Why Hypothesis Is a Must-Have for Student Engagement and Digital Literacy
New research confirms it: students aren’t reading, engaging, or even showing up. Tools like Hypothesis help bring them back—by making reading active, visible, and social.
Across K–12 and higher education, schools are facing a growing crisis: students aren’t engaging. They’re not completing readings. They’re not joining discussions. In some cases, they’re not even showing up.
In response, educators are turning to proven pedagogical strategies that re-engage students where it matters most: in the reading itself.
A new peer-reviewed article in Education Sciences (June 2025) introduces the Digital Metacognitive Question-Answer Relationship (dmQAR) Framework—a research-backed method for fostering student inquiry, source evaluation, and reflection in digital reading environments. The study cites Hypothesis as a top solution to activate this pedagogy in real classrooms.
“Digital annotation tools such as Hypothesis… allow students to highlight key points, define unfamiliar terms, and insert marginal reflections as they read.” (Adams, Wilson & Mertens, 2025)
Why schools are integrating Hypothesis into their courses
Students today scroll, skim, and skip—but Hypothesis slows them down and draws them in. It transforms static text into an interactive layer of conversation, making reading:
- Active: Students mark up texts, pose questions, and build meaning in the margins
- Social: Annotations are visible to peers and instructors, creating community and dialogue
- Accountable: Instructors can monitor reading participation and surface misunderstandings in real time
Backed by pedagogy. Aligned with your goals.
The dmQAR Framework is built around four question types—Right There, Think & Search, Author & Me, and On My Own—to support comprehension, synthesis, and critical thinking. Hypothesis brings these into practice:
- Embed prompts that guide inquiry
- Support inclusive, asynchronous participation
- Promote visibility into student thinking
Designed for digital learning. Built for today’s students.
Whether you’re in a flipped classroom, online program, or hybrid setting, Hypothesis plugs directly into your LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, Moodle) and works across formats—PDFs, web articles, textbook pages, and even video transcripts.
This is more than edtech. It’s pedagogy that works.
Schools are seeing results:
- Higher completion rates
- More engaged discussion
- Improved comprehension
- Better attendance
And because Hypothesis is research-backed and FERPA-compliant, it meets both instructional and institutional priorities.
Looking to solve student disengagement? Start with the reading.
If your students are tuning out, skipping readings, or disappearing altogether, Hypothesis helps bring them back in. Because when reading becomes a place for curiosity, dialogue, and connection, students start to show up.