Hypothesis Annotation Tools
We’re pleased to announce that M/m Print Plus now offers readers a way to annotate the content of our website using the Hypothes.is platform. One of the drawbacks of reading on the web is the difficulty of annotating and taking notes. We may be accustomed to underlining a passage in a book and writing notes in the margins, but until recently these actions have been impossible on the web. Enter Hypothesis.
What is Hypothesis?
Hypothes.is is a powerful, browser-based tool designed by the nonprofit “Hypothesis Project,” which creates open-source software based on W3C standards to create “a conversation layer over the entire web.” You can highlight words, sentence, or entire paragraphs. You can write notes to yourself. All of these actions are embedded on the webpage, much like pencil marks on the page of a book, through the Hypothesis framework.
In addition to the private annotation tools that Hypothesis supports, Modernism/modernity has partnered with the project in order to create an annotation layer specific to our journal. This means you can now create private groups in which you can curate closed conversations within the M/m Print Plus platform. For example, you could create a private “classroom” for your students and have them annotate an article together.
After this introduction, you will see instructions on how to install Hypothesis for your own use, as well how to create your own private classrooms on M/m Print Plus.
Introducing Hypothesis
How to Register for a Free Hypothesis Account for Your Own Use
If you get lost along the way, please consult these tutorials.
Step 1: Register
Register for a free Hypothesis account. This will be your personal account that will follow you wherever you go, so use an email/username that represents how you would like to present yourself on the annotated web. https://web.hypothes.is/start/
Step 2: Install Browser Extension (If Using Chrome) or Bookmarklet (If Using Firefox or Safari)
Install the Chrome Browser Extension or Bookmarklet (Firefox/Safari): https://web.hypothes.is/start/; hypothesis works on all browsers, but it works best on chromium-based ones.
Once you log on, you should see a new extension icon in your browser if using Chrome. If using Firefox, you'll need to click the “Hypothesis Bookmarklet” you installed in the previous steps. Once you click the bookmarklet or extension icon, Hypothesis will start running, and a new menu bar will appear in the top, right-hand corner of your browser window (see #2 below).
You are now ready to start annotating the web!
How to Use Hypothesis for Private Annotation
Once Hypothesis is running, you may make an annotation by highlighting the text you want to annotate, but first, make sure you choose the appropriate “group” in which you’d like to make your comment. By default, all annotations are public unless you select a private setting.
If you'd like to create a new private group for your own personal annotations, click on the “lesser than” symbol in the top right-hand corner of your browser window to expose the Hypothesis workspace.
Click on “Public” and then select “New private group” from the dropdown menu. You should name this space something like “private personal annotations.”
To make your first annotation, highlight the text you want to annotate. A new new window will appear above the material you’ve chosen. Select “Annotate” or “Highlight” to make your annotation. You have one more chance to make sure you are posting to the correct group after you make your annotation: when finished, click “Post to [name of group].”
To see your annotations or the Hypothesis menu at any time, click on the “lesser than” symbol in the top, right-hand corner.
How to Use Hypothesis on Modernism/modernity Print Plus
Because Modernism/modernity is a publishing partner with Hypothesis, you will now need to log in to our Hypothesis app on the Modernism/modernity site to see our site-specific forums. These annotations are housed on Print Plus and are a great way to conduct dicussions on a page since commenting is limited to the M/m community.
Make sure you are logged into the M/m Hypothesis app on the Modernism/modernity site by clicking on the arrow in the top-right-hand corner of your browser window (see image below). Click “Log in” and log in.
Once you are logged in, you will a list of groups specific to M/m:
- Open Forum
This forum allows readers to annotate M/m for other members logged into M/m to see. We hope this will be a place to foment discussion and shared annotations. Use this forum to restrict your comments to the M/m community. - Peer Commentary
This special forum is coming soon... - Restricted Editorial
This content is unavailable to general readers.
You will also see a list of your private groups as well as the Hypothesis “Public” group (anyone on the web can see these annotations. Use this forum if you want you annotations visible to everyone on the web).
You are encouraged to use the Open Forum to spark discussions and annotations with other modernists.
How to Create a Private Classroom in Hypothesis on Modernism/modernity Print Plus
Note: your students will need their own private Hypothesis accounts to participate in our private classrooms.
Learn How to Use Hypothesis in Your Teaching and Research:
- Hypothesis for Education: https://web.hypothes.is/education/
- Create your own private groups: https://web.hypothes.is/creating-groups/
Troubleshooting
If you have any problems annotating, please disable all ad-blockers and privacy extensions (if applicable) in your browser.