In my last two posts, I established the “why” for A.I.-Resistant classrooms. Now I will explain the “how.”
First, why “A.I.-Resistant” instead of “A.I.-Proof”? Unfortunately, there’s no way to 100% A.I.-proof your classroom. The technology is too accessible, too simple to use. The hard truth is students are probably going to use A.I. outside your classroom, but you can still restrict its use between your four walls. And that’s enough! As long as you create a space where students are required to write and express their thoughts through their own unique voice, you are resisting!
This brings us to the key component of the A.I.-Resistant classroom: Students no longer complete papers outside of class. Instead, they write their essays in class–by hand–even when they require sources. On the surface, this may sound brutal, but this in-class essay-writing isn’t done cold turkey. Students have plenty of time to prepare ahead of time. They brainstorm their response, gather and annotate their sources, and prepare an outline. Then with this information in hand, they write their essay in class.
Is this a killer on their hands? Sure! But it helps their brain. Researchers are now discovering students learn more by handwriting than typing. And according to one study, “The slower pace of handwriting fosters deeper thought and creativity, as the brain has more time to process and synthesize ideas."
Does it sometimes take more than one class period for a major essay? Yes. But in my book, the lost class time is worth it. I know my students did their own writing. I sacrifice two hours of class time and regain hours of my time that I used to spend trying to determine the authenticity of their writing.
Couldn’t they secretly consult A.I. for outline ideas outside of class? Sure. But the essay will be written with their words, their voice. This is why the technique is A.I.-resistant, not A.I.-proof.
What about proofreading? I make a dictionary, thesaurus, and grammar handbook available to students as they write. They have time in class to proofread their essays before turning them in.
Do they write their essays on their own paper? I have seen teachers online who use actual blue books for their essays, but my wife and I use our own worksheet that mimics MLA style. It also keeps the papers clean, uniform, and organized. If you would like to download the worksheet we use, click here.
What about word-processing skills? MLA formatting? Aren’t those important? Of course. My students only write the first draft of their essay in class. After I have looked over this first draft, giving the students feedback on their writing (and usually a preliminary score), they go back and type up their paper, revising the areas I marked. Sometimes I allow them to raise their paper score by 10% with this revision. But I still have the handwritten copy, and I can compare if I need to. At this point, I am not judging their preliminary content so much as the ways they addressed my suggestions.
How much time do you give students? For shorter essays, a standard 50-minute class period is sufficient (if you have given students time to think about the topic ahead of time.) For anything source-supported, I would definitely give students two 50-minute class periods.
Do students complain? Some. But once they are used to the process, it becomes simpler. Doing the right thing is rarely easy.
Do you still use digital writing assignments in class? I still do use some in-class digital writing, mainly in the form of journal entries. But these are simple, opinion-based writing assignments, where I can easily monitor the students.
Can your students write as well as a Chatbot? Maybe not. But they can think for themselves. They can express themselves. They can speak in their voice. As we move into the future, this will become more and more important. When we can no longer express our own thoughts or interpret the written expressions of others, human communication is in major trouble.
By resisting A.I. and its influence on your students’ communication skills, you are doing your part to protect the future of the human voice. Keep resisting!
Do you have a comment on this topic? We'd love to hear your input! Leave a comment below and tell us what you think.