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 have continued working on the phonemic awareness activities within the phonology sections. Twenty two new tasks have been added to "Phonology Skills and Early Sounds" in the /p, b, t, d/ subsections. These new tasks are word based - we've previously added picture based task to these sections. They use the Word sound buttons model which displays a word on the screen. The clinician/helper encourages the client to say the word one sound at a time (sounding out the word), and then provides feedback about accuracy. The client is then encouraged to click the buttons to display the letters that spell each sound, thus providing reinforcement about spelling patterns.
Within each section, the tasks cater to the skill level of the client. The easiest tasks are those with 2 to 3 sounds. The more difficult tasks contain words with consonant blends (eg print, trap), and consonant digraphs (eg bash, tooth).
The addition of phonemic awareness activities in the Phonology sections is supported by research that has shown that therapy targeting phonological and phonemic awareness for children with speech sound disorders is effective in improving the literacy outcomes for those children (Gillon G.T. "Follow-up study investigating the benefits of phonological awareness intervention for children with spoken language impairment", Int J Lang Comm Dis, 2002, Vol 37, No 4, 381-400).
At present the only way to use eLr on an iPad is to connect to our website at www.elr.com.au/elr.htm and open it with an iPad web browser. The usual browser that all iPad users will have is Safari. So start Safari, goto this website, logon and use eLr in the usual way. Here are a few tips:
Add the site to your Bookmarks using the "Add Bookmark" option on the "Share" icon (box with an arrow in it).
Make sure to use the site in the "landscape" mode to see the tasks in their optimal layout.
You can "save tasks" for later use, also via the "Share" icon. Choose "Add to Home Screen" and you'll have a complete copy of the task with all its contents that can operate without an internet connection.
And lastly, instead of Safari, we've been using the iPad app called "Full screen browser" (FSB) by Drobnik KG. It works well with eLr. It not only gives a full screen display but locks the browser controls in such a way that there is less chance for little fingers to accidentally touch the wrong thing. It also does a good job of remembering the last page it was on, so makes it quick to have a task loaded prior to a session. And it costs only about $1. Unfortunately FSB doesn't offer the "Add to Home Screen" mechanism.
A stand-alone "app" version of eLr-Offline is not far off!
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 2012 National Conference:
Sunday 24th - Wednesday 27th
We will have trade stand #11 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-a-Sentence or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
Copyright ©2012 ELR Software Pty Ltd
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