HyperDocs: Making Learning More Interactive

In many classrooms today, teachers are moving away from worksheets and lessons where only the teacher talks. One tool that helps with this is called a HyperDoc. A HyperDoc is more than a document with links. It is a lesson that lets students take charge of their learning. Teachers can use Google Docs, Slides, or Maps to create a HyperDoc. It contains all the instructions, resources, and tasks students need. Students can work at their own speed while the teacher helps and guides them.

HyperDocs have many benefits. They let teachers give different versions to students without others seeing, which helps with learning at different levels. They give teachers more time to work with students individually or in small groups. HyperDocs also support different ways of learning, because they can include text, pictures, videos, and audio. They are flexible, so teachers can change links or materials quickly without printing new worksheets. HyperDocs can be organized in different ways. One model is the HyperDoc cycle, which has seven steps: Explore, Explain, Apply, Share, Reflect, and Extend. Another model is the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate. Teachers can also use a Playlist, which is a checklist of tasks, or a Workshop/Agenda, which helps students manage their weekly work.

To make HyperDocs work well, they need to be interactive. Students should do more than just read or watch. Teachers can use Google Slides for navigation, Google Docs for lessons, or Google Maps for exploring. Links can lead to tools like Padlet, AnswerGarden, or shared Docs so students can work together. Teachers should also set rules for using technology, like not deleting others’ work and using the Undo button carefully. Getting started is easy with Find, Copy, Replace, Teach. Teachers can use templates from sites like HyperDocs.co or Teachers Give Teachers. It is important not to add too many resources at once and to show students how to use the HyperDoc before they start on their own.

HyperDocs help students take control of their learning while giving teachers more time to help. They make lessons interactive, flexible, and fun. Any teacher who wants to engage students and encourage creativity should try HyperDocs. To see HyperDocs in action and learn how to create your own, watch this short video tutorial. You can also start right away by exploring a ready-to-use HyperDoc template here.

 

 What is a HyperDoc? And How Do I Make One?