An Ode to Feeling: The Dangers of AI in a Foundations Writing Class
After nearly two decades of teaching, Katie Johnson, a university writing lecturer, faced her most disheartening semester yet. The culprit? The quiet influence of AI in her classroom.
Johnson noticed a growing disconnection with her students, as essays began to feel polished but lifeless — products of AI, not authentic thought. Even a simple group task to identify blog norms was overtaken by AI-generated responses, with students avoiding collaboration or conversation.
Her turning point came when she collected handwritten student journals. For the first time all semester, she saw real human expression — messy, personal, and undeniably authentic. It inspired her to shift her teaching strategy. Next semester, she’ll prioritize handwritten work and tech-free class time to reclaim student voices.
"AI is here to stay," Johnson admits, "but our voices — raw, imperfect, and human — are worth protecting."