All Community Reviews of IXL | Common Sense Education (2024)

Elijah

One student in particular struggled immensely and was on the verge of tears, unable to understand the material despite numerous attempts. The explanations provided were so brief they were almost useless, leaving students more confused than before.Tracking their progress was another nightmare. The reports were hard to read and didn’t offer any real insight into each student’s specific issues. I found myself spending more time trying to decipher the data than actually teaching.Overall, the entire experience was so overwhelming and disappointing that I had to reconsider how I used technology in the classroom. It was a tough lesson in ensuring that any educational tool I use truly supports student learning rather than adding to their frustration.

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Keeton B.

-4/10

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Lori C.

The kids got a chance to experience answering questions under a timed manner and it was interesting to see the kid's response. The kids found some of the questions a bit tedious so then we opted out and tried other options. Beestar was a good resource where the math questions were more relatable and interesting to the kids. Beestar also has an online math competition that gave the kids the confidence they needed.

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Linda L. Teacher Canyon Ridge High School Hesperia, CA

I just read a long essay here reviewing IXL, but everything in it was false. I had to wonder if they were actually reviewing IXL. First, I found that students ask for help and engage in a productive struggle. They try hard and then they are satisfied when they see progress. And yes, they complain about that. That's how I know they are working at it. IXL provides lots of examples and even video tutorials. And yes, the score goes down even though you are "just trying to finish." That is the point: that you actually experience some understanding rather than just moving on. Every problem that a student get wrong comes with a detailed explanation. Second, the question bank, in fact does not repeat. Not only do the questions change nicely but they get more challenging as you go. The score does go up and down, with the level of difficulty, the time it takes to answer, etc. Let's just say, to anyone who thinks it's terrible, try it. You will learn something new. Third, one of the strengths of IXL is that it IS personalized. My high school students vary from 3rd grade level to pre-calculus, and the IXL diagnostic narrows down specific areas of growth for each student to work on. Again, every question has a step-by-step explanation to peruse. Furthermore, the analytics are comprehensive. The teacher can see every question they work on and whether it was from school or work, how many attempts, etc. I don't usually write reviews, and I was originally looking for a comparison to Khan Academy, but I just could not let the bad reviews go unaddressed. Obviously, IXL is just a tool and its usefulness varies with the user. For teachers (and schools) who are committed to using it to help students, it can be very effective. There is no advertising and there are a ton of resources to go along with implementation of any kind. Try it.

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Adil R.

I was surprised to see the IXL bashing on this forum. Many schools have dropped it due to cost issue but let us look at what it offers. 1. Math is a subject that requires lot of practice and it has an amazing practice bank. 2. It is setup in line with the MAP test. Infact, in the IXL, you can input the latest MAP scores and it will give you a personalized plan that your kid can follow3. The MAP test (which again is reflected beautifully in IXL - the types of questions) is a precursor to PSAT which prepares students for SAT. 4. For kids that struggle on a concept, I drop a grade on that particular concept and let the catch up. I was amazed how this flexibility adds wonders to the platformThe con is that the teachers and the students have to be disciplined. In my teaching experience, it took me a good year to get students to get used to doing problems daily. They do not have to finish every topic they start but I will aks then to gte to 60 percent. This way, I ensure that they are covering all the topics. On topics they struggle, I cover the underlying concepts and then ask them to finish the exercises. I have seen marked increase in scores for all my students and more importantly they got used to PSAT as the style of question matches it perfectly

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George J.

I am the principal at Jacobs Junior High School. Unfortunately, we've spent hundreds of dollars replacing Chromebooks because many students are raging at their IXLs. Our counselor is seeing the most students because of IXL.

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Grissom

IXL penalizes your child every time they get the wrong answer. For instance, you might get 4 in row correct at 4 points each. Then when you miss one you drop anywhere from 6-8 points. Teachers are using this program to take over teaching while the teacher does not teach. Too many students are having to rely on this software to teach them when the teacher should be doing it. Even teachers say this program is worthless.

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Emma K.

Overall, I think IXL is just a big stress-machine, something that students don't need, especially middle and high school students, where IXL is most used. Others may argue that IXL is great, and that if a kid is stuck on a problem it will give them tips (the tips only appear once they get a question wrong.. seriously?). Again, please, if you use IXL, all it's doing is putting your child under a lot of stress. NO MORE IXL NO MORE IXL!!!

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Bonnie Z.

Introduction:IXL, an online learning program widely used in educational settings, has garnered both praise and criticism. While some argue that it offers a comprehensive platform for students to practice various subjects, others contend that it falls short in terms of promoting meaningful learning experiences. This essay aims to critically analyze the limitations of IXL and explain why it fails to meet the expectations of an effective learning program.Limited Engagement:One major drawback of IXL is its emphasis on repetitive practice rather than fostering deep understanding. The program often focuses on isolated skills without providing real-world context or opportunities for critical thinking. Consequently, students may become disengaged and fail to see the relevance of their efforts.Lack of Personalization:Another issue with IXL is its one-size-fits-all approach. It does not consider individual student needs or different learning styles. As a result, learners who require additional support or those who excel in certain areas may feel frustrated or unchallenged respectively.Inadequate Feedback:While IXL provides immediate feedback on incorrect answers, it often lacks detailed explanations or alternative strategies for solving problems. This limits students' ability to learn from their mistakes and hinders their overall growth.Conclusion:Despite its popularity, IXL falls short in delivering a truly effective learning experience due to its limited engagement, lack of personalization, and inadequate feedback mechanisms. To enhance educational outcomes, educators should seek alternative approaches that prioritize critical thinking skills, personalized instruction, and comprehensive feedback systems. Only then can we ensure that our students are equipped with the necessary tools for success in today's complex world.

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SEBASTIAN P.

Overall, IXL is not a bad app. I personally used this app when I was a middle school student. I liked that this app was very interactive and it had game like rewards. If a person got a set of question correct then they would move up to the next level. However, if a person got the question wrong ten points would be reduced and the topic would be repeated. I liked that this app had a range of math topics, endless amount of useful math problems. This app is also great for teachers because it can show the students reports and analytics. It gives feedback to teachers. For students in particular, it teaches motivational skills and a lesson on goal setting. It makes them strive for greatness and earn new concepts in a fun way. This program is also fabulous because at the end of the section it gives immediate feedback to see which questions were answered wrong. It breaks down into a step by step analysis for the missed questions. There are a few disadvantages with IXL, first the program is expensive for school districts. A membership starts at $299 for 25 students. Another non benefit is the over emphasize on certain topics which can make some students frustrated and upset. The last disadvantage is the reliance of technology, some school districts do not have the infrastructure for this. Overall I would give this app a 3.5/5.

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