Hypothesis Student Guide

Hypothesis is a tool that lets you annotate readings with rich-text features, view annotations added by your instructor, and respond to other classmates' annotations. This guide will teach you how to use Hypothesis.

When to Use?

Hypothesis is a tool that lets you annotate readings with rich-text features, view annotations added by your instructor, and respond to other classmates' annotations. This guide will teach you how to use Hypothesis.

Procedure

1. In the Blackboard course with the Hypothesis assignment, click on the Hypothesis assignment to open it, then click Launch.

       

2. The first time you’re in a Hypothesis assignment, you will see the content your instructor wants you to annotate on the left, and a sidebar with basic instructions on the right.

3. To create a highlight, select text in the assignment and choose the Highlight option from the pop-up. Your classmates and instructor will not be able to see these highlights, and you will not see this type of highlight left by other students or instructors.

4. To start creating an annotation, select text you want to add an annotation to, and then select the Annotate button.

5. Once you click Annotate, a spot to input new Annotations will appear in the sidebar on the right. You can now type into the text box, use the rich-text editor, and insert links, images, or mathematical equations.

By default, your annotations are visible to your classmates and your instructor. Unlike choosing the “Highlight” button, the highlight you create when making an annotation is visible to others. Use the down arrow next to the “Post” button and change the location of your annotation to “Only Me”. These notes are only visible to you.

6. Tags help you organize your notes and categorize your thinking. Tags are added to an annotation by typing into the "Add tags..." field.

7. Format your annotation with bold, italics, quotes, links, inserted images, math notation, bullet points and numbered lists.

8. Page notes aren’t linked to any particular passage within the assigned text. Click on the page note button to leave a page note.

9. When someone else has written a new annotation, or updated an existing annotation, Hypothesis will display a red icon at the top of the Sidebar. Click on this icon to display all of the new and changed annotations.

10. Use the buttons on the top of the sidebar to search annotations, sort your annotations, and get help with Hypothesis.

See more Hypothesis resources: Annotation Tips for Students