Using Hypothes.is, traditional annotation activities (typically done in isolation) are transformed into collaborative knowledge-building activities. With public Hypothes.is pages, students can see annotations and comments by other individuals, including their peers and even experts in the field, and add their own annotations and comments that build on what they learned from others while reading a digital text (see examples of public Hypothes.is pages). Online class materials can be annotated in advance to lead to deeper, richer discussions during class time. A really exciting way to use Hypothes.is is to organize a “flash mob annotation” for topic of interest. This establishes a community of practice driven by interest and curiosity. During a flash mob annotation, participants meet online at a specific time, and simultaneously annotate a document or image, creating an exciting conversation.
Institutions can integrate Hypothes.is with their Learning Management Systems (LMS). For the duration of 2020, in support of institutions confronting the Covid-19 crisis, fees are being waived.
The user can quickly learn how to use the tool with relative ease. There are tutorials and FAQ information available if the user runs into an issue with the tool.
The user has to share some personally identifiable information (e.g., email address, name, location) when creating an account. The privacy policy clearly states how the information is used or shared. However, when the application is used through an institution’s LMS, the system is COPPA and FERPA compliant.
Video Transcription
Dr. Ruben Puentedura’s SAMR model offers a lens for examining how technology is adopted in a classroom. As you strive to incorporate online tools into your classroom, we encourage you to use this model as an analytic tool.
Here is an example of how Hypothes.is might fit within the SAMR model:
Go to web.hypothes.is/start (Note: Hypothesis is only available on a computer) and click “Get Started.”
Create a new account.
After your create the account, install the Chrome extension. (Note: If you are not using Google Chrome, install the “bookmarklet.”)
You are now ready to annotate. Start by visiting any website and by selecting any text, and then by clicking “Annotate.”
A Hypothes.is window slides out from the right side of your screen to input your annotation comments.
That’s it! All your annotations, highlights and notes are now saved to your Hypothes.is account. You can find them by visiting https://hypothes.is anytime.
Bonn, M., & McGlone, J. (2014). New feature: Article annotation with Hypothes.is. Journal of Electronic Publishing, 17(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/3336451.0017.201
Kennedy, M. (2016). Open annotation and close reading the Victorian text: Using Hypothes.is with students. Journal of Victorian Culture, 21(4), 550-558. https://doi.org/10.1080/13555502.2016.1233905.
This page was created by Constance M. Cook and Sai Satish Gattupalli.