Student Engagement in Political Science at the Northern Virginia Community College
Frustrated by flat discussions and disengaged students, Professor Daniel Kirsch found a way to spark real dialogue and deeper thinking in his American Government classes.
“Packback gave students the confidence and the tools to think about what they’re writing, why they’re writing it, and not just how they’re writing”
Daniel Kirsch
Government Professor, Northern Virginia Community College
Daniel’s Key Observations
-
The quality of student dialogue “skyrocketed,” leading to more thoughtful, concept-driven conversations, something Professor Kirsch had struggled to achieve in both online and in-person formats.
-
Academic integrity became conversational, not punitive.Packback’s originality feedback gave Professor Kirsch a way to engage students in meaningful discussions about effort and authorship.
-
Packback gave Professor Kirsch new visibility into how students learn, helping him identify not just gaps in content understanding but how students think and write.
-
Students took ownership of discussions, often surprising Professor Kirsch with the depth of their curiosity and their ability to drive the learning experience forward.
