CASE STUDYCentury CollegeHow Century College Used Weekly Writing Practice to Build Student Confidence and Drive EngagementBrittany “Bri” Kerschner, English Professor at Century College in Minnesota, teaches 200 to 300 students each semester. When traditional discussion boards fell flat and student motivation dwindled, Bri turned to Packback to reenergize her courses. The result: stronger writing, richer discussions, and students who wanted to talk about their homework in class. Key Takeaways 89% of students reported feeling more confident in their discussion and learning abilities 80% of students felt more comfortable with self-guided learning 95% of students preferred Packback over other tools Situation Bri’s students were disengaged, and her LMS discussion boards were failing to spark meaningful participation. Posts were minimal and repetitive—“good job” and “I agree” filled the thread. Many students, especially those at risk of failing, did the bare minimum. Bri wanted to improve writing and critical thinking skills, but individual feedback wasn’t scalable with hundreds of students. Action After hearing about Packback, Bri implemented it across four English courses. She required students to write weekly, creating a routine of consistent, low-stakes writing practice. Packback Questions encouraged deeper exploration and gave students space to write in their own voice. The consistent writing practice improved quality without overwhelming Bri’s grading workload. In her Composition 2 class, she added Writing Lab, which students quickly embraced and credited for helping them improve their writing skills. Result Packback became a turning point for Bri’s courses by elevating student confidence, engagement, and the overall quality of writing. Students grew more comfortable expressing themselves and often asked to discuss Packback threads in class. Course evaluations reflected students’ increased confidence and excitement around writing. Discussions became more rigorous, personal, and insightful—students cited real-life examples and explored challenging ideas. Packback helped Bri meet her instructional goals while reducing frustration and burnout. Real Impact, Real Voices Try it [Packback] out—what’s the worst that can happen? You have the opportunity to give your students a tool that helps them inside and outside the classroom. Packback makes a difference. It helps students hit the course objectives and prepares them for what comes next. Professor Bri Kerschner Century College SCHEDULE A DEMOWant to acheive similar results ? Contact us today. "*" indicates required fields First Name*Last Name*Email* Your Role*Select OneFaculty (Higher Education)Administrator (Higher Education)Instructor (K-12)Administrator (K-12)OtherInstitution*PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
