Ask an ID: Packback for Better Discussions and Smarter Grading
Dear Instructional Designer,
My pilot this semester is using AI to help with grading discussion boards. Do you have any tips for making the most of these functions? I’d also love to hear from others who have tried AI for managing discussions and would be open to sharing their experiences.
–Discussion Dynamo
Dear Discussion Dynamo,
I haven’t personally used AI for grading discussions in Blackboard, but I have had a lot of experience with a tool called Packback—have you heard of it? At ACC, it started with just a few faculty members, but they loved it so much that we now have a license for the whole college.
Packback is designed to encourage deeper student engagement in discussion-based assignments. Instead of simply answering prompts, students are coached by the AI to ask curiosity-driven, well-supported questions. As they write, Packback provides real-time feedback, nudging them toward stronger critical thinking and clearer support for their ideas. It even flags issues like low-effort posts or potential academic integrity concerns, giving students a chance to revise before submitting. This means the quality of the posts you receive is much higher before you ever start grading.
For faculty, this support translates into less time moderating and a smoother grading process. The AI helps surface the most insightful contributions and ensures posts meet the required standards. Once you get comfortable with the workflow, you may find you spend very little time grading because Packback’s structure guides students through the steps before their post is complete.
It does take a shift in how you think about discussions since the focus moves from students answering questions to asking them. But this shift can really pay off, especially in large classes or courses where participation and critical thinking are core outcomes. If more classes in a department adopted it, students would quickly become comfortable with the approach and faculty would benefit from easier-to-grade, higher-quality discussions.
Packback also includes a tool for essays that works with students as they draft, helping them improve their writing without doing the work for them. It’s a strong option if you’re looking to integrate AI into your teaching in a way that supports learning outcomes while reducing your workload.
Here are a couple of video resources if you’d like to learn more:
- Packback Essentials with faculty member Keri Pope
- Packback with Packback Curriculum Consultant Ri Cantlan
I hope this gives you a sense of how Packback can transform discussion into deeper learning opportunities for students while also simplifying grading for you.
To more curious questions,
Your Instructional Designer