Packback Reviews & Product Details

I appreciate that the platform is flexible and can be used in various ways. I am always learning a new trick to make it more engaging for students and efficient for me. Students get feedback and are engaged with their writing, which makes my job easier. The program works with Canvas and can even add grades without any problems, and using it with students becomes a seamless and easy regular part of class. Students often return the next year and say they noticed the program helped them improve as writers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As with anything, you can always want more, but the team is responsive, and new features are always improving it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We love that students are easily able to work with the AI to improve their writing. It is like having an online writing tutor in their ipad. Rolling out packback within the classroom was easy, students had no issues using the tool from day one. Many of our students chose to use it on every writing assignment even when it wasn't required because they realized they wrote bette with assistance. The support offered by the support team is amazing. As teacher Packback helps us quickly and easily. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Most of the time the integration with Canvas was fairly easy, but sometimes the grade integration would struggle. The only real issue we have is that our 6th graders don't understand some of the grammar aspects such as passive voice so I wish I could tell it to not look for that specific thing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I use Packback for the weekly writing assignments (one question by Wednesday midnight and responses to two classmates' questions by Friday midnight) and the "deep dive" essays. As I just finished my third semester using Packback, I find that I am more adept at it, and my students are becoming more active with it.

On the weekly Question/Responses, I have found that my "Guideposts," posted at the beginning of the week, encourage students by giving them some advance insight into what we will be covering in the coming week. Thus, they can fashion their initial questions to focus on issues that will be relevant. My first semester, I left it too wide-open, so the questions ranged far and wide. With greater focus, I am getting more thoughtful questions and responses, with some threads going five or six deep. I try to exercise restraint by no "intervening," as this is the opportunity for peers to debate with their peers.

For the "deep dive" essays, Packback checks for taboo AI-generated work, does a word count, and provides guidance for grammar and style. *If* my students pay attention to the editing advice, their writing improves dramatically. I have my students upload their essays to Packback and still hand me a hard copy, so I can kick back in my recliner to mark-up the papers.

Packback was somewhat difficult in my first semester. By this, my third semester, it is much easier, as I can navigate around better and use tools that I have learned to employ. BTW, I am 73 years old and, typically of my generation, am somewhat slow at adopting and adapting to new technologies, but practice, practice, practice. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Really, I have nothing to dislike about Packback. Being 73 years old, my first encounter with Packback was somewhat difficult. However, after just three semesters, it has become much easier and more useful. Customer service is prompt and instructive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Packback has been beneficial to my courses as a means to gain valuable feedback and have student perspectives shared in my online courses. It is easy for students to see an online discussion board and copy/paste or reshare the same ideas, but Packback makes that harder. It encourages student to write professionally and use clear communication. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The only negative feedback I have ever gotten from students is that they have to pay for the service. College is expensive, but one the things that makes Packback so great is they can integrate with your campus bookstore so the extra cost can be used by loans/grants etc. I also make it very clear to my students at the beginning of the course there is no textbook to buy. This perspective helps students a lot. As with all technology there are glitches, but the customer service at Packback is phenomenal! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The proofreading tool saves me quite a bit of time reviewing and re-reviewing submissions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Providing seminars for those who supervise Instructors using Packback helps them better understand the true value of Packback when used in the classroom. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It facilitated truly engaging discussions between students and the writing function assisted them with crafting outlines and writing a draft for their term paper. It provided instant feedback on writing and the use of peer reviewed sources.

The staff were incredibly helpful, from assisting with set up prior to the course to regular check ins and any needed troubleshooting. Staff also help me brainstorm creative and engaging ways to utilize the platform. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Students initially meet new technology for courses with some level of resistance, but I find that this wanes over time. I preferred an approach where I had students post discussion questions for topics I provided as opposed to everyone posting questions initially - it seemed to be better received. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It's ease of use, integration, customer support, features, and implementation! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

They have not added a video feature yet. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The discussion boards raise the quality of engagement. Students really get interested in each other's posts, and I see them asking questions that reflect deep thought. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The cost - I hate making my students pay so much for it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I can focus on the content and not spelling and grammar! It opens up discussion to what the students are interested in, rather than a narrow scope from the instructor's perspective. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I wish I could better cusomize acceptance of late work, and late grades. I still manually enter grades in because I give 10% grade deduction for each day the initial question is late, up to four days. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Packback helps build community in my classes. It's interactive and engages my students to connect with each other through responding to each other's writing. Packback is easy to use and the customer support is quick and responsive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Grades do not post immediately. It takes a few hours to load grades. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.