbal production of speech sounds.
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.
- Speech Pathology Australia 2014 National Conference:
Sunday 18th - Wednesday 21st
We will have trade stand #39 at this conference. Contact us for further details
ELR Software is also able to offer free 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.
You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings, Build-a-Sentence or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
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