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Hypothesis

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Hypothes.is

Overview

Hypothesis is a social annotation tool that integrates seamlessly with Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas through Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) 1.3. It enables collaborative annotation of digital texts, allowing instructors and students to engage in discussions directly within course materials. By fostering active reading and critical thinking, Hypothesis enhances the learning experience across various disciplines. Hypothesis is available to all Virginia Tech students and instructors.

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  • Seamless LMS integration: Embed Hypothesis directly into Canvas assignments and modules.

  • Diverse content support: Annotate PDF files, web pages, JSTOR articles, Canvas Pages, and YouTube videos.

  • Group annotations: Create group-specific annotation assignments using Canvas Groups or Sections.

  • Grading integration: Utilize Canvas SpeedGrader and Hypothesis Auto Grade for assessing annotations.

  • Interactive annotations: Highlight text, add comments, and engage in threaded discussions within course materials.

  • Collaborative learning: Participate in group annotations to share insights and perspectives.

  • Personal study notes: Create private annotations for individual study and review.

  • Multimedia integration: Annotate YouTube videos and other multimedia resources.

  • Scanned PDF files without OCR: Annotations require machine-readable text; scanned images without Optical Character Recognition (OCR) are not supported.

  • Restricted web content: Web pages behind paywalls or requiring login credentials cannot be annotated.

  • Content accessibility: All annotated materials must be accessible to students without additional authentication barriers.

  • Browser compatibility: Users must enable third-party cookies and allow pop-ups for full functionality.

  • Pre-Class reading assignments: Assign annotations to encourage engagement with readings before class discussions.

  • Peer review exercises: Facilitate peer feedback by having students annotate each other's work.

  • Multimedia analysis: Use annotations on videos to prompt critical analysis and discussion.

  • Research projects: Collaboratively annotate scholarly articles to support research and group projects

The Hypothesis social annotation tool offers valuable features for enhancing collaboration in online learning, but presents some accessibility challenges for users with disabilities. Users relying on screen readers may encounter difficulties with error alerts not being announced in real-time during the assignment creation process, potentially affecting the flow of their work. Hypothesis has acknowledged these issues and is actively working on improvements, though some barriers remain. For example, users navigating via keyboard or screen reader might find certain interactions, such as form validation, less intuitive.

 

While the tool has built-in accessibility features, users with disabilities may need to employ workarounds in specific scenarios. For those using screen readers, it is recommended to explore the guides provided by Hypothesis on how to navigate the tool effectively. Keyboard-only users should also review documentation on how to optimize their experience, as the company continues to refine keyboard navigation. Overall, while accessible in many respects, some users may need additional resources or adjustments to fully utilize the tool’s capabilities.

 

Beyond the accessibility of the tool itself, a key consideration when using Hypothesis is that the documents being annotated must themselves be accessible. If a document lacks proper structure, tagging, or alt text for images, it can severely limit the usability of the tool for screen reader users.

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General Information

If your instructor is using Hypothesis in Canvas assignments, you can use the tool to submit annotations, collaborate with your classmates, and share comments on the assigned reading.

Resources

Hypothes.is

Cost: Free

Status: Available

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