Artificial Intelligence has turned writing, problem solving, and even essay drafting into optional tasks for students. What was once considered a core part of the learning journey can now be outsourced to tools such as ChatGPT. As a result, universities across the United States are grappling with a difficult question: How do you ensure students still put in the intellectual effort required for learning? According to The New York Times, one philosophy professor at New York University’s Abu Dhabi campus shared that his students, including “even the good students,” had used AI to write papers despite being cautioned against it. The students who actively participated in class discussions were the same ones turning to AI for written assignments outside class.Now, some universities are turning to centuries-old methods to make students think on their own, and the results are surprising.
The limits of existing Artificial Intelligence strategies
Faculty members initially hoped that promoting “engaged uses” of AI, such as creating practice quizzes, exploring new ideas, or seeking feedback would persuade students to avoid shortcuts. But, this approach failed. Even when professors redesigned assignments to include AI critiques, students simply used AI to generate the critiques as well. AI detectors have also proven unreliable, raising the risk of false accusations and missing lightly edited outputs. As a result, institutions are being forced to accept that deterrence alone will not work.
A medieval solution for a modern problem
The response has been both unexpected and deeply historical. Colleges are now reviving older, pre-printing press methods of assessment that once defined medieval universities. These include:
- In-class blue book essays
- Oral examinations
- Socratic dialogues and real-time Q&A
- Compulsory office hours and viva voce (oral defenses)
Sales of blue books — the staple of timed in-class exams, boomed last year, The Wall Street Journal reported, signaling that institutions are already shifting away from take-home essays. This change is not as radical as it may appear. In the earliest European universities nearly 1,000 years ago, oral examinations were the norm. Written assignments became central only after the 18th and 19th centuries, largely because of technical specialization and the rise of mass education. In fact, the US followed the oral tradition well into the 19th century before moving towards written work inspired by German research universities.
Resistance from both students and professors
The shift, however, is not universally welcomed. One professor described the reliance on in-class assessments as “teaching high school”, according to The New York Times. Faculty worry that oral and timed tests may privilege quick thinkers over deep thinkers. Students, meanwhile, are unsettled by restrictions on AI, with some admitting that the new system feels like it is “designed to make them fail.” The generational gap is also real. Many undergraduates grew up typing and never learned cursive, making timed handwriting exams feel unfamiliar. Some have become so dependent on AI that working without it feels disorienting.
The bigger picture: Identity over information
Despite resistance, higher education experts stress that this medieval turn is not a regression but a recalibration. As The New York Times explains, universities have never solely been in the “information transfer business.” Their deeper role lies in identity formation, developing students’ ability to think, question, and internalize knowledge. While AI may automate “ordinary writing,” quality, originality, and memory-building will remain essential. This is why oral exams, authentic assessments, and interactive evaluations are returning to classrooms.
The road ahead
The revival of medieval practices is unlikely to replace modern pedagogy entirely. Instead, universities will experiment with hybrid models, mixing viva voce and blue book testing with active learning, authentic assessment, and technology-enabled innovations. AI may have disrupted traditional learning, but history shows that universities survive every such revolution, from the printing press to online courses. This time too, higher education is reshaping itself. The medieval solution may make learning more personal, improvisational, and community-driven — qualities that no algorithm can replace.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
