eLearning@PGCC News

 Hypothesis: A New Engagement Tool 

Looking for a new way to engage your students?  Hypothesis is a new technology tool being used at Prince George’s Community College, that allows students to collaboratively annotate, highlight, and discuss texts. Did you know that Hypothesis is embedded and available in all Canvas courses? In this article, you’ll find ways to use Hypothesis to create more engagement. 

Annotation: A Gateway to Active Reading 

How many times have you heard, “the students aren’t reading the text”? Or similarly, “the students aren’t reading the syllabus.” Is it just me? Sadly, I think I hear it every semester. We certainly can’t ensure that students read, but we can add an activity to make reading more engaging. Hypothesis allows users to highlight text, add comments, or questions, and create notes directly on the web page that can be shared with others. This tool can transform passive reading into an interactive experience, enabling a deeper understanding and analysis of a text. 

  

Collaboration: Fostering Community 

Hypothesis goes beyond note-taking; it can foster a sense of community as students work together on annotations. This collaborative approach not only expands an individual’s perspective but encourages a richer, more diverse understanding of a text. Hypothesis can also be used to support a Socratic-style discussion around a text. Imagine posting pages from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and asking, was Atticus successful in instilling a conscience in his children? Or posting the painting American Gothic by Grant Wood and asking students to create a backstory for the scene. Or posting a medical chart and asking students to discuss the patient’s prognosis and possible treatments. Activities like these encourage students to learn from one another, discuss ideas and foster a sense of community. 

 

Integration 

Hypothesis is fully integrated with Canvas, so students don’t have to leave the LMS to complete assignments. Hypothesis is also linked to Speedgrader, so a faculty member can see student responses and grade them in Canvas. 

  

 Education and Lifelong Learning 

Hypothesis can empower students to actively engage with course material, develop their critical thinking, increase their collaborative learning, and improve their comprehension skills. Hypothesis can be used to create interactive assignments, engaging discussions, and encourage critical thinking. All of this could empower our students to become lifelong learners interested in discussing ideas. 

 

I hope you see the value of Hypothesis and want to learn more about how it can be used in your courses. This annotation tool gives faculty the opportunity to support students in becoming more critical readers, who can interpret a text, understand others' arguments and share their ideas.  

  

Interested in learning more?  Watch this video about Hypothesis or read more on the Hypothes.is website.  Hypothesis is embedded and available in all Canvas courses, so you can get started today. If you have questions you can go to the Drop-In Lab in CAT229A for one-on-one support,  schedule an appointment here, or send an email to elearning@pgcc.edu