Issue/Question
How can I make use of the Hypothesis collaborative annotation tool in my Canvas course?
Environment
Hypothesis is a web based tool that allows for the collaborative annotation of publicly available web pages and PDFs. It is also integrated with our Canvas learning management system. This provides additional functionality including the annotation of PDFs stored within Canvas, on One Drive and Google Drive, and the integration of Hypothesis with the Canvas grade book and SpeedGrader.
Resolution
1. Select "Assignments" from your course navigation sidebar
2. On the Assignments page click the "+Assignment" button
Scroll down to the Submission Type field
From the drop-down menu, choose External Tool then click Find .
Then click Hypothesis from the list of tools.
3. Select the content source to use for your annotation
You will have the option to enter a publicly-viewable URL, select a file from your Canvas file repository, select a PDF from Google Drive, or select a PDF from OneDrive:
A. Enter the URL of web page of PDF
Click the button that says Enter the URL of web page or PDF. On the Enter URL dialog, enter a link to a public web page or PDF. Please note that the content at the link must be publicly viewable (i.e., not behind a login or paywall).
Click the Submit button.
B. Select PDF from Canvas
You must upload PDFs to your Canvas file repository before completing the steps below. The Canvas File Picker does not allow for uploading new documents.
Click the button that says Select PDF from Canvas. You will see a list of PDFs that have been uploaded to your Canvas file repository.
Highlight the file you wish to use and click the Select button.
C. Select PDF from Google Drive
Click the button that says Select PDF from Google Drive. You will be asked to select a Google account and/or authorize the Hypothesis LMS App to access Google Drive.
Search or browse to select a PDF to use in your reading. You may also click the Upload tab to upload a new PDF to use.
Only files for which you have edit permission are able to be used by Hypothesis.
Click on the file you want to use and then click the Select button.
Note: This process will change the sharing permission of the selected Google Drive file to allow the PDF to be shown to anyone viewing the assignment. For more information please see our document about using Hypothesis with Google Drive.
D. Select PDF from OneDrive
Click the button that says Select PDF from OneDrive. You will be asked to select a Microsoft account and/or authorize the Hypothesis LMS App to access OneDrive.
Once logged on, browse to select a PDF to use in your reading. You may also select the Uploadoption to upload a new PDF to use.
Only files for which you have edit permission are able to be used by Hypothesis. You will be unable to use PDFs that belong in any Shared Libraries.
Click to select the file you want to use and then click the Open button.
Note: This process will change the sharing permission of the selected OneDrive file to allow the PDF to be shown to anyone viewing the assignment. For more information please see our document about using Hypothesis with OneDrive.
4. Indicate if this will be a group assignment
By default your Hypothesis reading will make all annotations visible to all students, or, if Sections integration is enabled, split into smaller reading groups based on Canvas Section membership.
You have the option to allow the creation of reading groups based on a pre-existing group set. To enable this, check the box to indicate This is a group assignment, then select the appropriate existing group set from the drop-down list.
If you do not want to designate the reading as a groups assignment, leave the Group assignment box unchecked.
Click the Continue button.
5. You will be returned to the Configure External Tool window
We recommend checking the “Load In A New Tab” option. This will allow for a better reading experience for students, especially those who magnify the contents of their screen for accessibility purposes. Click the Select button.
6. Edit the Assignment name, instructions, due dates, and any other settings you wish to change
Scroll down and click 'Save', or 'Save & Publish'.
7. Preview your Hypothesis-enabled assignment
The reading should now open with the Hypothesis sidebar loaded.
You and your students will now be able to select text and annotate.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Bowdoin College Service Desk