English professors double down on requiring printed copies of readings

Effectiveness of Printing to “Avoid AI”

• Many argue mandatory printouts are mostly symbolic: students can photograph pages and send images directly to LLMs with near‑zero effort, making AI summaries still trivial to obtain.
• Others say the point isn’t perfect prevention but added friction: moving from one‑click auto‑summaries on PDFs to having to take pictures and upload them turns AI use from passive default into an active decision, which may nudge more students to actually read.
• Critics counter that this “friction” is negligible compared to the effort of reading and analyzing 50–60 pages; anyone avoiding reading will still offload to AI.

AI, Assessment Design, and “Show Your Work”

• Several instructors are shifting from online, project‑heavy grading to in‑person, handwritten quizzes and notes, aiming to separate students who truly understand from those outsourcing to AI.
• There’s discussion of requiring handwritten notes, outlines, and drafts, or oral interviews on projects, as a way to trace genuine thought and detect AI‑generated work.
• Some propose integrating AI explicitly: teaching students to use it as a tutor (summarizing slides, generating practice questions) while using proctored, pen‑and‑paper evaluation for accountability.

Quality of Learning: Paper vs Screens

• Supporters of paper argue students read more carefully, focus better, and participate more thoughtfully in discussion when away from screens and instant summaries. The tactile nature of books and handwriting is seen as cognitively richer.
• Others note that summaries and “cheat” digests predate AI and that good instruction can still expose superficial understanding, regardless of medium. They stress active recall and spaced repetition over format.

Cost, Access, and Technology Choices

• Many are disturbed by packet prices (up to ~$150) and see this as inequitable compared with PDFs or library copies; some contrast with institutions where printing is free.
• Some view costly print as paying for a “distraction‑free environment,” analogous to giving developers private offices; others say a cheap Kindle or tablet could achieve similar focus with less waste.
• Participants worry print‑only rules may disadvantage students who rely on text‑to‑speech or prefer e‑readers; ADA accommodations and digital access complicate blanket print mandates.

Deeper Tensions: Motivation, Purpose of College, and AI’s Future

• A recurring theme is that many students are primarily grade‑ and credential‑seeking, not intrinsically motivated learners, so they will rationally use AI shortcuts.
• Some see this as exposing college’s signaling role rather than a new problem.
• There’s disagreement over AI’s long‑term role: some insist AI‑assisted work is clearly the future and must be taught; others argue the market, costs, and actual productivity impact are too uncertain to assume pervasive AI in all jobs.