CASE STUDYWestern Carolina University

From Stale Discussions to Standout Student Work: How Western Carolina University Reenergized History Courses with Packback

Greg McLamb, History Professor at Western Carolina University, teaches large undergraduate courses like U.S. History Since 1865. In 2023, after noticing a drop in engagement and poor student feedback, Greg nearly overhauled his entire course, until he tried Packback. What followed was a complete transformation in student interaction, writing quality, and evaluations.

Key Takeaways

paper icon with A+

Writing assignment grades rose from a C+ to an A− average

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50% of students felt more confident in their writing skills

63% of students said Packback improved their critical thinking

Professor giving presentation in lecture hall at university. Participants listening to lecture and making notes.

Situation

Greg’s courses were struggling, discussion boards felt like busy work, and students weren’t showing up for conversations, online or in class.
  • Students weren’t bringing readings into class or referencing one another’s ideas.
  • Online, feedback was delayed and participation was lackluster—hurting Greg’s course evaluations and professional standing.
  • Greg was on the verge of scrapping his course structure entirely and starting from scratch.

Action

In summer 2023, Greg implemented Packback to bring purpose and relevance back into his classroom, without increasing his grading workload.
  • He first piloted Packback Questions, comparing it to Canvas discussions side-by-side and saw instant improvement in length and quality of posts.
  • Then he brought in Deep Dives to elevate long-form writing assignments and integrate students’ ideas from discussion into essays and exams.
  • Students began referencing one another more both online and in person, and Greg leaned into it, using Packback threads to drive classroom discussions.

Result

Packback reinvigorated Greg’s history courses, transforming student outcomes and evaluations in a single semester.
  • Posts doubled, sometimes tripled in length, with deeper thought and higher quality writing.
  • Students reported feeling more confident in their writing, discussions, and ability to analyze material.
  • Evaluations improved significantly, with students directly citing Packback as a valuable part of their learning.
  • Greg now uses student Packback posts to shape exam topics and essay prompts, creating a more student-centered classroom.

Real Impact,

Real Voices

Try it [Packback] for at least one semester—what do you have to lose? Packback has doubled the length of my student posts, maybe even tripled them. It’s the only educational tool I’ve used that actually does what it promises..

Professor Greg McLamb Western Carolina University
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