Packback is an AI-powered learning platform that provides writing assistance for students and grading support for instructors through inquiry-based discussion and automated feedback.
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What is Packback
Packback is an education technology company that specializes in Instructional AI to enhance student learning and instructor efficiency. Their platform consists of two main products: Packback Questions, an inquiry-based student discussion platform, and Packback Deep Dives, a feedback platform for writing assignments. Packback's mission is to empower students to be fearlessly curious, develop strong writing skills, and find their unique voice while supporting educators with AI-assisted tools to streamline grading and provide meaningful feedback.
Key Features of Packback
Packback is an AI-powered learning platform that offers two main products: Packback Questions for inquiry-based student discussions and Packback Deep Dives for writing assignments. It uses Instructional AI to provide instant feedback to students, improve critical thinking and writing skills, and assist instructors with grading. The platform aims to engage students, foster curiosity, and streamline the teaching process while maintaining instructor control.
AI-Powered Feedback: Provides instant AI coaching to students on their discussions and writing assignments, helping them improve before submission.
Curiosity Score: Gamifies learning by assigning Curiosity Points to posts based on effort, credibility, and presentation, encouraging higher quality contributions.
Instructor Grading Assistant: Aids instructors in grading by handling mechanical aspects, allowing them to focus on content and personalized feedback.
Engagement Tools: Offers features like Sparking, Featuring, and Pinning posts to highlight great content and inspire class participation.
Use Cases
Large Lecture Courses: Facilitates meaningful discussions and personalized feedback in classes with hundreds of students.
Online Learning: Enhances engagement and community-building in virtual classroom environments.
Writing-Intensive Courses: Provides scaffolding and feedback for students to improve their writing skills across various disciplines.
Non-Major Courses: Increases engagement and relevance for students taking courses outside their primary field of study.
Pros
Improves student engagement and critical thinking
Reduces instructor grading time
Provides instant feedback to students
Supports accessibility and inclusive learning
Cons
Additional cost for students
Requires initial setup and learning curve for instructors
May not be suitable for all types of courses or teaching styles
How to Use Packback
Create an account: Go to app.packback.co/sign-up and create an instructor account to get started with Packback.
Set up your course: Add Packback to your course syllabus and LMS. Use the provided templates to communicate important information to students.
Introduce Packback on the first day of class: Give a brief 5-minute presentation explaining Packback's purpose and your expectations for its use in the course.
Configure community settings: Set up your Packback community with guidelines, deadlines, and grading criteria for student posts.
Monitor and engage with discussions: Use Packback's instructor tools to review posts, feature exemplary content, and provide feedback to students.
Utilize AI features: Take advantage of Packback's AI coach to provide automated feedback on student posts and streamline grading.
Integrate discussions with class: Use Packback discussions as starting points for in-class conversations and to inform your teaching.
Review weekly insights: Check the weekly digest emails from Packback for insights on student engagement and suggested actions.
Packback FAQs
1.What is Packback?
Packback is an AI-powered online learning platform that offers two main products: Packback Questions for inquiry-based student discussions, and Deep Dives for writing assignments. It uses Instructional AI to provide feedback and coaching to students while assisting instructors with grading and management.
2.How does Packback's AI differ from generative AI like ChatGPT?
Packback's Instructional AI does not write content for students. Instead, it provides feedback and coaching to help students improve their own writing and critical thinking skills. It acts as a 'Digital TA' to assist instructors with grading and management tasks.
3.What are the benefits of using Packback for students?
Packback helps students develop critical thinking, writing, and research skills. It provides instant AI-powered feedback, encourages more rigorous discussions, and allows students to engage in meaningful conversations around course topics. Many students report increased motivation and satisfaction with the platform.
4.How does Packback benefit instructors?
Packback reduces grading time for instructors by handling basic checks like plagiarism, grammar, and formatting. This allows instructors to focus on giving feedback on content and ideas. The platform also helps implement research-backed pedagogical practices at scale in classes of any size.
5.Is Packback accessible for students with disabilities?
Yes, Packback is committed to accessibility. The platform is designed to be accessible on all major browsers, conforms to AA standards of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and is compatible with various assistive technologies. Packback prioritizes fixing any accessibility issues that arise.
6.How is Packback priced?
Packback Questions is priced on a per-community basis, with each class using Packback considered a community. The fee is often paid by students when registering, but some institutions choose to pre-pay. Students can earn 'Curiosity Credits' for discounts on future purchases.
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