ELR Software produces 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) and Word Meanings. 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 further 22 tasks have been added to "Reading and Spelling - Early skills" in the "Most frequent words" section. The WordSoundButtons model was used and with these additions we've now covered all levels in the "first, second, third and fourth 100 words" sub-sections. This model presents one word at a time on the screen and the learner is encouraged to click and sound out each letter-sound, then blend the sounds to read the word. This process, referred to as phonological recoding (decoding), has been shown to be an essential step in the formation of clear mental images of words (orthographic representations), leading to automatic word recognition.
In these updated levels, it is now possible to begin a session with a phonological recoding activity (WordSoundButtons) and then use a matching range of models to provide repetition and consolidation of automatic word recognition - reading words by sight. The WordSearch model encourages further sounding out and blending to read each word; LookThenCover and SmileyMan support recall of spelling patterns; and MemoryWords and ConnectWords provide fun activities to consolidate automatic recognition of previously decoded words. In future updates we'll be adding this option to the other word groupings in this section.
As with all eLr materials, an interactive session with an instructor is an essential component of early word reading and spelling development. It allows the student to receive feedback about accuracy of decoding and encoding, and enables word reading development to occur within a rich oral language environment.
We welcome your feedback about these tasks and any aspect of eLr, as well as your suggestions about additions and modifications to eLr.
As a reader of ELR-News you are perhaps aware that we (ELR Software) have been working with the team from STAi <www.speechtherapy.ai> to incorporate eLr activities into their "all-in-one online Speech Therapy Platform". The STAi service is being built around a secure televideo platform and will incorporate multiplayer, collaborative activities with streamlined session scheduling/planning, built-in note taking, and performance tracking tools.
We'd appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes to help prioritise our efforts by completing this 5-question survey at <forms.gle/uaZJTYC2R9T9h6WT6> about your experiences and needs for teletherapy.
We'll also have stand #3 at this year's Speech Pathology Conference in Melbourne (May Sun 22nd to Wed 25th). We'd love to have a chat with you there about these matters.
In May (22nd to 25th), for the first time in 3 years, speech pathologists will gather in Melbourne to participate in an exciting programme of papers and workshops. ELR Software will be at trade stand #3. Come and say hello; share your experiences with eLr; and give us your feedback and suggestions, especially for your teletherapy needs.
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 2022 National Conference:
Sunday 22nd - Wednesday 25th
We will have trade stand #3 at this conference. Contact us for further details
ELR Software offers free eLr 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. We are also offering free Coviu sessions to allow clinicians to get a feel for teletherapy, and in particular the advantages of using eLr for Coviu. Please contact us for details.
For a current listing and to register for one of our available, scheduled webinars, please see www.elr.com.au/support/events.htm
You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Build-a-Sentence or Word Meanings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
Copyright ©2022 ELR Software Pty Ltd
| Postal |
ELR Software Pty Ltd PO Box 1456 Bairnsdale VIC 3875, Australia |
| Phone International |
(03) 5156 8309 +61 3 5156 8309 |