Along with the rise of digital technology came the fall of handwritten assignments. For years, the education system has relied on online software for course content, announcements, and submissions. What used to be a tireless effort to fill in a Scantron bubble is now the simple click of a mouse.
As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent and accessible, professors have noticed a significant decrease in the quality of the students’ work. Sloppy, flat arguments were echoed across essays. Grading became pointless, as the AI Detectors are reading their own slop as “human.”
In attempts to encourage authentic work, many professors have reverted to paper and pencil. No computers, iPads, spy or Meta glasses allowed in class. They require students to complete traditional in-class assignments and timed writing exercises.
At first, this seemed like a solid solution to the dramatic increase of em dashes and soulless prose, but a problem quickly emerged. Many students hadn’t picked up a pencil in years, if ever. One student remarked that it “wasn’t like riding a bike.”
After countless incoherent scribbles and broken pencils, Georgia State University came up with a solution. Starting in the fall of 2026, incoming freshmen students will be required to take “Intro to Handwriting 101.” The course will consist of three major units, including “Pencil Grips,” “ABC Basics,” and “Name & Date.” The course serves as a prerequisite for the Cursive elective.
Hopes are high for the future of handwriting at Georgia State. As long as Ticonderoga doesn’t partner with OpenAI, professors are optimistic that students’ work will be entirely their own again.
