How To Create a HyperDoc
The first step in creating a HyperDoc is thinking of the big picture. Think about and identify what grade level you will be serving. Are you building this HyperDoc for 1st graders or is it for eager juniors in high school? Remember 21st-century learners exist at all ages and grade levels. Next, determine what discipline of study you want your students to learn. Is the focus on a historical figure or perhaps and a complicated numerical equation? Is the lesson a suitable length for the age or level of the learner? Does the HyperDoc extend in-depth learning opportunities for students to apply higher-level thinking skills or is it too shallow of a topic?
Be sure to make your goals and objectives specific enough so that proper scaffolding can be created and effectively utilized by students. Are these goals realistic and attainable? Does the HyperDoc support the desired outcome that you are hoping for? How do you plan to assess and determine if learning truly occurs? These are all questions that help set-up a great HyperDoc.
Step #2: Determine the HyperDoc’s Learning Process
It is important that the steps you include in your HyperDoc are clear and easy to follow. What steps will students follow? One possible HyperDoc model to consider using with students requires them to explore explain and apply. This model employs skills that engages all levels of thinking and has roots in student center based instruction. For additional HyperDoc models that go in depth for matching student’s learning process check out The HyperDoc Handbook: Digital Lesson Design Using Google Apps” by EdTechTeam.
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Step #3: Packaging
The next step is to figure out how to package your HyperDoc. Are you going to employ Google Sites, Sheets, Maps, Slides or new Docs into your HyperDoc? Twitter may provide some ideas at #HyperDoc. Since Google is continuously updating and improving its products, the possibilities for a HyperDoc to have new capabilities increase with each passing day. As a result, this provides added value to students and teachers across the world.
Step #4: Determine the Workflow
Think smarter rather than harder. Rather than copying hundreds of papers, send out electronic copies of HyperDocs with a press of a button. Add a Google Form link to collect student responses that will be received in a Google Sheet for easy grading. Even better share student data by providing a link to other student responses. HyperDocs provide an opportunity for collaboration and immediate feedback.
Step #5: Design
Next, make your HyperDoc attractive to your students. Consider what you link, the page color, fonts, and images you use. Much like an online business trying to get traffic, it is essential to make your HyperDoc clean and comfortable. You want the design to be easy to read yet interesting enough so that students don’t get bored.
Step #6: Evaluate your HyperDoc
Once you have completed creating the design of your HyperDoc, take a step back and evaluate it. Did you include activities that included critical thinking? Do you have a system of collaboration or immediate feedback? Did you adopt a checklist that consists of the ISTE Standards, SAMR, and DOK?
I have made countless HyperDocs for my music technology students, and I continue to learn something new about them in my day to day life. I predict that the HyperDoc is a tool that will be commonplace among educators soon and recommend that you learn as much as you can about them (The HyperDoc Handbook: Digital Lesson Design Using Google Apps” by EdTechTeam.)
