LCM has switched over from the app Study Island to IXL as of recently due to its personalized learning feature that easily adapts to each student, the easy-to-understand layout, and its variety of subjects.
IXL is a simple app to use; first, select the subject, like language arts, science, social studies, etc., and then press the arena button to pick which study needs to be completed. In the beginning, the goal is to figure out the level the user needs to begin at and move from there. As it goes on, the questions will change depending on whether the answers are answered correctly or not; if they are answered correctly, the same questions will appear until it is answered wrong to understand the level the user is on.
IXL also follows a star system to keep up with what assignments are due and which ones are not. If a star appears near a specific topic, that means a teacher, or parent, has recommended it and that assignment needs to be completed before the other ones. There is also a recommendation wall to see all the skills recommended in one place; this can be found in the upper-right corner by clicking on the large star.
If enough assignments are completed, something called a smart score will appear. The smart score is based on IXL’s proprietary algorithm and is the best possible measure of how well a student understands a skill. With the Smart Score, the learning process is rewarded, and students are constantly reassessed. When a student starts practicing a skill, the Smart Score starts at 0. As the student answers questions correctly, the Smart Score increases. If a question is answered incorrectly, the score decreases. However, the Smart Score is not just based on the percentage of questions correctly. It is calculated using many factors, including the number of questions completed, question difficulty, and consistency, and offers superior accuracy in assessing student achievement.
By working on skills, rewards can also be earned such as certificates. From mastery of a specific number of skills to time spent practicing to completing a certain number of questions, there’s a variety of opportunities for all levels and abilities to earn prizes. To check out your personalized certificates and math and language arts awards, click on the awards tab in Learning. To view certificates, click on the certificate center on the awards tab or if an email is attached to the account, the certificates can be emailed.
IXL has many features that will help with the progression of learning; it’s just a matter of time and understanding. Teachers use this app to help students find their place in the academic world.
