IXL is an online learning platform designed to provide students with personalized practice and skill-building across various subjects. The platform, whose name stands for “I excel,” aims to help students improve their understanding and proficiency through a wide range of interactive exercises and real-time feedback.
With a library of over 9,000 skills and used by over 16 million students around the world, IXL offers comprehensive coverage of math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. Its curriculum-based approach, combined with powerful analytics for educators, facilitates individualized learning paths and targeted interventions. This guide provides an in-depth look at IXL, exploring its features, benefits, and how it can be used effectively in educational settings.
Understanding the Core of IXL
At its core, IXL is a highly targeted learning tool. It delivers learning experiences tailored to students’ specific grade levels and subject areas. By providing analytics and personalized recommendations, IXL supports both teaching and learning with a clear focus on measurable outcomes.
IXL is accessible via web browsers and also offers apps for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Chrome devices. The platform covers nearly all Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for kindergarten through 12th grade, in addition to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for grades 2 to 8. While it includes a variety of subject-specific lessons and games for older students, IXL also provides resources focused on foundational skills.
Subject Coverage in Detail
IXL offers extensive coverage across various subjects:
- Math: From pre-K to 12th grade, covering topics such as equations, graphing, and fraction comparisons.
- Language Arts: Comprehensive curriculum for pre-K through 12th grade, focusing on grammar and vocabulary skills.
- Science & Social Studies: Targeted lessons for grades 2 to 8.
- Spanish: Level 1 learning resources for students beginning their language acquisition journey.
Recent Enhancements and Updates to IXL
IXL is continually evolving to meet the needs of its users. Recent updates include:
- Expanded Language Accessibility: Available in over 80 languages to broaden international usability.
- Significant Usage: Over 150 billion questions answered by more than 16 million students.
- IXL Focus Zone: Provides teachers with more control over student practice, allowing them to specify subjects, grades, and practice duration.
- Family Email Reports: Keeps parents informed about their child’s progress with regular email updates from teachers.
- Proficiency Metrics: Enhanced reporting features in Skills Practiced and Student Summary reports to track student proficiency accurately.
For ongoing updates, you can follow the IXL blog.
How IXL Drives Student Engagement
IXL employs a reward system to encourage student engagement. Students earn points and ribbons for correct answers and accumulate these to earn stamps in a virtual book. Mastering multiple skills unlocks virtual prizes, with the SmartScore system keeping students focused on their learning goals.
The SmartScore system adapts to each student’s skill level, offering progressively challenging questions without being discouraging. This adaptive approach ensures that each student progresses at their own pace and remains engaged.
The drill-and-practice format makes IXL ideal for independent work, remote learning, and homework assignments. The immediate feedback provided helps students improve rapidly through targeted practice. Teachers can assign specific skills or allow students to explore and learn at their own pace, leveraging the “learn with an example” feature for initial guidance.
Key Features that Make IXL Stand Out
IXL’s intelligent design allows it to understand each student’s learning needs and provide tailored learning experiences. Some of the standout features include:
- Real-Time Diagnostic: Provides a deep evaluation of students’ proficiency levels across subjects.
- Personalized Action Plans: Creates customized learning paths to guide students towards optimal growth.
- Skill Recommendations: Suggests related skills to reinforce knowledge and address learning gaps.
- Comprehensive Analytics: Offers detailed insights for teachers to identify areas where students need additional support. These analytics include class and individual reports with item analysis, usage data, and identification of trouble spots.
IXL Pricing and Membership Options
IXL offers varied pricing plans tailored to different needs. These prices are per family. Discounts and customized quotes may be available for schools, children’s organizations, and districts.
- Single Subject Membership: $9.95 per month or $79 annually.
- Combo Package (Math and Language Arts): $15.95 per month or $129 annually.
- Core Subjects (Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies): $19.95 per month or $159 annually.
- Classroom Package: Starting at $299 per year, with pricing varying based on the number of subjects used.
Tips and Tricks for Maximizing IXL’s Potential
- Skip a Level: Use the “jump a level” skill to access more challenging questions, suitable for advanced students or class-wide assessments.
- Google Classroom Integration: Seamless integration with Google Classroom makes it easy to share specific skill-based improvement areas.
- Skill Suggestions: Teachers can suggest specific skills to students who may benefit from focused practice in a particular area, even if it’s not automatically assigned.
