Case Study: Michigan State University achieves a digital, hands-on packaging testing curriculum with Specright

Bringing the Future of Packaging Testing to the Classroo

Michigan State University faced a sudden pivot to remote learning when COVID‑19 canceled hands‑on shock and vibration lab work for Patrick McDavid’s packaging course, leaving much of the spring curriculum—normally done with pen and paper—without a digital alternative. To recreate the lab experience and prepare students for a data‑driven workplace, the school adopted ISTA PackSight, the new digital testing platform powered by Specright.

Using PackSight, powered by Specright, instructors integrated ISTA protocols into virtual coursework so students could select tests, capture required data, and generate detailed digital reports — gaining a “hands‑on” understanding of packaging testing without physical lab access. The Specright solution helped students learn to analyze packaging data, reduced reliance on tribal knowledge and legacy systems, and left students better prepared to interpret test results and enter the workforce with skills aligned to industry practice.

Michigan State University

Patrick McDavid

Distribution Packaging Dynamics Instructor