The Packback Blog

Featured Articles

Hidden Costs of Detection-Only Academic Integrity Solutions

Academic integrity is at a crossroads. As institutions navigate the challenges of AI in education, many continue to rely on detection-based plagiarism tools like Turnitin—which utilizes a punitive approach to catch, or “detect” misconduct after a student submits their assignment, removing an opportunity for students to learn from their mistakes.

While detection is a necessary safeguard, institutions are starting to recognize the hidden costs of  ONLY using this approach—costs that go beyond the price of the software itself. From false accusations of plagiarism to faculty workload, student disengagement, and institutional liability, detection-only solutions are proving to be an outdated and increasingly problematic approach to academic integrity and originality.

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What the White House’s Executive Order on AI Education Means for the Future of AI Literacy in Schools

On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a landmark executive order aimed at advancing AI education for American youth. This initiative signals a clear message: AI literacy is no longer optional—it’s essential.

As schools and districts prepare to navigate this shift, educators and administrators are asking: How do we effectively integrate AI into classrooms? And more importantly, how do we ensure AI is used to enhance authentic learning, not overshadow it?

Read more “What the White House’s Executive Order on AI Education Means for the Future of AI Literacy in Schools”

Instructional AI Is More Than a Buzzword—It’s a Framework for Better Learning

 We’re two years past the arrival of ChatGPT—and the conversation in education still hasn’t caught up. Most headlines have education still playing defense: banning tools, scrambling for detection solutions, or rolling out guidelines without clarity or cohesion.

Read more “Instructional AI Is More Than a Buzzword—It’s a Framework for Better Learning”

Recent Articles

[Webinar Recap] How AI-Enhanced Courses Boost Enrollment and Engagement

In this blog, we recap our recent webinar,
“Boosting Enrollment and Improving Student Retention: The Impact of AI-Enabled Courses”

The world of higher education is rapidly evolving, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this transformation. Institutions are now leveraging AI to not only enhance the learning experience but also to address critical challenges like student enrollment and retention. Miami Dade College (MDC) is leading the way with its innovative approach to AI-enhanced courses. This blog post will recap the key insights from a recent webinar on this topic, featuring Kelsey Behringer, CEO of Packback, and Nester Pereira, Vice Provost for Academic and Learning Technologies at Miami Dade College. To get the full picture, watch the on-demand recording of the webinar here.

The Challenge: Engaging Students and Boosting Success

Kelsey and Nester dive into a core problem in higher education: how to best support students in online learning environments. Nester notes that online courses often see pass rates lag behind other modalities. MDC sought to address this by strategically incorporating AI tools to create more engaging and supportive online learning experiences. They aimed to clearly communicate the value of these tools to students and faculty.

MDC’s Solution: AI-Enhanced Courses

MDC’s solution was to introduce “AI-enhanced” course designations. This initiative involves labeling courses that utilize AI tools, like Packback, directly in the course catalog, enabling students to easily identify and select them.

Nester explains, “The whole idea to label them as AI enhanced was really to make sure that the students understood what they were getting as a student in the course and what kind of support they were getting from this technology.”

MDC has seen a 25% increase
in summer enrollment for MDC online

This clear communication has led to significant results. MDC has seen a 25% increase in summer enrollment for MDC online, with AI-enhanced courses being chosen more frequently by students. Student feedback indicates that they find the AI tools engaging, which contributes to higher pass rates.

Moreover, this proactive approach not only boosts student engagement and success at school but also equips them with essential skills for the AI-driven workplace of today and the future. By integrating AI tools into the learning experience, MDC is ensuring that its graduates are well-prepared to navigate and thrive in a professional landscape where AI proficiency is increasingly in demand.

Tools like Packback facilitate AI-enhanced learning by fostering critical thinking and engagement. Packback’s platform uses AI to support student inquiry and provide feedback, ultimately promoting deeper understanding and knowledge retention. As the webinar highlights, the key is to use AI to augment, not replace, the role of the instructor.

Ethical & Pedagogical AI Guide – Unpack the frameworks behind responsible AI in education, and learn how Packback’s transparent approach empowers both faculty and students. Get your guide to Ethical & Pedagogical AI »

Choosing the Right AI Tools

MDC’s commitment to leveraging AI for enhanced learning predates the recent “GPT boom.” They strategically incorporated Packback, an AI tool designed to boost thinking and learning, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to educational innovation. Nester shared valuable insights into selecting effective AI tools and emphasized a step-by-step approach:

  1. Identify the problem: What specific challenge are you trying to solve? (e.g., low student engagement, poor pass rates)
  2. Survey the landscape: What AI tools are available to address this problem?
  3. Pilot and gather feedback: Implement the tool in a small group of courses and collect data and feedback from faculty and students.
    Analyze the data: Does the tool demonstrate a positive impact on student outcomes?

Nester also stressed the importance of considering factors like data privacy and ensuring AI tools support, rather than replace, instructors.

AI Policy Roadmap – A practical guide to building flexible, future-ready AI policies that support learning, not fear. Designed for administrators, faculty, and institutions navigating the AI era. Get your guide ».

Addressing Academic Integrity

As we explore the transformative potential of AI in education, the conversation naturally turns to a critical concern: academic integrity. A significant portion of the webinar addresses this issue, with Pereira sharing MDC’s proactive and supportive approach.

Key strategies include:

  • Transparency: Openly communicating with students about the use of AI detection tools.
  • Education: Teaching students how to use AI ethically and effectively.
  • Prevention: Utilizing AI tools that promote good writing and critical thinking habits.
  • Restorative approach: Emphasizing conversation and guidance over punitive measures, especially for first-time offenses.

The emphasis is that while AI detection tools have a role, the focus should be on fostering a culture of academic integrity and empowering students to produce original work.

AI has the potential to revolutionize higher education, boosting enrollment, enhancing student engagement, and improving learning outcomes. Institutions like Miami Dade College are demonstrating how to strategically implement AI in a way that benefits both students and faculty. By focusing on solving specific problems, choosing the right tools, and prioritizing ethical considerations, higher education can harness the power of AI to create a brighter future for learning.

Want to see how AI can revolutionize your institution? Watch the full webinar here or request a personalized demo to explore Packback’s AI-powered platform.

From Detection to Prevention: Rethinking Academic Integrity with Packback’s Instructional AI

This blog was written by Packback CEO, Kelsey Behringer, in conjunction with our partners at Instructure. You can read the full blog on their website via the link below.

We believe the key to academic integrity lies in creating a motivating, feedback-rich learning environment that is easy to navigate—one that strengthens writing, critical thinking, and engagement while addressing the root causes of dishonesty and dissatisfaction. Detection has its place as a tool, but true academic integrity is built through prevention during the process, not punishment after submission.

Read more “From Detection to Prevention: Rethinking Academic Integrity with Packback’s Instructional AI”

Celebrating Dr. Brynn Welch: Award-Winning Educator and Thought Leader

Packback is proud to partner with educators who are transforming the way students learn, think, and engage with the ultimate goal of helping them find their unique voice and become intrinsically motivated. Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the achievement of an incredible educator, user,  and champion, Dr. Brynn Welch, who recently received the The David W. Concepción Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching and is making waves in the classroom with her innovative teaching practices and thought leadership.

Read more “Celebrating Dr. Brynn Welch: Award-Winning Educator and Thought Leader”

How to Build Student Buy-In for Learning Technology

Let’s face it, teaching is hard. Reaching your students is hard. And getting your students to fully embrace a new learning technology can be even harder. Heck, even getting student buy-in on anything can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill (shout-out Sisyphus).

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Toni Livingston’s Journey with Packback: Elevating Student Engagement and Performance in Advanced Coursework

In 2023, Toni Livingston began teaching Cambridge AS English General Paper, an advanced critical thinking and writing intensive course at Tampa Bay Technical High School. With this being the first time the course was offered, there were no pre-existing materials or guides to rely on. Toni was quickly thrown into the fire and had to create a complete curriculum from scratch for the very first time. This daunting task left her searching for a way to maker her classroom dynamic and engaging while also providing students with rigorous writing instruction.

During a summer training, Toni was introduced to Packback, which had recently partnered with Hillsborough County Public Schools to provide students and teachers with more rigorous writing support. While she was initially overwhelmed by the idea of building her course from the ground up, Toni decided to give Packback a try. Little did she know, it would become the cornerstone of her course and transform her teaching experience.

Read more “Toni Livingston’s Journey with Packback: Elevating Student Engagement and Performance in Advanced Coursework”

The Impact of the International AI Treaty on Education: 10 Ways It Could Shape Educators, Institutions, and Curriculum Leaders

Breaking news! The first-ever international AI treaty has been signed! Wait, what?

In case you missed it, major players on the world stage, namely: EU, UK, and the US, have signed the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence. Drafted by the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI) and negotiated by 57 countries alongside 70 representatives from civil society, this treaty is a landmark step in setting global standards for AI. It is the first-ever internationally legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy, and rule of law.

Read more “The Impact of the International AI Treaty on Education: 10 Ways It Could Shape Educators, Institutions, and Curriculum Leaders”

Case Study: How Packback’s Instruct Tools Empower Educators

In the “post COVID” educational landscape we are currently in, educators are facing an uphill
battle and finding it increasingly harder to resonate with students. Educators are being asked to manage larger class sizes, with less resources, while still ensuring that each student receives the individual attention they need to succeed. The challenge of tracking student progress, providing personalized feedback, and fostering an engaging learning environment can be overwhelming and feel almost impossible, especially as class sizes grow and student needs diversify. This epidemic has led to many teachers leaving the profession and even more feeling burnt out and tired of the burden placed upon them.

Read more “Case Study: How Packback’s Instruct Tools Empower Educators”

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Curious to learn more? One of our friendly strategy consultants will be excited to meet you and discuss your course learning objectives. We will provide a free consultation to see if Packback would be a good fit for your class!

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