Why We Chose Hypothesis: A Faculty-Led Success Story from West Liberty University

With a growing number of edtech tools available, it can be hard to know what will actually make a difference for students. At West Liberty University, one tool rose to the top: Hypothesis.

Initially introduced during the pandemic, Hypothesis quickly gained traction thanks to its ease of use and the deep learning it enabled. But it wasn’t just the tool—it was the people behind the implementation who made it stick. 

We spoke with Merilee Madera, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and Online Education, about how West Liberty scaled adoption, what faculty love most, and how the tool continues to evolve as they transition to Canvas.

“We’re very excited to have tools like Hypothesis. There are so many more things we’ll be able to do with our students in the tool.”

Faculty First: Start Small, Build Champions

Hypothesis entered West Liberty organically—one reading specialist brought it to Merilee’s attention as a way to boost engagement during remote learning. What started as a handful of users grew into something much bigger, thanks to a strategic champion-building approach.

“I use Hypothesis in all of my courses, so it’s something I’m passionate about. With these new features, I’m anxious to get more disciplines using the tool. It’s been particularly helpful to develop champions—power users of Hypothesis—who can share their success stories with other faculty.”

These early adopters became advocates, helping hesitant colleagues see how social annotation could complement—rather than disrupt—their existing teaching methods.

Canvas Integration: A Turning Point

West Liberty’s recent transition from Sakai to Canvas created a key opportunity to scale. Hypothesis went from a standalone tool to a fully integrated LMS solution.

“Hypothesis really fits our needs. The support you provide to institutions and directly to faculty is amazing—it was a no-brainer decision for us.”

The integration was fast and painless—“10 to 15 minutes” according to Merilee—and made the tool far more accessible to faculty across disciplines.

Grading Without the Headache

A common concern from instructors adopting new tools is grading: Will it be complicated? Time-consuming? Not with Hypothesis.

Merilee keeps it simple. Students complete 10 original annotations and 5 replies to their peers. It counts toward participation—no rubrics, no A’s or B’s. Just real engagement.

“More thought goes into annotations than into the discussion board.”

This model lowers the barrier for implementation while still encouraging meaningful interaction with course materials.

Students Are Reading—Really Reading

Instructors at West Liberty consistently report that Hypothesis changes student behavior in one major way: it gets them to do the reading.

“Students don’t read half of what’s assigned—this actually makes them want to read.”

Faculty have noticed better comprehension, deeper discussion, and more curiosity. Annotations encourage students to reflect, connect, and question—right in the margins of the text.

A Better Alternative to AI-Aided Discussion Boards

One surprising benefit? Hypothesis has become a tool for tackling academic integrity in the age of AI. As ChatGPT and similar tools make it easier to generate discussion posts, faculty are looking for more authentic alternatives.

“It’s harder to AI your way through an annotation assignment.”

Annotation requires students to engage with a specific reading in a specific context. It’s a task that’s difficult to outsource—and easy to assess for authenticity.

Looking Ahead: More Use Cases, More Disciplines

With Canvas fully implemented, Merilee is excited to bring Hypothesis into even more departments. Science and health programs are next, thanks to the new image and data annotation features.

“I’m especially excited to annotate images and data. Our science faculty could use it to mark up things like x-rays, images, or graphs—and I can’t wait to see the creative ways they apply it in their courses.”

Ready to See What Hypothesis Can Do for Your Institution?

From small-scale experimentation to full-campus integration, West Liberty’s journey shows that the right tool—paired with the right strategy—can transform how students learn. Whether you’re transitioning to a new LMS or looking for a better way to support academic integrity, Hypothesis offers a flexible, faculty-friendly solution.