Educators in several countries are reviving  hand-written assignments to counter the impact of generative AI shortcuts.

 

Hand-written notes. Problem-solving through discussion. An assignment completed by typewriter. In-depth Q&As after oral presentations. 

 

Some Canadian professors are reviving these classroom methods of the past, aiming to boost student engagement and steer them away from generative AI shortcuts, according to a report by CBC.

 

South of the border, Washburn High School in Minneapolis has banned phones and laptops from the classroom and assignments have to be done with pen and paper. 

 

In a lecture hall at the EDHEC Business School in France, 350 students sat in silence, writing out their homework for a lesson about artificial intelligence

 

In January, EDHEC launched its Me, Myself and AI bootcamp for all of its 700 pre-master’s students to make them stop and think without their tech. 

 

Fourteen instructors from different disciplines taught the course, directing students to keep a journal reflecting on how they learn, how they are using AI, and where the technology may help – or hurt – their learning.

 

Sweden's government is also championing a renewed focus on physical books, paper and pens in classrooms, designed to reverse falling literacy levels.

 

At the same time, the focus on analogue tools has drawn criticism from tech companies, educators and computer scientists, who argue it could impact pupils' employment prospects, and even damage the Nordic nation's economy.