In simple terms, a HyperDoc is a blended lesson that a teacher designs within a platform that links to and leads students through really thoughtful learning experiences. I can not live without HyperDocs in a blended classroom and I can't wait to show you how to better understand a HyperDoc, and then make it even more engaging with Genially
How to Make a HyperDoc: Explore, Explain and Apply
To make a HyperDoc - a lesson designer needs to include three sections that take it far beyond just a pretty slide deck with links to tasks.
All HyperDocs begin with a basic fundamental structure that can be customized as you get better at understanding and making HyperDocs. At the core, these student-facing lessons include an Explore, Explain and Apply section. Let's dig into these three sections and what they should include before we begin thinking about adding engagement with a genially
How to Make a HyperDoc: A Look at the Explore Section
In the EXPLORE this section, teachers purposefully create a place where students can explore the content. This step is meant to develops crucial curiosity that increases student interest. Here HyperDocs designers create content that students WANT to learn about.
As an example of how to activate student curiosity, HyperDocs co-creator Kelly Hilton when developing a Math Hyperdoc began by sharing a practical math example with students at the start of the lesson. She placed in this section a video from a pastry chef who uses proportions to make beautiful cakes. Students who viewed this video now had seen a practical application of the concept and were curious to dive in.
How to Make a HyperDoc: A Look at the Explain Section
In the Explain section of a HyperDoc is the place to teach, clarify and demonstrate concepts. In the math example above, the Kelly Hilton shows and discusses the mathematical idea of proportions and how to multiply and understand them. This is an opportunity for students to understand the material by way of teacher clarification, reading information, or maybe even watching a video (or all of these).
How to Make a HyperDoc: A Closer Look at the Apply Section
In this section, the teacher purposely provides students a way to demonstrate what they have learned. This demonstration of knowledge is not multiple choice or worksheet, but is practical and more complex. In the fractions example above, students could use a whiteboard in Flipgrid or Jamboard to record themselves solving one of the practice proportional reasoning problems. Teachers can hear and see student comprehension and progress toward proficiency of the learning target. This is also where we can offer some additional help to move the student toward proficiency.
The Full Example: The HyperDoc on Proportional Reasoning from Kelly Hilton.
How to Make a HyperDoc Even More Engaging with Genially
Genially might just be the best platform to design a HyperDoc. It has so many easy-to-use tools that enable teachers to powerfully craft engaging lessons that capture a student’s attention. I promise - you will love this tool! With Genial.ly you can add interactive elements in the slide, record sound and turn a slide into a whiteboard - yes ,you read that right - a whiteboard! (I am squealing too!)
Most teachers head to Google Slides and Google Docs to create HyperDocs.. To be honest, so did I. Until I learned about Genially. Now I am hooked on this tool because of how versatile and effective my HyperDocs have become! In fact, I started from a template I found HERE and then just went over to Genial.ly to customize the lesson for the needs of my students.
How to Make A HyperDoc with Genially
Here are 5 reasons to start creating your HyperDocs in Genially
1. Easy to Share.
You can still share directly to Google Classroom or Microsoft, Teams (and in Teams you can add to your Teams Tab).
2. More Creative Ways to Design
You and your students can create hotspots or links in your deck much like Thinglink. This allows students to have that same learning experience without it being so linear - and much more creative and engaging. The example below shows the final product of a possible HyperDoc infused with Genial.ly:
Here are two examples from the Genially site that shows how we can make images interactive. Tapping on the icons gives you more information about Grand Canyon (umm yeah there is sound) or the Eukaryotic Cell below.
3. Upgrade Student Engagement
Teachers can design truly engaging experiences with small animations that make the HyperDoc so professional looking that students can’t wait to jump in and learn all the goodness that is your content.
Once in Genially, click on the inspiration tab on the left to be inspired by imaginative teacher examples.
Bonus: They even have amazing templates to get your creative juices flowing - so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Check out this great resource at the Genially Academy. Just sign into a Genially account for access.
Let the students create!
Even better, when it’s time to have students show their learning, Genially enables them to be much more creative.
- Make interactive posters and infographics
- Solve an equation with the whiteboard feature and then explain their thinking by including a recorded sound element
- Create crazy cool geography reports using interactive features
When it’s time to learn a new tool, put this one at the top of your list. It will make you the teacher with the most fun and engaging content!
For a Quick Look at HyperDocs...check out this really short two part series
What is a HyperDoc Part 1
What is a HyperDoc Part 2
Genial.ly is FREE but also has some paid-for features. During this time of COVID you might be able to convince your admin to help you afford this powerful platform!