Back to the 90s: Investigating Engagement, Interaction, and Thinking in a Screenless First-Year Writing Class
This poster session explores what happens when a first-year writing class briefly steps away from screens. In Winter 2026, I conducted a three-hour, screenless class with two sections of students, intentionally removing laptops, slides, and phones. The goal was to examine what a temporary “return to the 90s” might contribute to student engagement, peer interaction, and early-stage thinking in the writing process. Using handouts, boardwork, annotation, discussion, and small-group activities, students worked entirely without digital tools. The session presents the structure of this class along with preliminary insights from an informal anonymous student survey that captured their perspectives on attention, collaboration, and idea development. This session will interest instructors of writing (and also other university courses) who are curious about balancing digital and analog practices. Participants will leave with practical ideas for incorporating brief screen-free moments that may support focus, dialogue, and confidence in students.