When Grit Matthias Phelps realized students were submitting work written entirely by artificial intelligence, she chose a radical solution: she banned laptops and gave them typewriters. The German language instructor at Cornell University isn’t just looking for a simpler way to grade; she’s fighting to make sure her students can actually write.
A Digital Detox in Ithaca
It’s a scene that feels like a 1950s film, but it’s happening right now on a college campus. Phelps, who teaches at Cornell, noticed that everything was moving too fast. Students could generate a five-page essay in seconds, and the quality of their work was suffering because of it. “Everything slows down,” she said, describing the change. “It’s like back in the old days when you really did one thing at a time.”
The “Analog” Assignment
The class assignment, an “analog” exercise, requires students to disconnect completely. No spellcheck, no delete keys, and definitely no internet. They have to commit their thoughts to a ribbon-driven platen, committing to what they say without the safety net of digital correction. Phelps isn’t just trying to be quirky; she’s frustrated by the reality of AI-written work. She wants to know if her students can formulate their own ideas, or if they’re just parroting what a machine tells them.
Scouring Thrift Shops for Inspiration
Phelps didn’t just buy the machines from a catalog. She scoured thrift shops and online marketplaces, gathering a collection of about 30 typewriters for her class to use. The goal was to understand what writing, thinking, and learning felt like before everything went digital. “What’s the point of me reading it if it’s already correct anyway, and you didn’t write it yourself?” she asked, highlighting the core issue.
Student Reactions
The reaction from students was mixed, to say the least. Some found the sudden shift confusing. “I was so confused. I had no idea what was happening,” said one student, noting they’d only seen typewriters in movies, which never explain how to use them. For others, the discipline was refreshing, even if it felt strange to be physically typing out words rather than staring at a glowing screen.
More Than Just a Typing Class
While typewriters won’t be replacing AI anytime soon, Phelps’ approach is part of a broader trend. Many institutions are pushing back against AI generation by returning to old-school testing methods. In-class pen-and-paper exams are becoming more common, specifically designed to prevent students from using AI tools during the evaluation process.
From a practitioner’s perspective, Phelps demonstrates that true productivity, or at least deep engagement, requires friction. The friction created by manual typewriters forces students to confront their thoughts directly, without the filter of a machine. It’s a reminder that sometimes, to solve a digital problem, you have to step away from the digital.
