My Take
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.
How I Use It
I would use this app specifically for a math classroom because it covers all of the lesson concepts.