In K-12 schools across the country, teachers struggle to accommodate the diverse learning styles of individual students. Because personalization in the classroom can only go so far, many schools rely on comprehensive online learning programs, such as IXL, to fill in the gaps. Now, a more modern, streamlined system — edYOU — is poised to take its place. Following the success of edYOU at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles, the school is now leading a transformative shift away from the outdated IXL platform, officially making the switch to edYOU.
When IXL was first launched in 2007, it was a groundbreaking innovation. Over the years, its interface has started to seem outdated, and its limited features mean that learning can’t be as personalized as many students would like.
EdYOU offers students hyper-personalized learning pathways that evolve with them in real time. For instance, Infinite Course Prep and Infinite Test Prep generate unlimited, individualized test questions tailored to each student’s strengths and weaknesses.
EdYOU’s most unique personalization strategy comes in the form of its “Conversational AI Beings (CABs)” — realistic, human-like avatars that engage with students much like a real study buddy would. Artificial intelligence in education is a hot-button issue, but with edYOU, interacting with AI is almost like talking to a real person.
“One of the remarkable aspects of our company is the experience you can have with the conversational AI Tutors,” says Dr. Michael Everest, edYOU’s founder. The platform’s AI Beings act as round-the-clock tutors, answering user questions instantly and reinforcing key concepts without relying solely on the teacher for support. This feature not only keeps students engaged and progressing outside the classroom but also reduces the volume of repeated questions teachers typically handle.
On IXL, students can spend hours going through repetitive question banks. With edYOU, learning is dynamic. That often translates to better understanding and retention. For data-driven instruction, edYOU offers real-time analytics that go beyond surface-level performance reports. Teachers can easily see where students are thriving or struggling, with clear insights to guide intervention or enrichment—eliminating the need to comb through static, manual data as often required in IXL.
“In traditional learning settings, you read the material and then get quizzed on it separately,” says Dr. Everest. “With edYOU Technologies, we take a different approach. Our platform seamlessly integrates the learning content and test preparation process. You interact with the AI directly, eliminating the need to switch between different tools.”
EdYOU is already winning over students, but its unique institutional flexibility gives it an additional edge over IXL. School districts working with edYOU receive custom-built solutions that integrate seamlessly with their existing learning management systems. They learn all they need to use the program during onboarding, but they also have access to 24/7 support.
Once edYOU has been implemented, school systems can further personalize it. They have the option to co-develop unique curriculum pathways and use the system’s analytics to monitor performance and outcomes across their entire institution. edYOU’s all-in-one dashboard consolidates everything—student progress, curriculum tracking, assessments, and communication tools—into a single, intuitive interface. No need to toggle between multiple platforms or manually compile performance summaries.
While many school systems currently use IXL, the older system is far less customizable and cannot offer 24/7 support at scale. edYOU does the heavy lifting. It removes the friction of outdated learning systems like IXL and empowers educators to focus on what matters most: connecting with students and delivering high-impact teaching with greater ease and efficiency.
Although the company is still relatively new, edYOU’s uniquely innovative approach has already begun to garner recognition. The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) selected Dr. Everest for its Trendsetter in Distance Learning Award. This award is presented to an individual, project, or organization that has pioneered innovative ideas that enhance distance learning.
So is edYOU on track to surpass IXL? Possibly. EdYOU has given online learning a facelift — and it might be coming to a school near you.
