Cornell: Typewriters fight AI

Grit Matthias Phelps, a German language instructor at Cornell University, has introduced manual typewriters into her classroom to counter the increasing

reliance on AI tools by students. This initiative aims to enhance students' writing skills and provide a more authentic educational experience. Since spring 2023, Phelps has organized this analog assignment each semester, allowing students to type without digital aids. This exercise emphasizes the importance of personal engagement in writing and reflects on the nature of education before the digital age.

Reviving Traditional Writing Methods

During a recent class, students encountered manual typewriters at their desks, some equipped with German keyboards. Many students, like freshman Catherine Mong, expressed confusion over the unfamiliar devices, noting their lack of experience with typewriters beyond what they had seen in films.

Phelps guided her students through the process of using the typewriters, explaining how to manually feed the paper and the significance of the bell that indicates the end of a line. She emphasized that the slower pace of typing on these machines fosters a deeper connection to their writing.

Fostering Distraction-Free Learning

The assignment goes beyond merely learning to use a typewriter; it encourages students to engage more with their peers and their surroundings. Computer science major Ratchaphon Lertdamrongwong noted that the absence of digital distractions allowed for more social interaction and collaboration among classmates.

Without the convenience of a delete key, students like Lertdamrongwong found themselves thinking critically about their writing, realizing that the exercise forced them to confront their ideas without the crutch of AI or online resources.

Challenges and Creativity in Typing

Many students struggled with the physical demands of using typewriters, often typing slowly with their index fingers. Mong, who had a broken wrist, faced additional challenges but ultimately found joy in the creative process of writing. She embraced the imperfections in her work, viewing them as part of the learning experience.

Mong experimented with formatting her poem, inspired by the style of poet E.E. Cummings, and expressed enthusiasm for her unique creations, indicating a newfound fascination with typewriters.