Getting started with supervised writing labs

Case Study: Supervised Writing Labs at Western University

MATCHA began as a software solution for supervised writing labs at Western University. After experimenting with edit-tracking software, we found that far too many students, over 30%, were transcribing or auto-typing AI-generated essays. In most cases, however, the evidence was still not strong enough to support a formal academic offense. That limitation made edit-tracking alone an inadequate response.

How supervised writing labs work

The operating principles are simple. MATCHA can use Single-App Mode and Copy-Paste Block to prevent students from misusing AI on their laptops. The role of a human supervisor is to ensure that they do not use AI on a separate device.

MATCHA's Check-In feature is used to ensure that students cannot work on their projects outside the lab. When they arrive, students must check in with a supervisor (using a QR code on their screen) to unlock their project. They are also required to check out before leaving so they cannot continue from home.

How to set one up

1. First, you will need to secure a room and proctors! This is often the hardest part. But, in our experience, it is usually not hard to find an available room in large suburban universities (provided you knock on the right door). For proctors, we have found that regular teaching assistants can do this work while doing their weekly preparation, grading, or office hours. So, any course with a teaching assistant in principle has a proctor with a good number of hours to oversee a writing lab. Another tip: if you have little room and supervision available, you can limit supervised writing to one assignment per course and use it as a baseline when assessing at-home writing.
2. The rest is easy—MATCHA makes it easy. First, create an account in the MATCHA Dashboard if needed, and create a course.
3. Next, create an activity, selecting the supervised writing lab type. In case of doubt, use the default settings, which are explained below.
4. Decide whether students may use MATCHA's built-in AI assistant, and if so at what level. In a supervised writing lab, an instructor-configured assistant can provide a permitted source of help inside MATCHA while proctors still ensure that students do not use outside AI tools or separate devices.
5. Tell students they must check in before starting work, remain in the lab while writing, and check out every time they leave. The writing-lab syllabus preset provides copy-ready language covering these expectations, work process grading, installation, and submission.
6. Now watch your students develop a sense of community around the lab—and enjoy the human prose you receive!

Recommended activity settings

• Proctoring: on. A supervisor should be available to perform check-ins, check-outs, and interventions when needed.
• Check-in: enabled. Students should not be able to begin working until a proctor has checked them in. This is what prevents students from working on the activity while unsupervised.
• Availability, start and end time: set date and time. The availability times in MATCHA set hard limits for when students can work on an activity (or generate a submission document). The end time is not their deadline. It is the time past which you definitely do not need to accept more submissions. This is often set to a date after the course ends. We ask for an end time for housekeeping purposes, not to police deadlines. Deadlines are communicated and enforced outside of MATCHA.
• Notes: enabled. Students can use MATCHA notes during their supervised sessions.
• Browser: enable only when needed. If students need access to the LMS, readings, or research materials, turn the browser on and allowlist the required resources in the browser configuration.
• AI Assistant: optional. If you want students to receive limited help, enable MATCHA's AI assistant at the level that fits the assignment: grammar only, grammar and style, or full composition. If you want to help students learn writing mechanics, turn on pedagogical mode. This makes the assistant act as a tutor rather than auto-corrector. AI-made changes are tracked and reported in the Writing Analysis, so permitted AI use remains visible in the work record. Be explicit in your instructions and proctor briefing about what level of AI help is allowed.
• Anonymous submission: usually disabled. Turn it on only if anonymous grading is part of your workflow.
• External-Paste Block: enabled. This prevents students from bringing in text from outside MATCHA while they are working in the supervised space. This is crucial to prevent AI misuse.
• Single-App Mode: enabled. This is crucial to prevent AI misuse.
• Complete Work History: optional. This feature can be enabled to provide more evidence of work, but it is not always necessary in supervised settings. A downside of enabling it is that it results in larger file sizes if collecting .mcha files for replay.
• Submission: Select cloud storage for convenience, or manual submission if required by your institution's policies. Cloud storage will allow students to submit directly from MATCHA while keeping a copy on their own computer. In manual mode, the Check Out tab will guide students to generate a .docx export. They will see the additional submission instructions you provide.

Operational tips

• Proctors should read the Proctoring Guide .
• Students should not be allowed to use any electronic devices besides their MATCHA-running laptop, including smartglasses and headphones, which can be used to discreetly access help.