You Wanna' Rock? Rock the Hyperdoc!

Let's Rock!

Wanna rock a hyperdoc? Do you know what a hyperdoc is? (Click here if you have never created a hyperdoc.) In short, a hyperdoc merely creates an organized space for students to respond or collaborate. It works much better than sending PDF files as worksheets or putting lines in a Google Doc as spaces for students to respond. It is nothing complicated, but it makes a big impact on the communication of learning expectations.

To step things up a notch, I suggest we take advantage of the Google Drawings capability within a Google Doc. Why do this? Students need creative outlets for their learning, and they need to be able to do it collaboratively. By including a Google Drawing within a hyperdoc, students can see each other's drawings in a neat/easy to access format. Teachers could even include a separate column for students to comment/compliment on their group members' work.

Here are some ways students can get creative with Google Drawings:

• Provide speech bubbles on an image to match the concept being taught.
• Create Internet memes to drive a quick and funny point.
• Find and identify important facts or parts on a topic with the arrow shape.
• Create a mind map using the shapes and images.
• Design a poster or advertisement.
• Take a captioned selfie to demonstrate their level of understanding on a topic.
• Create a collage.
• Take a picture of physical items in the class or at home and label (scavenger hunts).
• Take a picture of written or drawn items on paper. Caption/label the image.
• Share handwritten math solutions on a single document using the snapshot feature.

Here's how to get started on building your rockin' hyperdoc

Google Drawings rocks!

So why not have students utilize Google Drawings as a stand alone project? You can. You can even have students work on the same Google Drawing at the same time. It is just as collaborative/live as a Google Doc. It purely depends upon the objective of your lesson. If you want students to create a single culminating project that requires text and images, a Google Drawing would be your best choice. If you are requiring multiple responses, using Drawings within a single Google Doc would be a better option. 

 Here are some advantages of having students respond with Google Drawings within a hyperdoc:

• All student responses appear on a hyperdoc allowing for easy access/feedback/collaboration.
• Teachers can ask more questions that require a Google Drawing response all within one document. This reduces the amount of documents that need to be opened by the teacher when providing feedback. 
• Teachers can use it to vary the type of responses to mix up the assignment. Some could require just text. Some could require a Google Drawing. Some could require a snapshot of items handwritten. 
• Using a hyperdoc format (table) will condense the size of the participant's drawings. This allows the viewer quickly scan through "thumbnails" and double-click to expand desired drawings. 

Want to know more about hyperdocs? Already using them and want to share your success? Please leave comments below to let me know how things are working for you!