My Take
IXL has to be the worst choice possible for any teacher to use. My students have came up to me crying asking why they got a question wrong because the explanations don't make any sense. Students have been sent to GUIDANCE because IXL is so frustrating. This company has potential, but what makes it so bad is that the points are unfair. Ex. A student has 75 smart scores and gets one wrong, the software takes away 5-9 each time you get it wrong, and rewards you for a correct question with 1,2, or 3 points. If that was tweaked it could be easier to cope with. The best thing to do on this program is a group jam, it lets students work together and answer the same question, and is teacher-paced, so we can go over it if needed. But, in totality it comes down to the teacher, and how they use their tools and resources to speak there lesson, and how they use IXL. I currently teach 8th graders, which is the highest grade in our building. I give them 10 minutes of IXL, and 5 minutes of Pre-K, or Kindergarten skill sets as a brain break. Because the feeling of completing one is overwhelming. I have tried it out for myself. It's doesn't really teach students, it more makes them feel bad about themself getting it wrong. The only thing that you get out of completing a skill set, is a little sticker for their PFP, that's it.
As a teacher, I know when something isn't right and it is difficult for my students. Which is why I don't overuse IXL.
How I Use It
Our district is definitely not one of the best, but, not the worst. We are required by the district to use it lessons and more. I try to make it as fun as possible but it's not capable of that.