{
  "id": 4542946,
  "title": "Good call, University of Chicago. Sometimes the best classroom technology is no technology at all",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/good-call-university-of-chicago-sometimes-the-best-classroom",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-31T01:57:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260831/good-call-university-of-chicago-sometimes-the-best-classroom-technology-is-no-technology-at-all"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the modern age, where technology pervades every aspect of our lives, it is crucial for educational institutions to carefully consider the impact of artificial intelligence on the learning process. The University of Chicago (U. of C.) has recognized the importance of fostering critical thinking skills in its students and has taken a bold step in promoting a more analog approach to education. A study conducted by researchers at MIT, Wellesley, and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2025 revealed that relying on AI for writing assignments can have detrimental effects on students' ability to think critically. This led to the implementation of a new policy at the U. of C.'s social sciences core, which seeks to restore the classroom to an analog experience where students are encouraged to read, write, and analyze without the assistance of AI. Dr. Jenny Tri, the Master of the Social Sciences Collegiate Division at U. of C., explained that the institution's mission is to train students to utilize both reason and specialized knowledge, preparing them for life as free individuals. By emphasizing the value of traditional learning methods, the University of Chicago is taking a significant step towards nurturing well-rounded, analytically-minded graduates who are capable of thriving in an increasingly complex world.",
  "summary": "If a muscle atrophies, our bodies weaken. We can’t walk very far, we can’t lift things. When your ability to think atrophies, well, that’s arguably a whole lot worse. “Cogito, ergo sum,” or — “I think, therefore I am,” as René Descartes put it. Thinking, thus, is as elemental as breathing. Universities should create the conditions for students to learn how to do it well, and the University of…",
  "key_points": [
    "University of Chicago promotes analog education over AI.",
    "MIT study shows AI harms critical thinking skills.",
    "New policy restores classroom to analog experience."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The University of Chicago's shift towards an analog classroom experience reflects a growing recognition that over-reliance on technology can undermine critical thinking skills, a key goal of a well-rounded education.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Good call, University of Chicago. Sometimes the best classroom technology is no technology at all",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/good-call-university-of-chicago-sometimes-the-best-classroom-4544292",
        "published": "2026-08-31T02:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}