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  5. Using the Hypothesis LMS App With Modules in Canvas
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  5. Using the Hypothesis LMS App With Modules in Canvas

Using the Hypothesis LMS App With Modules in Canvas

Note: if you want to use our SpeedGrader integration to assess students’ annotations, you’ll need to create your Hypothesis-enabled readings as Assignments rather than Module Items. 

1. Select “Modules” from your course Navigation sidebar

Location of Modules on the Navigation bar

2. Click the “+” button next to a Module to add a new Module Item

Location of + button to add new module item

2. Select External Tool from the drop-down menu at the top of the Add Module Item screen

Location to select External Tool for module item

A list of tools that have been installed for your course site will appear. Click on Hypothesis.

Location to select Hypothesis as external tool

3. Select the content source to use for your reading

You will have the option to enter a publicly-viewable URL, select a file from your Canvas file repository, select a PDF from Google Drive, or select a PDF from OneDrive.

Assignment content configuration window with document source options shown

Expand the sections below for instructions to use each option:

Click the button that says Enter URL of web page or PDF. On the Enter URL dialog, enter a link to a public web page or PDF. Please note that the content at the link must be publicly viewable (i.e., not behind a login or paywall).

Enter URL source content window

Click the Submit button.

You must upload PDFs to your Canvas file repository before completing the steps below. The Canvas File Picker does not allow for uploading new documents.

Click the button that says Select PDF from Canvas. You will see a list of PDFs that have been uploaded to your Canvas file repository.

Note: The Canvas File picker does not show any folder structure in your course’s file repository; instead you are shown a combined list of all PDFs available in your course. It could be difficult, therefore, to tell the difference between PDFs if they share the same file name, even if they are saved to different folders. We recommend changing the filename of the document you plan on using with Hypothesis so it will be obvious which PDF to choose from the list.

Highlight the file you wish to use and click the Select button.

Canvas file picker

The Canvas Page you use in Hypothesis must be published and visible to students.

Click the button that says Canvas Page. You will see a list of Published pages from your course.

Select the file you wish to use and then click the “Select” button.

A screenshot of the Canvas Page picker in Hypothesis with several Pages listed and the

Click the button that says Select PDF from Google Drive. You will be asked to select a Google account and/or authorize the Hypothesis LMS App to access Google Drive.

Search or browse to select a PDF to use in your reading. You may also click the Upload tab to upload a new PDF to use.

Only files for which you have edit permission are able to be used by Hypothesis.

Click on the file you want to use and then click the Select button.

Google Drive picker

Note: This process will change the sharing permission of the selected Google Drive file to allow the PDF to be shown to anyone viewing the assignment. For more information please see our document about using Hypothesis with Google Drive.

Click the button that says Select PDF from OneDrive. You will be asked to select a Microsoft account and/or authorize the Hypothesis LMS App to access OneDrive.

Once logged on, browse to select a PDF to use in your reading. You may also select the Upload option to upload a new PDF to use.

Only files available in “My files” are able to be used by Hypothesis. You will be unable to use PDFs that belong in any Shared Libraries.

Click to select the file you want to use and then click the Open button.

OneDrive file picker

Note: This process will change the sharing permission of the selected OneDrive file to allow the PDF to be shown to anyone viewing the assignment. For more information please see our document about using Hypothesis with OneDrive.

4. Indicate if this will be a Group assignment

Note: This feature requires that advanced Canvas integration has been enabled.

By default your Hypothesis reading will make all annotations visible to all students, or, if Sections integration is enabled, split into smaller reading groups based on Canvas Section membership.

You have the option to allow the creation of reading groups based on a pre-existing group set. To enable this, check the box to indicate This is a group assignment, then select the appropriate existing group set from the drop-down list.

Location to indicate a Group Assignment

If you do not want to designate the reading as a groups assignment, leave the Group assignment box unchecked.

Click the Continue button.

5. Rename your Module Item

Use the Page Name text box to give your Module Item a sensible title, then click Add Item:

Location of Page Name field

You will now see your Hypothesis-enabled Module Item listed on the Modules page.

6. Preview your Hypothesis-enabled reading

The reading should open with the Hypothesis sidebar loaded.

Hypothesis reading and sidebar

You and your students will now be able to select text and annotate.

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