Go-Togethers

Features
Price $19.99
Age Range Early Childhood & Primary
App Type Learning App
Version Reviewed 2.1
Android Available?
Lite Version Available?
Help Provided?
Sharing

Bloom's Thinking Process
Creating
Evaluating
Analysing
Applying
Understanding
Remembering

Adaptability
Includes recorded voice
Includes text
Includes images

Review Comments
Go Togethers supports the learning of semantic relations. That is, the relationship between two objects such as bird-feather, bathroom-sink, cow-milk. This is one of the only apps which works on both expressive and receptive language learning. In Receptive Mode, the student both hears and reads a question (e.g. What goes with a bathroom?). The student taps and drags to form a line between the main picture and the picture association (e.g. sink). This reinforces the semantic relation between the bathroom and the sink. In Expressive Mode, the student now has to name the object without any prompts (e.g. What goes with milk?). The student names the objects (cow, chocolate flavouring, cereal, cookies) and can also answer 'why' the objects go together. There are two levels of difficulty. Level 1 is suited to Early Childhood and Early Primary Years. Level 2 is suited to middle to upper primary years. You can select one or many categories to target. Level 1 categories are: animals, food, clothing, vehicles, actions, everyday activities, concepts, rooms in the house. Level 2 categories are land and landmarks, meals, holidays and events, places, buildings, sports, weather and seasons, concepts, school subjects My only quibble with this app was the clarity of the images. Some of the images were hard to understand. A detailed video tutorial is available in the app. Goal: Also Semantic Relations including part-whole (bird-beak), location-space, purpose and many more.

Review Comments

Go Togethers supports the learning of semantic relations. That is, the relationship between two objects such as bird-feather, bathroom-sink, cow-milk.

This is one of the only apps which works on both expressive and receptive language learning.

In Receptive Mode, the student both hears and reads a question (e.g. What goes with a bathroom?). The student taps and drags to form a line between the main picture and the picture association (e.g. sink). This reinforces the semantic relation between the bathroom and the sink. In Expressive Mode, the student now has to name the object without any prompts (e.g. What goes with milk?). The student names the objects (cow, chocolate flavouring, cereal, cookies) and can also answer 'why' the objects go together.

There are two levels of difficulty. Level 1 is suited to Early Childhood and Early Primary Years. Level 2 is suited to middle to upper primary years.

You can select one or many categories to target. Level 1 categories are: animals, food, clothing, vehicles, actions, everyday activities, concepts, rooms in the house. Level 2 categories are land and landmarks, meals, holidays and events, places, buildings, sports, weather and seasons, concepts, school subjects

My only quibble with this app was the clarity of the images. Some of the images were hard to understand. A detailed video tutorial is available in the app.

Goal: Also Semantic Relations including part-whole (bird-beak), location-space, purpose and many more.

Use	Rank (*)
Semantic Features		Ranked 2nd of 37
Top Apps for Speech Pathologists		Ranked 16th of 16

(*) This app has been ranked according to its' effectiveness to achieve the learning goals and strategies listed. Some apps may rank highly for achieving a specific use and lower for other uses. Some students will learn and engage with one app more than others, because of the individual nature of us all.

Learning App
Learning apps are designed for a specific purpose. The authors claim to teach a goal, skill or concept.

Bloom's Thinking Process
Bloom's Taxonomy is classification system used to explain the behaviours important in learning. Apps range from simple memory tasks such as flashcards apps through to creative apps which ask students to create an original story or video.

Bloom's Creating
The student creates new ideas, products or ways of viewing things. Activities include making, animating, designing, constructing, planning, producing and inventing.

Bloom's Evaluating
The student justifies a decision or course of action. Activities include counting to check, hypothesising, critiquing, experimenting and judging.

Bloom's Analysing
The student breaks the information into parts to explore understandings and relationships. Activities include explaining, ordering, inferring, comparing and organising.

Bloom's Applying
The student uses the information in a new situation. Activities include implementing, carrying out, using, illustrating, classifying and categorising.

Bloom's Understanding
The student comprehends the new information. Activities include describing, predicting showing understanding use a multiple choice.

Bloom's Remembering
The student recalls information they know. Activities include matching, 'fill in the blank', making a choice, answering using a multiple choice, naming a group.

Learning Connection
How well does the app teach the targeted skill or concept? This is the area where we refer to current research and pedagogy to evaluate the efficacy of the app.

Authenticity
Authenticity looks at the manner in which skills are learnt. Authentic apps use real life or genuine activities. Students learn in context rather than in a contrived or rote fashion (such as flashcards).

Feedback
Feedback needs to be specific and result in improved performance. Feedback should be supportive and encouraging rather than negative. Data should be available to support decision making.

Differentiation
Differentiation is the ability to customise the app to suit the student. The ability to record you voice, customise text, add pictures and alter settings enables individualisation of the app.

User Friendliness
User friendliness is a measure of how well a student can use the app independently. Some apps are simply intuitive to use. Others include audio or visual prompts which support the student.

Motivation
All apps are engaging the first time they are played. However, students with diverse learning needs may need to return to the app many times. Motivating apps offer rewards,games or incentives.

Semantic Features
Semantics refers to the underlying meaning of the word. That is, what does the object does (function or use), what are it’s distinctive features (attributes such as size, colour, shape).

Top Apps for Speech Pathologists
This is a list of the Top Apps for Speech Pathologists

Domain	Score	Details
Learning Connection	4	This app teaches students both receptive and expressive semantic relations. I like the way that the app pauses at the end of each task. This allows the adult and student time to discuss the semantic connection further.
Authenticity	2	Receptive - is a matching task. This supports their ability to remember or recall the semantic relation. Expressive - the student answers the question. But they are also encouraged to answer why the semantic relation occurs. This supports their understanding of the semantic relation.
Feedback	3	Receptive: When the student matches items correctly, they hear a reinforcing sound. When the student is incorrect, there are 3 setting options: move on, buzz or remove the incorrect item. Expressive: the adult scores the item and would need to provide feedback. There is a results report at the end of each activity.
Differentiation	4	There are many levels of customisation available in the settings area. You can customise the task (receptive or receptive or both), level of difficulty, number of categories, response on incorrect.
User Friendliness	3	This app is designed to be used by a student with support from an adult. The student could complete the Receptive tasks independently but would need an adult for the expressive mode.
Motivation	3	This app has a nice feel, but lacks some of the rewards and incentives of other similar apps.

From the App Store

Developer Smarty Ears, LLC
App Store Rating (from 1 reviews)
Current Version Rating (from 1 reviews)
Current Version 5.0

Developer's Description
Go-Togethers: Building Semantic Connections for All Ages Improve Language Skills with Research-Backed Techniques: Go-Togethers is a state-of-the-art application designed to enhance language comprehension and expression across all age groups. It targets critical skills such as categorization, association, and naming through interaction with pictures and audio. Innovative Features for Engaging Learning: Touchscreen Interactions: Utilize the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone's touchscreen to create linguistic connections with touch “sweep” and “tap-to-tally” features. Research-Based Design: Aligns with studies that underscore the importance of semantic knowledge, naming performance, and categorization in language development (McGregor et al., 2002; Bromley, 2007; Miller & Eilam, 2008). Special Focus on Language Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Incorporates visual “word maps” and rapid retrieval activities supported by research for effective interventions (Westby, 2005; Wolf & Seagal, 1999). Customized Activities and Tracking: Versatile Targeting: Choose specific categories to focus on, such as rooms in a house, weather, and seasons. Measure and Monitor: Elicit, score, and report students' progress over time, with detailed data available through the Therapy Report Center. Expressive and Receptive Activities: Engage students with diverse and adjustable activities, including Quick Play and Receptive-Expressive combination exercises. Who Can Benefit from Go-Togethers? SLPs: Provide targeted interventions, customized to individual needs, and easily track progress. Parents: Support children's language development at home with intuitive and engaging tools. Special Education Teachers: Elevate classroom learning with interactive and visual aids tailored for students' diverse learning needs. Join the Semantic Revolution with Go-Togethers! Go-Togethers is now compatible with Smarty Ears Online, enabling seamless integration into professional practice. Whether you're an SLP, a parent, or a special education teacher, Go-Togethers offers an enriching, research-based experience to foster language mastery. Download Go-Togethers today and let the semantic connections begin!

Developer's Description

Go-Togethers: Building Semantic Connections for All Ages
Improve Language Skills with Research-Backed Techniques: Go-Togethers is a state-of-the-art application designed to enhance language comprehension and expression across all age groups. It targets critical skills such as categorization, association, and naming through interaction with pictures and audio.

Innovative Features for Engaging Learning:

Touchscreen Interactions: Utilize the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone's touchscreen to create linguistic connections with touch “sweep” and “tap-to-tally” features.
Research-Based Design: Aligns with studies that underscore the importance of semantic knowledge, naming performance, and categorization in language development (McGregor et al., 2002; Bromley, 2007; Miller & Eilam, 2008).
Special Focus on Language Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Incorporates visual “word maps” and rapid retrieval activities supported by research for effective interventions (Westby, 2005; Wolf & Seagal, 1999).
Customized Activities and Tracking:

Versatile Targeting: Choose specific categories to focus on, such as rooms in a house, weather, and seasons.
Measure and Monitor: Elicit, score, and report students' progress over time, with detailed data available through the Therapy Report Center.
Expressive and Receptive Activities: Engage students with diverse and adjustable activities, including Quick Play and Receptive-Expressive combination exercises.
Who Can Benefit from Go-Togethers?

SLPs: Provide targeted interventions, customized to individual needs, and easily track progress.
Parents: Support children's language development at home with intuitive and engaging tools.
Special Education Teachers: Elevate classroom learning with interactive and visual aids tailored for students' diverse learning needs.
Join the Semantic Revolution with Go-Togethers!

Go-Togethers is now compatible with Smarty Ears Online, enabling seamless integration into professional practice. Whether you're an SLP, a parent, or a special education teacher, Go-Togethers offers an enriching, research-based experience to foster language mastery.

Download Go-Togethers today and let the semantic connections begin!

Disclaimer: The evaluations and rankings information provided here are based solely on the opinion of the author and are for informational purposes only. Families should seek professional advice before making decisions regarding interventions for their child.