A unique pedagogical approach is being employed at Cornell University to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in academic writing. Grit Matthias Phelps, a German language instructor, mandates an in-class assignment using manual typewriters each semester.

Disconnecting from Digital: The Analog Assignment

Professor Phelps brings out dozens of vintage manual typewriters, sourced from thrift shops and online marketplaces, for this specific exercise. The goal is to help students experience and understand the environment of writing before the digital age.

The scene often resembles the 1950s, with students hearing the familiar ding of the carriage return bell as they peck away at the keys. Phelps introduced this syllabus item, simply labeled an "analog" assignment, to force a different kind of connection with the material.

Teaching the Mechanics of Manual Typing

For many students accustomed to smartphones, the manual typewriter proved surprisingly complex. Freshman Catherine Mong, 19, admitted she was initially confused, having only seen typewriters in films.

Phelps provided demonstrations on essential techniques, such as manually feeding paper and applying the correct force to the keys to avoid smudging. She explained the significance of the bell and the manual action required to move to the next line.

Phelps even enlisted her two young children, aged 7 and 9, to act as "tech support" during these sessions, reinforcing the focus by ensuring no phones were present.

Lessons Beyond the Keyboard

The assignment's purpose extends far beyond teaching students how to operate obsolete machinery. Phelps questioned the value of reading student work if it was generated without personal effort, asking, “Could you produce it without your computer?”

Sophomore Ratchaphon Lertdamrongwong, a computer science major, noted that the experience changed how he interacted with his peers. While writing a critique of a German film, the absence of screens meant fewer digital distractions.

Lertdamrongwong observed that he had to socialize and ask classmates for help more frequently, a stark contrast to modern, laptop-centric classrooms. Furthermore, the lack of a delete key necessitated more intentional thought before striking each key.

"This might sound bad, but I was forced to actually think about the problem on my own instead of delegating to AI or Google search," Lertdamrongwong stated.

Embracing Imperfection and Process

Many students struggled with the physical demands, finding their pinkies too weak for effective touch-typing, leading to slower, index-finger pecking. Perfectionist student Catherine Mong faced an additional hurdle with a recently broken wrist, forcing her to use only one hand.

Mong initially grew frustrated with the resulting messy pages, filled with misspellings and uneven spacing. However, she came to see the imperfections as integral to the learning process.

She ultimately embraced the visual chaos, using the odd spacing to creatively indent and fragment her typed poem in the style of E.E. Cummings. Mong saved several discarded sheets, stating, “I’m probably going to hang them on my wall. I’m kind of fascinated by typewriters.”