AVID Partners with Packback to Offer Free AI Writing Coach to Grades 7–10

Student success preparation company AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) has teamed up with digital writing tutor Packback to provide free access to Packback’s AI-enabled platform for AVID middle and high school teachers through the 2023-24 school year.

The platform will be available to AVID Excel Elective grade 7-8 teachers and AVID Elective grade 9-10 teachers to help students strengthen their critical thinking and writing skills.

The Packback digital writing coach relies on Bloom’s Taxonomy to foster critical thinking and assigns students a “curiosity score,” the company said. It uses “instructional AI” rather than generative AI, AVID notes.The AI gives students individual feedback as they write and helps them recognize and correct errors in real time. A detection tool for both traditional and AI-generated content alerts teachers so they can see how students are using AI for assignments.

"Packback will help students with their individual learning needs and free up time for AVID teachers to provide students with thoughtful feedback on their content and ideas while also demonstrating what the effective use of AI in the classroom can look like,” said Thuan Nguyen, AVID CEO.

AVID teachers who opt to use the platform will be given training and support, the company said. Packback has already been added to 12 AVID Weeks at a Glance lessons and 12 digital planning guides. In addition, a live webinar on the new integration will be hosted by leaders from both companies and those who have used the platform on Thursday, Aug. 3, at noon PT.

Visit this page to learn more about the partnership and to sign up for the webinar.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • laptop screen displaying a typed essay, on a child

    McGraw Hill Acquires Essaypop Digital Learning Tool

    Education company McGraw Hill has announced the acquisition of Essaypop, a cloud-based writing tool that will enhance the former's portfolio of personalized learning capabilities.

  • illustration of an open book with lines and circles around it

    Foundations in Learning Launches Fluency for All Movement

    Ed tech company Foundations in Learning, creator of the WordFlight literacy assessment and intervention for students in grades 3-8, has kicked off a new movement aimed at improving reading literacy.

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.