Packback allows teachers to manage discussions in very large classes (I taught online classes of up to 300 students) and actually stay on the top of discussions. The program takes away the most laborious and annoying part of the process - formal grading. Instead, the teacher can concentrate on the most important part of the discussion - substantive comments on students' points and ideas. It is a perfect tool for managing online discussions in large classes, I could not imagine running large online courses without the tool. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I tried using "deep dive" functions for essay writing, and it did not quite work out. The bibliography creation and citations feature, in particular, just did not work out for students and me. Instead of helping me with grading process, the automated rubric seemed to slow me down. I would say that the discussion management - primary - function of Packback is fantastic. but the essay function does not function -for me - as intended. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Packback's real-time writing feedback is especially useful for my students as they hone their scientific writing skills. The AI used by Packback is not perfect, but it is much, much better than anything freely available on the web. Packback also interfaces easily with Canvas, making grading straightforward.

Perhaps most importantly, Packback's support team has been phenomenal over the year's I've worked with them. In addition to providing quick troubleshooting, they have genuinely excellent pedagogical suggestions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The user experience can be a bit cumbersome. The "click-to-outcome" ratio can be high, leading to multiple open windows or accidentally clicking away from a post. Beyond that, performance is reliable.

The price can be a bit difficult to justify, especially when students have access to many other AI-based platforms, but when used correctly, the ROI is good. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Packback has been helpful for managing large class loads while also fostering a sense of community within the major. It has allowed me to coach future health leaders as they develop their cognitive, writing, and communication skills, which better supports their growth as health service leaders. The UI/UX experience was supported by the tech assistance feature. It was very helpful for both faculty and student support. There is a learning curve but after about 3 or 4 assignments, students begin to get more comfortable with AI systems, and how AI can support and enhance their communication and cognitive skills. Intergrations with the LMS is especially helpful with providing timely feedback and monitoring student performance through out the semester. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Packback is very helpful and supportive. However, I’ve noticed that when students seek support from other AI writing tools, like Grammarly, it can affect their AI score. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I find most helpful about Packback is three things. First, it allows me to create alternative assignments for credit that make students think. In the age of online instruction, students often just read, search, and choose an answer that they find online or in an online text. There is little true learning or critical thinking involved. Packback makes them think and craft an answer to a prompt. Second, by scoring assignments immediately, it allows me to separate the best students from those who are just going through the motions. The best students will come back and recraft their answers based on the preprogrammed rubrics or by comparing their scores to other students on the leaderboard that week. And finally, it allows me to teach large sections the way I want to, without depending on the department or college for support. This is especially true when these resources are hard to come by and finite. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The price. Students complain about the price on top of already overpriced books from the publishers. This makes the system difficult to use and justify, especially in a state like Florida where there is an emphasis on keeping the price for students down. I haven't been told I can't use it yet, but I suspect that will be coming down soon from our state legislature. (Not targeting Packback specifically, but the overall cost of electives and core classes.) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One of the biggest benefits I've experienced with Packback is the real-time coaching it provides students as they write. Before adopting Packback, I used discussion boards within our LMS for large-enrollment courses. While I always wanted to provide meaningful feedback, it was simply impossible to do so quickly enough for every student. By the time I responded, the learning opportunity had often passed.

Packback has changed that. Students now receive immediate, actionable feedback while they are drafting their posts, giving them the opportunity to revise and improve before they submit. When students truly engage with the feedback, the improvement in the quality of their writing, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning is noticeable. Rather than waiting for me (the instructor) to point out weaknesses after the assignment is complete, they can make adjustments in real time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest limitation for me is the lack of customization for instructor-specific assignments. While the AI provides excellent feedback on writing quality and discussion practices, it cannot always evaluate the unique requirements of an assignment.

For example, I sometimes require students to upload a photograph of an organism and incorporate it into their discussion. Packback cannot recognize when a required image is missing or prompt students to include it. Likewise, it cannot identify misconceptions or factual errors related to the specific biology concepts being discussed. As a result, students may receive positive feedback on the quality of their writing even when the scientific content needs correction.

I understand that these challenges are difficult to solve, but greater flexibility for instructors to customize assignment-specific expectations and coaching would make the platform even more effective. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The ease of use. Once you set up the learning community, Packback really runs itself. The interface is easy to use and manage. The people who I have worked with are incredibly nice and are really invested in my student's learning. If you are interested in short form student writing, like discussion posts, then Packback is really the best tool for the job. The integration with our LMS and their support are top notch. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Nothing. I think it is the best discussion platform out there. Packback has really streamlined the integration with our LMS, so everything is rather seamless. You can devote as much or as little time to your learning community as you would like. The writing suggestions really help students construct open-ended questions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The look and feel of the platform with rubric, and built in or embedded AI tools that are easy for students to review. The subscription price is reasonable per student. The integration of different forms of writing as a writing lab. The ability for guided questions to highlight in the students writing response is valuable and quickly viewed as high performance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Students can copy and paste writing from a different word processor. Ideally, this application would block copy/paste, or at least include some kind of setting or functionality that instructors could request. Another missing feature is a voice AI agent for the writing lab as an integrated tool; that would allow instructors to quiz students on their knowledge of the topic before and after the writing is completed, and I would suggest adding it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I appreciate the authenticity checker and meter! This helps provide REAL TIME feedback that encourages revision and critical thinking Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I have not really felt a "dislike" but I know that the price point can be frustrating for some students. I would like to provide options for students who need financial considerations but currently that is not an option. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like the fact that Packback allows me to incorporate the use of AI into my course. It enables my students to use AI responsibly while learning how to strengthen their writing skills. The Deep Dive assignments encourage students to exercise and enhance their writing skills. The feedback feature is a huge plus as it highlights grammatical and mechanical aspects of writing that need to be refined. I love the discussion portal as it encourages students to seek scholarly literature to support their discussion, and is far more interactive than traditional discussion platforms. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I do not have any cons to address. The platform works perfectly for my needs! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are so many aspects of Packback that I appreciate, especially their customer service. My rep is very attentive and consistently keeps me informed about new opportunities. My students are highly engaged with Packback, even though there is a learning curve at first. However, once a student understands the platform and works through that initial adjustment, the feedback has been very positive. We have also participated in several professional development opportunities with my co-workers, and I encourage them to use the platform as well. Moving forward, I plan to explore the deep dive features in more detail. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I’d like to dive deeper into the Deep Dives. I think they’re a really cool feature, but I just haven’t had the time to explore them fully yet. The only issues I’ve run into so far are students having access problems because of their high schools’ firewalls. Also, I think more videos showing students how to structure a post would be helpful. My students tend to struggle at the beginning with understanding how to post, so having an example post to reference would be great as well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.