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 -
We've always understood the desirabilty of a version of eLr which could be used in situations without web access, and have for many years produced two entirely separate "Offline" versions for Windows computers and iPads. Current web technologies have now provided more compatible browser standards, and a development path to create a single app which will work from the web, and which can also be installed for offline use directly on Windows, Mac and Chromebook computers, as well as Apple and Android tablets and even phones.
The first public viewing of our "universal" eLr app is now available in the "Guest Access" area of the eLr web site. A similar, extended, "Pro" version will also follow over the coming month. The appearance and operation are still somewhat unpolished, and the current offering doesn't yet include the download mechanism for offline use. But you are welcome to logon to the website as a "Guest user" and elect to try it. Any feedback will be much appreciated.
Many of our previous newsletters have provided literacy related information about materials within eLr that focus on developing letter-sound knowledge and automatic word reading skills. This newsletter updates you on a project that emerged out of Toni's observations while using some of the eLr tasks: WordDriver - a web-app which we developed for her PhD research.
WordDriver specifically targets accurate decoding (phonological recoding) and orthographic learning with a focus on letter-sound knowledge of consonant and vowel digraphs. The WordDriver website worddriver.com provides information about the theoretical underpinnings of WordDriver, a description of the components involved, how to gain access to the free web-app, and research publications that document the outcomes of our research. This includes our most recent publication in the Learning Difficulties Australia Bulletin (Seiler & Leitao 2020) which reviews research supporting the role of accurate decoding in the development of automatic word reading.
In brief, WordDriver comprises two modules. WordDriver-1 targets accurate decoding (the ability to accurately sound out and blend to read words that have 1:1 letter-sound correspondence), and WordDriver-2 uses the same process to teach letter-sound knowledge for consonant and vowel spelling patterns (sh, th, ai, or, ow etc).
WordDriver is freely available for use by clinicians, teachers, and researchers. Contact us if you would like more information or support.
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 2021 National Conference:
Sunday May 30th - Wednesday June 2nd
We will have a trade stand 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.
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
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