Teachers bring back blue books to curb AI cheating in classrooms
(NewsNation) — Teachers nationwide are turning to a low-tech solution to curb artificial intelligence-assisted cheating: requiring students to write essays and take exams by hand.
According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of blue books, the staple-bound exam packets with blue covers, are surging.
Campus bookstores report a 30% increase at Texas A&M University, nearly 50% at the University of Florida, and an 80% jump at the University of California, Berkeley over the last two years, the Journal reported.
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This shift to handwritten assignments comes as educators grapple with handling AI tools in the classroom.
A survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Elon University found that 59% of academic leaders believe cheating has increased since AI tools became widely available.
In response, some professors and teachers are bringing back blue books to combat the rise in cheating, while also trying to determine how to evolve with the ever-increasing use of AI.
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Some academic leaders argue AI can be used to improve students' creativity, writing and research skills.
AI advocates believe it's time for teachers to start embracing the technology.
'AI is seeping into every corner of business, culture and society,' said author Matt Britton. 'I think it's up to educators and parents alike to be creative in figuring out ways to embrace it and have it be a part of our everyday lives because we're not going backwards.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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