Blue Books vs. AI: Why Colleges Are Grappling with an Old-School Fix

Remember those blue book exams from college that made your hand cramp? They're making a comeback. As AI-generated writing sneaks into classrooms, some educators are dusting off these relics in a bid to curb cheating. But not everyone's convinced it's the right move.

The AI Challenge

AI chatbots like ChatGPT have become the latest bane for universities since OpenAI launched the tool in 2022. Sure, blue books can stop the dreaded copy-paste trick, but University of California, Davis' Professor Dan Melzer warns it won't outsmart students entirely. They'll find a way around it. The real issue? Many employers are looking for grads who can wield AI tools, not run from them. So, are we solving the right problem here?

The Real Cheaters

Steven Krause of Eastern Michigan University says the cheating panic might be blown out of proportion. In his experience, most students who cheat are already floundering. And seasoned professors, he argues, can often spot AI-generated work from a mile away. Still, the advent of tools that 'humanize' AI writing is making it harder to detect. Are we entering a cat-and-mouse game where professors and students are constantly upping the ante?

Why Blue Books Might Miss the Mark

Going back to hand-written tests isn't just a tech step backward, it's also a logistical nightmare. With more than half of students taking online courses, asynchronicity is king. Blue books don't fit this model. Moreover, there's the issue of accessibility. Timed, handwritten exams put multilingual students and those with disabilities at a disadvantage. And let's be real, deciphering chicken scratch is no one's idea of fun.

Large classes are another hurdle. Imagine grading 200 blue books. Exhausting, right? Plus, AI wearables like smart glasses could still help students cheat. Melzer calls this move a dinosaur approach to modern education. And Krause? He sarcastically suggests we might as well go back to chiseling on stone tablets.

The Bigger Picture

Let's look at history. Every tech advancement, from the typewriter to spell-check, faced backlash. Elizabeth Wardle from Miami University sees the same pattern here. She dismisses the doomsday predictions about the end of writing, labeling them as overblown.

The bottom line? As AI continues disrupting education, colleges need to rethink their strategies. The goal should be to integrate AI into learning, not revert to outdated methods. Is it time educators embrace AI instead of fearing it?