Defeating AI with a handwritten final exam...

Wednesday-- Seniors have one more day after today, then it's grad practice and done on Sunday. Amen.

The emotions are running high; no fights, but kids are a little wound up. I get it. And today, both softball and baseball have the first round of playoffs. There's a lot going on. 



That all said, the best decision I have made in a while (educationally) is to have my AP Lit seniors hand-write their final exam essay. I bought blue books (big ones), pencils, and told them they could bring notes/materials, but NO computers. And they are writing it all in class in front of me. They should also share their draft with one peer for input on content, another for editing suggestions, and show it to me for a conference before it's done. (All three reviewers must sign the blue book, too.) They have been given approximately three class periods to get the essay done-- 5-7 pages (not too much), and they could choose either one work of fiction or 3-5 poems we have studied and write a convincing argument why people should be reading it/them. Yes, MLA format, all by hand. In short, I honestly want to know what they can do before I loose them on the world. 

In this age of AI, Grammarly, and other "helpful" devices (including the on-board "help" that Google has embedded in their chromebooks), I have battled the issue of inauthentic thinking and writing all semester. Most don't abuse the privilege, but I know some have, and it makes me annoyed. I've caught a few, and that also makes me annoyed-- they are fledglings refusing to try their own wings. (They will fall out of the nest and get eaten... mark my words.) So, this is my one sure-fire way to check what they can do, in real time. And some, it's working just fine. They can use prior papers and so on (I'd already weeded out the most suspicious ones), but I want to know what they think. I'm not going to grade harshly on spelling and so on, as this is really just a good first draft. From what I've read so far, most know what they are about. Some are sinking. And so it goes. 

I hope you have a glorious day. Stay hydrated. Hug your loved ones.

C

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