The Packback Blog

The Rise of Instructional AI

As is so often the case when new and disruptive technologies arrive on the scene, many education institutions have reacted to generative AI like ChatGPT with alarm. Much of the discussion among both K-12 districts and universities has focused on the way that essay and discussion prompts may be susceptible to academic dishonesty by students using ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI. The result is that many institutional leaders are investing in tools that promise to detect AI-generated writing content. Some school districts have banned the use of generative AI outright, in hopes that such policies will deter students from using it to cheat. Those policies have, in turn, prompted backlash from educators like Ethan Mollick, who have made the case for a more thoughtful approach.

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3 Ways Generative AI Like ChatGPT Will Transform Education

As educators and administrators consider the implications of ChatGPT and generative AI, one question being asked is “how will educational policies and practices begin to shift?”. Given the fact that generative AI is still in its incubation period, the answer remains to be seen. However, based on early conversations and observations, we’re able to make a few predictions on how we believe is the future of AI in education.

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Applauding Excellence: Dr. Pam Sulger’s 2022 eLearning Award and Her Impact with Packback

Dr. Pam Sulger, the Pima Online Department Chair for Psychology and Social Services at Pima College, was recently awarded the 2022 Award for Excellence in eLearning: Innovative eLearning Technology.  This award recognized her outstanding use of Packback for her PSY101 course. By integrating Packback, Dr. Sulger has revolutionized her approach to student engagement and learning, offering a transformative learning experience for her students.

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How Do Community College Faculty Feel About Generative AI?

In early March, The League for Innovation in the Community College co-hosted a webinar with Packback to provide League members with information on the rise of ChatGPT and explore how generative AI impacts student learning and writing. 222 webinar attendees responded to an optional survey which asked them to indicate their excitement or nervousness about the way ChatGPT may impact education.

Explore the results, select responses, and key takeaways from the survey below.

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Packback Explores How Academia is Adapting to Generative AI

Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, the generative AI chatbot has already become a household name. ChatGPT reached its first one million users in less than a week and by some estimates has already reached at least 100 million monthly active users. Parents, students, and educators alike have been impressed, and sometimes alarmed, at the chatbot’s ability to understand complex questions and requests and articulate sophisticated concepts. 

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UNT Conducts Research on Impact of Packback on Asynchronous Discussion

A research study at the University of North Texas spanning three semesters evaluated the effectiveness of Packback on online discussions. By analyzing 14,500 posts from over 800 students, the researchers studied how Packback’s AI-assigned “Curiosity Scores” compared with a subject-matter expert’s assessment of a post. They also examined how instructor feedback via private coaching, public praising, and public featuring of posts influenced a student’s effort in subsequent assignments.

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Packback Announces Partnership with Northern Arizona University

Chicago, IL – Packback, an education technology company that provides an AI-powered discussion and writing platform for college and university students, is proud to announce a partnership with Northern Arizona University (NAU), a leading university in the Southwest. This partnership aims to support NAU’s goals of developing critical thinking skills in students amidst the rise of generative AI, such as ChatGPT.

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Packback CPO Discusses Impact of AI on Higher Education

A new article for Campus Technology asked leaders in the education space what they see as the biggest technology trends in the industry this year. Packback’s CPO Jessica Tenuta commented on the growing impact of AI in the classroom.

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