When I first heard about them, I thought Hyperdocs sounded a bit like digital worksheets, and placed the idea to one side. This is something I'm very wary of - simply replacing worksheets with digital, online versions of worksheets. However, Hyperdocs have the potential to do any number of things, and the possibilities they offer are really only limited by your imagination - or, by your students' imagination, since there is no reason for students not to create their own Hyperdocs!
The concept of Hyperdocs was originated by three teachers, Lisa Highfill, Kelly Amick Hilton, and Sarah Landis. Here, Lisa and Kelly summarise what Hyperdocs can do:
A1:#HyperDocs are simple- Digital lesson plans that shift how you teach and Ss learn #ditchbook
— Lisa Highfill (@lhighfill) November 6, 2015
A1: A #HyperDoc is an interactive GoogleDoc with digital resources for Ss & Ts to explore, explain, apply, create, & reflect. #Ditchbook
— Kelly Amick Hilton (@kellyihilton) November 6, 2015
But they are also much more than that, and they are not limited to Docs - they could be created in Slides, Forms, Maps, and so on. You can also embed videos, and include links to many other types of media or tools.
A1 A HyperDoc is more than an interactive worksheet; it's more like a quest or adventure! You can add ANY type of media/activity #ditchbook
— Chantell Manahan (@leadlaughlearn) November 6, 2015
As Matt Miller, author of Ditch That Textbook says, edtech is often limited to the substitution end of the SAMR model. However, Hyperdocs offer scope for augmentation, modification, and redefinition of traditional pedagogical approaches. Again, the possibilities here really depend on the desired learning outcomes, after all, the SAMR model is not a ladder, with redefinition as the ultimate goal for all lessons.
A2: Way different -- so much #edtech is stuck in substitution of SAMR. This kicks it up a notch! #ditchbook
— Matt Miller (@jmattmiller) November 6, 2015
Hyperdocs have the potential to be used with any grade level, and in any subject area. They can make learning purposeful and engaging, and learners can work at their own speed, which also offers a lot of scope for differentiation.
I know that as a concept 21st Century Skills and the 'four Cs' - communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creation - are taking a beating in some circles. However, whatever the philosophy / terminology is preferred, these are undeniably important skills, and they are skills that are well served by Hyperdocs:
A3 #Hyperdocs allow students to create and collaborate all in one doc! We use the template created by @SARAHLANDIS! It's awesome! #Ditchbook
— Karly Moura (@KarlyMoura) November 6, 2015
I've started creating some very basic Hyperdocs, which I don't feel currently do justice to the overall potential of this approach. However, here is a link to a range of Hyperdocs shared by participants in the DitchBook chat:
Various Hyperdocs shared by the #DitchBook crew
