ELR-News

April 2010

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), 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 -

  1. New eLr Activities
  2. Speech Pathology Australia National Conference "Participation 2010"
  3. Other Independent Developers
  4. Free Downloads
  5. ELR 2010 Calendar

  1. New eLr Activities

    There are 19 new tasks in "Semantics-Concepts-Spatial". Most of the tasks are in the sub-sections "top/middle/bottom" and "front/back/behind". Last month the new tasks using this model were in "in/out", and "on/off/under/beside/next to", and we've also added a few more tasks to those sections.

    The IconPositioner model is new to eLr (it was added in the March 2010 edition). It compliments the existing free form models DragCentral and LR IconPlacer currently used in many "Semantics-Concepts" sections in which the helper gives instructions that support the concept being taught (eg 'put the shark UNDER the boat').

    In contrast to the free form models, IconPositioner more directly encourages expressive language from the client. A scene is depicted on the screen. The client (or helper) clicks the "Go" button, and an icon appears on the scene in a position that reinforces the concept being taught. For example, when teaching the concept "on/under", the icons will appear either ON the chair, or UNDER the chair. The client is encouraged to describe where the icon is positioned. Thus, expressive language related to that concept is encouraged. If the client is reluctant to use spontaneous language, the clinician/helper is able to use a range of strategies to support expressive language development, such as modeling, repetition etc. There are a range of ways that the IconPositioner model can be modified to suit client learning needs. For example:

    The clinician/helper can choose to work on only one of the concepts by using the on screen "Concept selector". The allows for repetition of that concept, using a range of icons in different locations, all depicting the same concept. For example, the icons may appear UNDER the chair, or UNDER the couch.

    Once the icons appear on screen, they can be dragged to other locations. This encourages verbal interaction and description, and if appropriate, modeling of other concept words.

    The number of icons that appear can be changed to "two" or "many". This enables reinforcement of other language goals, eg the concept of "both", "lots", "many" "a few", "most", as well as grammatical structures such as plurals.

    The clinician/helper can choose to have the icons "Accumulate". This means that each time you press "Go", the previous icons remain on the screen. This provides another way to model the concepts mentioned above, such as "most", "a few", "many", "some".

    By selecting the concept "Anywhere", the icons will appear in random locations, allowing modeling and discussion about other concept words, such as "in the corner", "right/left" hand side, etc.

    As with all eLr tasks, an assembled screen may be printed, allowing for paper based repetition of the task.

  2. Speech Pathology Australia National Conference "Participation 2010"

    ELR Software will be at stand #46 at the Speech Pathology Australia Conference in Melbourne. The conference will be at the Crown Promenade Conference Centre, and runs from Sunday 16th May to Wednesday 19th May 2010. We welcome you to come and say hello and give us feedback about our resources. If you have never seen them, we'd be happy to show you and discuss their application to your client population.

    Our main resource is "eLr - Extra Language Resources". This is a set of over 10,500 activities designed for use with children and adults who have speech, language, or literacy impairments. It is also being used within regular classrooms to provide a greater range of language and literacy activities. eLr is available by subscription. It is web based, and subscribers also receive an eLr-Offline CD which enables them to use the resources without having to connect to the web.

    "Build-a-Sentence" was developed by speech pathologists Helen Goltzoff, Virginia Long, and the ELR Software team. It is an interactive program that encourages the development of vocabulary, and expansion of sentences from single words, to two and three part sentences.

    "Word Meanings" was developed by speech pathologists Robyn Dower, Jan Mackay and the ELR Software team. It is an interactive language program to build understanding and recall of words by strengthening semantic processing. It is based on cognitive neuropsychological theory, and provides feedback about accuracy, and a record of the client's performance.

  3. Other Independent Developers

    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.

  4. 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.


     
  5. ELR 2010 Calendar

    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.



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, Build-s-Sentence or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au

Copyright ©2010 ELR Software Pty Ltd

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