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.
Key Points
- 1Implements analog typewriter assignments to prevent generative-AI and online-translation use in student work.
- 2Highlights slowed, distraction-free writing sessions that encourage original thought and peer interaction.
- 3Suggests practical anti-cheating strategy teachers can adopt for assessments requiring independent composition.
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.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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