Cornell Instructor Reintroduces Manual Typewriter Assignments
Grit Matthias Phelps, a German instructor at Cornell University, has used manual typewriter assignments since spring 2023 and reintroduced the exercise on March 20, 2026 to curb students' use of generative AI and online translation tools. The analog task forces slower, distraction-free composition, prompting peer collaboration and more deliberate thinking, and reflects a broader national trend toward old-school testing to prevent AI-assisted cheating.
Scoring Rationale
Timely AP-reported classroom experiment with clear, directly usable tactics for educators. Scored high for actionability and credibility, moderate for novelty and scope since it’s a classroom-level practice reflecting a broader trend.
Practice with real Ad Tech data
90 SQL & Python problems · 15 industry datasets
250 free problems · No credit card
See all Ad Tech problemsStep-by-step roadmaps from zero to job-ready — curated courses, salary data, and the exact learning order that gets you hired.
Sources
- Read OriginalIvy League teacher makes students use typewriters to fight against AI-written worknypost.com
- Read OriginalIvy League teacher makes students use typewriters to fight against AI-written workcommstrader.com
