Benefits
The IXL app (as well as the IXL.com website) provides an engaging learning experience for students. It provides immediate feedback to students and instruction on how to work incorrect problems. IXL has a "mastery level score" in which students earn points for each problems they answer correctly; they lose points for incorrect answers. Students are allowed to rework problems to regain their lost points. IXL offers math content for 13 levels--pre-K to Algebra 2 and hundreds of practice skills within each level. Research studies show that students who use IXL perform better on standardized tests than their peers and teacher report that students demonstrate higher levels of math efficacy.
Constraints
IXL is a pay-per-use program, with substantial discounts for bulk purchases. An individual student subscription costs $79 per year, while school bulk purchases will lower the price to as little at $5 per subscription. In addition, IXL has come under fire for being a "kill-and-drill" program, with its emphasis on computation and lower-level problem solving activities.
Ideas for Use
Teachers may assign IXL modules for in-class and out-of-class practice. In a one-to-one environment, students may view instructional videos from outside sources (Khan Academy, etc) and then complete modules for in-class, allowing teachers to become instructional coaches. In a traditional classroom, with regular access to a computer lab, teachers may assign modules as homework and students may work to complete them during class time or at home. The following day the teacher reviews the module scores to determine if students have mastered the concept.
IXL is fully aligned to the Common Core curriculum.
The IXL app (as well as the IXL.com website) provides an engaging learning experience for students. It provides immediate feedback to students and instruction on how to work incorrect problems. IXL has a "mastery level score" in which students earn points for each problems they answer correctly; they lose points for incorrect answers. Students are allowed to rework problems to regain their lost points. IXL offers math content for 13 levels--pre-K to Algebra 2 and hundreds of practice skills within each level. Research studies show that students who use IXL perform better on standardized tests than their peers and teacher report that students demonstrate higher levels of math efficacy.
Constraints
IXL is a pay-per-use program, with substantial discounts for bulk purchases. An individual student subscription costs $79 per year, while school bulk purchases will lower the price to as little at $5 per subscription. In addition, IXL has come under fire for being a "kill-and-drill" program, with its emphasis on computation and lower-level problem solving activities.
Ideas for Use
Teachers may assign IXL modules for in-class and out-of-class practice. In a one-to-one environment, students may view instructional videos from outside sources (Khan Academy, etc) and then complete modules for in-class, allowing teachers to become instructional coaches. In a traditional classroom, with regular access to a computer lab, teachers may assign modules as homework and students may work to complete them during class time or at home. The following day the teacher reviews the module scores to determine if students have mastered the concept.
IXL is fully aligned to the Common Core curriculum.
How to Use App
Step 1: Logging in
As IXL is a subscription site, all student users must have an account generated by their school. Students log into their individual account by accessing to IXL from their mobile device (or IXLcom) and entering their user name and password. Log-in information is automatically stored on mobile devices; students accessing IXL.com will need to enter their ID and password each time they enter the website.
Step 1: Logging in
As IXL is a subscription site, all student users must have an account generated by their school. Students log into their individual account by accessing to IXL from their mobile device (or IXLcom) and entering their user name and password. Log-in information is automatically stored on mobile devices; students accessing IXL.com will need to enter their ID and password each time they enter the website.
Step 2. Grade Level Work
Students have access to 13 separate grade levels, Pre-K to Algebra 2. They select their appropriate or assigned grade level.
Step 3. Select a Module
Within each grade level there are numerous modules into which skills are grouped. There are between 15 (Pre-K) and 35 (Algebra I) modules.
Within each grade level there are numerous modules into which skills are grouped. There are between 15 (Pre-K) and 35 (Algebra I) modules.
Step 4. Find the skill
Students access their assigned learning module and find the skill in which they wish to work. The number of skills varies by grade level, with a low of 42 skills (Pre-K) to a high of 287 skills (6th grade).
Students access their assigned learning module and find the skill in which they wish to work. The number of skills varies by grade level, with a low of 42 skills (Pre-K) to a high of 287 skills (6th grade).
Step 5: Practice Away!
And begin to practice. The number of attempted problems is displayed in the upper left-hand corner, the elapsed time in the upper right hand corner and the Smartscore (mastery score) in the middle. Students complete the problems using the built-in white board, seen at the link in the bottom right-hand corner. Finally, they submit their response into the answer box and click enter for immediate feedback.
And begin to practice. The number of attempted problems is displayed in the upper left-hand corner, the elapsed time in the upper right hand corner and the Smartscore (mastery score) in the middle. Students complete the problems using the built-in white board, seen at the link in the bottom right-hand corner. Finally, they submit their response into the answer box and click enter for immediate feedback.