The Packback Blog

Recent Articles

New England Board of Higher Education Cites Intrinsic Motivation in Students as a Key Element of Successful Online Instruction

A recent article by Dr. Richard Pattenaude, chancellor emeritus of the University of Maine System, and KarenAnn Caldwell, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Connecticut, recognizes that creating an online learning environment in which students find motivation internally is necessary for engagement. Among the list of ways professors can encourage students to push themselves are inquiry-based discussion forums, namely Packback.

Read more “New England Board of Higher Education Cites Intrinsic Motivation in Students as a Key Element of Successful Online Instruction”

Campus Technology highlighted Packback’s new “Instant Feedback” feature

Packback recently released “Instant Feedback“, a major step forward in the responsiveness and range of the AI-based feedback provided to students while they write their discussion posts. Campus Technology recently covered the new feature in the story, “Online Discussion Platform Adds AI-Powered Feedback Tool.”

Read more “Campus Technology highlighted Packback’s new “Instant Feedback” feature”

Packback mentioned in a recent OpEd by Dr. Rich Pattenaude about the future of online learning

Dr. Rich Pattenaude, chancellor emeritus of the University of Maine System and president emeritus of Ashford University, recently published an OpEd, “If Online is the “New Normal,” Fully Online Colleges Can Teach Us a Lot.” The piece covers what all institutions can learn from fully online institutions to successfully manage the semester ahead in a post-COVID-19 world.

Read more “Packback mentioned in a recent OpEd by Dr. Rich Pattenaude about the future of online learning”

Creating Change-makers Through Inquiry

Paolo Freire’s influential text, “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” still holds the same truth and applicability to our modern education system as it did at its time of writing. This article explores the new relevance and urgency Freire’s work has taken within the context of the Black Lives Matter movement, and begs the question, “How can education be used to enforce equity, rather than uphold systems of injustice?”

Read more “Creating Change-makers Through Inquiry”

Research on Packback’s Efficacy Highlighted in Recent OpEd by Mick Starcevich, Former President of Kirkwood Community College

Mick Starcevich, former President of Kirkwood Community College, recently published on an editorial in The Evolllution on the urgency for instructors to begin planning for high leverage changes they can make to their courses now to help ensure their courses are ready for possible remote delivery come fall.

Read more “Research on Packback’s Efficacy Highlighted in Recent OpEd by Mick Starcevich, Former President of Kirkwood Community College”

Packback Instructor, Dr. Thomas DeWitt, featured in Forbes

Dr. Thomas DeWitt, Marketing instructor at Michigan State University, was recently featured in a piece in Forbes to share his experience as an instructor transitioning to online instruction and how he is continuing to innovate under the new constraints driven by COVID-19.

Read more “Packback Instructor, Dr. Thomas DeWitt, featured in Forbes”

Packback in the Press: How to Build Community through Online Learning

Jessica Tenuta, Packback’s cofounder and Chief Product Officer, recently co-authored a piece in University Business, alongside Whitney Kilgore of iDesign, on how to build community in online learning environments.

Read more “Packback in the Press: How to Build Community through Online Learning”

Packback Highlighted by Dr. Kathleen Ives in Inside Higher Ed

Dr. Kathleen Ives, former executive director and CEO of Online Learning Consortium, highlighted Packback recently in editorial piece contributed to Inside Higher Ed. The piece, “Moving Classes Online Is Hard. Online Discussion Can Help.” explores research on the ways thoughtfully implemented online discussion can lead to improved student outcomes.

Read more “Packback Highlighted by Dr. Kathleen Ives in Inside Higher Ed”

Request a Demo of the Packback Questions Platform

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!

Request a Packback Demo