Resource Library

Featured Resources

While the Packback platform is one great way to bring curiosity, critical thinking, and interaction into a classroom, it is just the beginning. We are excited to share free tools for educators, downloadable eBooks, and guides that provide resources to help instructors create a motivating and curiosity-driven environment in any size class.

Teach with GPT

Free Teaching Tools

Teach with GPT

Teach with GPT is a free resource provided by Packback to give educators tools to incorporate ChatGPT into their courses in interesting and inspiring ways that help prepare students to succeed in a post-AI world. These tools are new and experimental and will be changing rapidly.

Whitepapers

Cover image of the whitepaper, "How Academia is Adapting to Generative AI"

White Paper

How Academia is Adapting to Generative AI

Foreword by Dr. Adam Fein, Vice President of Digital Strategy Innovation and Chief Digital Officer, University of North Texas.

This whitepaper provides an overview geared towards educational administrators of how ChatGPT/LLMs work and how they are likely to impact education, alongside a series of predictions of how innovative institutions will likely respond to this moment by evolving alongside AI.

White Paper

Impact of Online Discussion Platform and Pedagogy on Student Outcomes

This study explores the impact of the use of Packback on grade outcomes, student engagement, and discussion quality. 10 institutions participated in an IRB-approved comparative study of the use of Packback versus the Learning Management System discussion. Students in the Packback treatment group were more engaged, wrote longer posts, cited sources more often, and earned more A’s and fewer F’s than students in the control group.

Cover of Deep Dives Research Paper

White Paper

Student and Faculty Outcomes after using Deep Dives for Writing Assignments

Deep Dives was released for
the Fall 2022 term. In its first semester of use, students using Deep Dives have reported receiving better grades, feeling more confident in their writing, and enjoying writing assignments more. Instructors reported significantly faster grading times, easier and more manageable grading overall, and greater satisfaction with the quality of student writing.

Resources and Guides

Certification Course

Certification in Inquiry-Based Discussion with Packback

In this certification course, presented by Packback’s Chief Product Officer, Jessica Tenuta, you will learn about Inquiry-Based Learning and how these principles are applied in Packback’s platform and methodology to drive rigorous discussion, increase student motivation, and inspire genuine curiosity.

By the end of this course, you will also be a master of the Packback platform and how to set up your discussion for success and how to reinforce inquiry learning throughout your course.

Guide

The Anti-Racist Discussion Pedagogy Guide

This guide provides a starting resource for instructors who want to adopt an Anti-Racist discussion pedagogy in their own classroom, regardless of discipline or course subject matter.

The intention of this guide is to balance theory with practical tools for easing the transition to an anti-racist teaching style. This guide was produced in partnership with three exceptional educators who employ anti-racist teaching methods in their own classrooms across disciplines.

Report

Instructor Sentiment Report 2020 and 2021

Packback surveyed our network of over 5,000 instructors nationwide to ask about their experiences teaching during COVID and into 2021.

This report details the findings of this survey and explores what has remained consistent for faculty and their students – the importance of community and accessibility in and out of the classroom. 


Instructor resources

We’re excited to partner with you to awaken the fearless, relentless curiosity in your students. Below you’ll find a collection of resources to help guide you, no matter where you are in the term.

Packback’s Support Center

Packback’s Support Center has guides to help you with every situation you or your students may run into on Packback! From tech support to tips and tricks, search the Packback Support Center to find answers.

Illustration depicting a user's hands on a laptop keyboard with the Packback logo shown on the laptop screen.

Get Started on Packback

Getting set up on Packback is quick and easy. Seamlessly add Packback to your course and set your students up for success with just a few simple steps – we’ll show you how.

Illustration depicting a checklist. Some of the items on the list are checked, some are not.

How to Integrate Packback into your Course

We’ve collected feedback from hundreds of past instructors to assemble a guide to help you successfully integrate the Packback platform into your course. Our step-by-step guide will teach you how to set up an effective grading structure, engage with your discussion, and reinforce curiosity in your subject matter.

Illustration depicting a desktop computer. There is a webpage open on the screen. In the middle of the screen is a star.

How to Guides for Packback’s Features and Tools

Packback has implemented a variety of tools and features designed to help students engage with course material and build key skills, as well as make grading easier for instructors. Review key features, learn how to use them effectively, and get engagement ideas for using them in your course.

Resources for Students

Community Guidelines

Packback has set up Community Guidelines to keep discussions thought-provoking, insightful, and safe for everyone. We believe in being kind, curious, fearless, creative, and open to new ideas. Any posts on the Packback Questions platform that violate these guidelines are flagged for removal from their community.

View the Community Guidelines

Curiosity Scoring System

Unlike other discussion boards, Packback Questions is equipped with an algorithm that provides feedback on the effort, credibility, and depth of posts on Packback, called the Packback Curiosity Score. Instead of being used for grading posts, this score is used to give instant feedback to students on how they can push their posts further.

Learn more about the Curiosity Score

Subscribe to the Lifelong Learner Digest

Curious about the future of higher education? Stay up to date with Packback’s Lifelong Learner Digest.