The Packback Blog

AI-Powered Discussion Forums Give Students “High-Quality Experience” They Now Expect From Remote Learning During COVID

As students move past the unexpected turmoil brought on the spring semester by COVID-19, “high-quality” remote learning is the new expectation. In her recent article for the League For Innovation, Doreen Fisher-Bammer, Associate Provost of Virtual Learning at HACC, uncovers how artificial intelligence plays a key role in improving the online classroom when implemented thoughtfully.

As Engaging Online Programs Become a Necessity, WSU Tech Announces Partnership with Packback

WSU Tech recently partnered with Packback to support innovation in online learning. With COVID-19 forcing campuses across the nation to re-think effective online learning, WSU Tech’s decision will enable students and faculty to engage with each other in a more dynamic online setting.

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 …

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.”

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 …

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.

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.

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.