Hypothes.is

Hypothes.is is a digital, social reading and annotation tool that helps develop comprehension and critical thinking about course materials.

Teaching with Hypothes.is

Writing in the margins has always been an essential activity for students. Annotation helps in reading comprehension and in developing critical thinking skills. Hypothes.is enables students to continue this essential activity with online readings. Digital annotation also offers new affordances, enabling students to respond to text—together and asynchronously—using different media and empowering them to collaborate on understanding and developing ideas about their readings.

Download Hypothes.is Video Transcript

Get Started

Hypothes.is is integrated within Sakai via the Lessons tool. To get started, follow the steps below.

  1. Log in to Sakai with your Pomona credentials via the Central Authentication Service (CAS).
  2. Open the course in which you want to use Hypothes.is.
  3. In your course menu, click on the Lesson where you want to add the material to annotate.
  4. Click the Add Content + button in the top menu and select Add External Tool in the drop-down.
  5. Click Hypothesis CMC & POM.
  6. Add a Tool description, Tool Title, and Button Text. The button text will not appear, but it is required.
    1. For the Tool Title, you might enter the article/webpage title. For the description, you can add instructions for students
      1. E.g., Read and annotate this article. Also read and respond to your peers’ questions, comments, images, and videos to formulate new ideas about the author’s argument and better understand and/or argue new positions. I look forward to reading and annotating with you!
  7. Click Save (and don’t worry if you make a mistake; you can always edit later).
  8. Once your link has been added to the Lesson, click on the link title and choose your method to add the material to be annotated, completing the set-up process.

The course material should now appear in the Sakai window along with the Hypothes.is annotation sidebar. You and your students are ready to start annotating!

Note that it may take some onboarding to get students accustomed to and comfortable with digital, social annotations and your expectations of them. Consider using a practice reading first and modeling your expectations in class.

Helpful Resources

If you need further assistance, ITS-RITG is available to answer your questions or meet you for a consultation. Contact us through the Online Service Desk.