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 we made a few small fixes for Windows 8 compatibility, and have continued to add materials to the relatively new section in "Using Language" called "Wh Questions". Sixteen new tasks have been added, all using the Sentence Maker model.
The aim of this section is to provide material to teach comprehension of "Wh" questions (eg who, what doing, what, and where), and to support expressive language focussing on sentence structure. The Sentence Maker model incorporates the principles of Colourful Semantics (a system of colour coding the key elements in a sentence). A range of modifications allow the user to tailor the task to suit the needs of the client and the therapy goals, eg de-selecting colour coding and/or deciding whether to display the written sentence to match the picture.
The subsections are organised to allow you to first of all teach the vocabulary using the "one element" section (eg who, what doing, what or where). Then you can gradually expand length and complexity of sentences using the "two element" (eg who-what doing), "three element" (eg who-what doing-what), and "four element" sections (eg who-what doing-what-where). There are now 6 "actors" (who), 18 verbs (what doing), 19 objects (what), and 8 places (where). These are used in various combinations resulting in a current total of 184 separate tasks in this section.
As with all eLr materials, we welcome feedback about this model and section. This may include ways that you are using the material and suggestions for improvements.
Development and testing of the iPad App version of eLr-Offline Beta continues. A new release for "May 2013" (build 1.15) is now available. It fixes a number of general stability and layout issues, and makes the internal "Feedback" and "Free trial application" forms fully operational. It also fixes a bug in the ConnectWords model which sometimes produced unreadable blue text on a blue background. The "icon font bug" in which the little coloured "draggable" animals etc leave a trail of small fragments behind as they are dragged over the screen is not yet fully fixed.
If you've currently got the Beta App installed, you can just respond to the TestFlight invitation to update your App, or go to our alternative download mechanism if you've had trouble with TestFlight (contact us for details if necessary). This new version will recognise current Appkeys, but if your Registration expires, contact us for a new Appkey.
Thanks again to our Beta testers for your interest and feedback so far. As we prepare to submit eLr-Offline to the App store, we'd appreciate feedback about its clinical usefulness that we can add to our submission to Apple.
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 2013 National Conference:
Sunday 23rd - Wednesday 26th
We will have trade stand #5 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
Copyright ©2013 ELR Software Pty Ltd
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