The Hyperdoc Handbook: Digital Lesson Design Using Google Apps

by Lisa Highfill

Want to redefine learning? Looking to better utilize devices? Eager to maximize face time in the classroom? HyperDocs are the solution to personalized instruction using technology in today's modern classroom. They provide innovative ways to engage students and package digital lessons on a Google Doc. The HyperDoc Handbook is a practical reference guide for all K-12 educators looking to transform their teaching into blended learning environments. This book strikes a perfect balance between pedagogy and how-to tips, while also providing several lesson plans to get you going. After reading this handbook, educators will feel equipped to design their own HyperDocs using both Google Apps and the myriad of web tools available online. Let this book become your guide



Explore the pedagogy behind digital lesson design

Follow step-by-step directions on how to create a HyperDoc

Reflect and revise digital lessons using a checklist to "hack" your own HyperDocs

Select tech tools best suited for lessons

Connect and share with other educators

Copy and customize sample HyperDocs to use in your own classroom

HyperDocs will improve collaboration and instruction between all education stakeholders, students, teachers, administrators, instructional coaches, professional developers, and families. After reading The HyperDoc Handbook you will be inspired to create and share!

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Teaching, Nonfiction, Technology, School, Reference

126 pages, ebook

Published June 4, 2016

About the author

Lisa Highfill, the k-12 technology coach in the SF Bay Area, and the co-creator of HyperDocs, has a passion for innovative learning strategies. She has a Masters degree in Ed Tech Leadership and has spent over 20 years as a classroom teacher. Lisa is a Google Certified Innovator, a YouTube Star Teacher, and a Merit Fellow who shares ideas for teachers to transform their instruction at Ed Tech conferences around the country. She is a self proclaimed #BBQWhisperer and #VideoWhisperer if you ever find yourself in need.

Reviews

[Joyce Yattoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a lot of great information for moving your pedagogy from what has been a traditional classroom setting to a classroom who has 1:1 devices. A hyperdoc is not simply a Power Point on steroids. It truly can be an engaging way for student learning. Great for blended and flipped classrooms. It will change my teaching for sure. I do recommend you take the online class along with the reading of the book. There are so many more resources, plus you are learning and getting ideas from others.

[Tara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The HyperDoc Handbook: Digital Lesson Design Using Google Apps by Lisa Highfill, Kelly Hilton, and Sarah Landis should be a required read for all teachers, lesson designers, curriculum writers, and educational leaders. In our growing, expanding, and ever-changing world of technology, schools and classrooms are sometimes at a loss for how to best use the many available tools to benefit our students. This book teaches you how to do just that. Each year there seems to be more curriculum to cover, more tests to prepare for, and more requirements to meet. While it seems near impossible to cover everything, I feel a renewed sense of hope after learning how to design and deliver lessons through the use of HyperDocs.

This will be my 20th year teaching Spanish and English Lit and Composition. Even after that many years in the classroom, I'm at the beginner stage when it comes to using technology to enhance my lessons. When I found out that I would be getting a cart of Chromebooks for my classroom this coming school year, although excited, I was really feeling quite nervous...we have never had any type of technology for students to use in the classroom. What does this mean? What am I supposed to do? How can I make sure I'm using it in a way that will benefit my students? With no clue where to begin, I knew I had to do something to calm my panic. So, I purchsed The HyperDoc Handbook and joined the HyperDocs Online Bootcamp Course with the amazing HyperDoc Girls! From beginners to the most advanced, this book (and bootcamp course) is for everyone, at all levels, all subject areas, all grades! I've never seen or been part of a more supportive, helpful, and encouraging community of teachers and learners as the HyperDocs community. I'm on Twitter, but this community is strong across all social media platforms. It is so wonderful to interact with and share ideas and lessons with educators from all over who share your same goals, care about students, and are nothing but 100% positive. It is truly awesome!

The HyperDoc Handbook takes you through, step-by-step, how to create and deliver authentic digital lessons to best fit your students' needs. There are so many different ideas, templates, strategies, and techniques to meet you at whatever level you are at right now, as well as what to do when you are ready to take the next step. I never feel at a loss because of the huge support, assistance, and motivation provided through the online community of educators (newbies to experts) and its many available resources!

Hands down, making the decision to learn about and learn how to create Hyperdoc lessons has been one of the smartest professional moves I've taken in all my years of teaching. I now have the confidence and the know-how to make my lessons rich and relevant, interactive, and super engaging! Thank you so much, ladies, for your hard work and dedication! As I enter the new school year, I'm very much looking forward to developing a community of creators and critical thinkers! It's going to be a year filled with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, and I cannot wait!

[Christina Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

The HyperDoc Handbook: Digital Lesson Design Using Google Apps is a practical reference guide for K-12 educators looking to teach in a blended learning environment. These authors invented the term "HyperDoc" to mean a digital document, such as a Google Doc, where all of the components of a lesson have been pulled together into one central location. This book is filled with pedagogy and how-to tips, while also providing links to several lesson plans to get you going. The authors go into detail explaining five steps to create a HyperDoc. The HyperDoc Handbook shows all educators how to walk through the creation process with extensive reasoning, encouragement, and step-by-step directions to build their own HyperDocs. There are numerous downloadable examples, tons of links to tech tools, extra tips, and tricks. I would highly recommend the ebook version over the print version of this book. Some of the included lesson plans and images are low quality and not readable until you access the links. With the ebook version, you can easily click on the provided links to see the lesson plan or image clearly. The HyperDoc Handbook is a book that you will want to access and reference several times.

[Deborah Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This simple, easy to understand book is a treasure of real-life examples and great how-to's. Perfect for a beginner or intermediate user of hyperdocs.

[Stacy Stoker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide to using hyperdocs in the classroom. If you read it, I definitely recommend getting a digital copy- so many links to take you to example hyperdocs and websites.

[Jessica Beckett · Rating 2 out of 5]

The basic idea is great! However, this book spends the first 11% convincing the reader that hyperdocs are valuable. I was convinced after the first 1%, obviously, as most people who buy a book called "The Hyperdoc Handbook" would be.

The remaining 89% was mainly SUPER basic info about how to insert links into Google Docs. I believe most humans can successfully accomplish this without handbooks.

A summary of the book: Put links to videos, maps, etc. into your google doc based worksheets. End summary.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because:

1. It has step by step directions.
2. It has templates.
3. It has examples.
4. It has pedagogical foundations.
5. It helps bridge the gap between tech and learning.

Bring on the Googles!

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The HyperDoc Handbook is an excellent beginner's guide to using various Google Workspace tools. There are several charts, screenshots, and QR codes with step-by-step tips on how to create a HyperDoc using various tools. I appreciated how each HyperDoc sample had an explanation for how it met various educational models (Four Cs, ISTE, DOK, SAMR, etc.) and standards, how the teacher should deliver the content, how to engage the students, and how students will submit their completed work. My biggest critique, though, is that it almost felt like this was a lesson in how to create web quests, which have been around forever. I would have liked to have seen more tools integrated within the HyperDoc document itself rather than links that take students off the approved school site to various other platforms. Using multiple platforms can sometimes be confusing for students and parents and can be limiting if schools refuse to buy licenses for the products.

While it wasn't quite what I needed, I would definitely recommend this book to a teacher who is apprehensive about incorporating technology in their classroom or anyone in need of a beginner's guide on the digital tools available for classroom use.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered The Hyper Doc Handbook after seeing a Hyper Doc on Twitter via #APBkChat and wanted to learn more. Reading the book showed me many misinterpret Hyper Docs. They’re not simply a collection of resources, but a way to engage students and offer choice in the classroom. Those who use or want to use Hyper docs will appreciate the Pedagogy in the book, and since I started using Hyper docs, I’ve been able to offer my students easier access to resources on Google Classroom as well as options that give them more control of their learning.

Technically I finished “The Hyper Doc Handbook before today, but I realized I had not marked it as read. Since I use this book as a reference often since I acquired it this summer, I’m including it in my 2018 books.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even remember where I got this book: did I buy it? Was it given to me? Did I win it at a conference? I don't know, but that doesn't matter, because it is amazing.

I went to a conference last August where I learned about HyperDocs and I dabbled in them last school year. I went through this whole book today because I just kept wanting to know more and more and more. I took notes in my Google Drive as I went through and my brain is buzzing with how I can improve the HyperDocs I created last year, and how I can implement new technology and new techniques this year.

[Colleen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is informative an motivating in the process of making and using Hyperdocs in the classroom. I have just started dabbling in Hyperdocs and this book explains everything in a way that makes it seem doable. They also remind you to go at your own pace with them, that you won’t be an expert right away and always tweaking and revising Hyperdocs to make them better is the way to go. Fingers crossed I can start using them without being completely overwhelmed.

[Heather OBrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empowering

The HyperDoc ladies did a great job writing this book. I also took the HyperDoc Bootcamp which I highly recommend.

This book does an excellent job covering both the pedagogy and the technology. The Bootcamp allows you to experience as both the student and the creator. Together you feel empowered to create and transform your lessons.

[Rosalind A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall using the handbook, teachers can follow the step-by-step instructions for creating a HyperDoc, reflect on and revise digital lessons using a checklist, choose the technology tools that are best suited for the tasks, connect with and learn from other educators, and have access to sample HyperDocs that can be copied and customized for use in a classroom. I would have liked the handbook to explore or even recommend an activity comparable or more effective at inducing learning than one that had not.

[L.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolutionary in my teaching. You should definitely research this idea, whether or not your purchase the text. Great free online resources, but this book also helped tremendously--all the philosophy, ideas, and resources in one spot.

[Nicole Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Useful!

Great explanations, directions and examples with visuals. I will be using what I learned in the classroom this year. I also joined the community and made a copy of the resources. A lot of great stuff in this book.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I definitely had no idea how much I was going to need this book when I first picked it up to read a month ago. What a difference a month makes! Very helpful for getting me started on digital lessons.

[Irma Gomillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource!

Great resource for getting started with hyperdocs. Can't wait to apply what I've learned. I envision a fun classroom filled with students who are excited about learning.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has excellent, immediately applicable information. HyperDocs are a good solution for our online situation during Covid, and it’s easily integrated with different LMS platforms. This one WILL help you, and there are good online resources to go with it.

[Miss CurlyQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for Remote Learning!

This is a tremendous resource for helping teachers embrace creativity during this time where flexibility is key! Offers useful tools in addition to the equally useful templates! Very user considerate and user friendly.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource and truly a practice guide.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource for changing our classrooms and school culture to be student centered and engaging. Packed with great ideas and inspiration!

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

HyperDocs sound promising!

There are some great ideas shared in the book! It is a great jumping off point for learning that students deserve!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

As a tech savvy educator, I highly recommend this book. I guarantee you will learn something new. Worth every penny.

[Megan Merrithey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good learning and thinking about how to better package content to better engage students.

[Pam Hubler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of great ideas to engage students and adults in self-paced learning. HyperDocs are perfect for personalizing learning and differentiating.

[Tweller83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked all the examples, QR codes, and the tools listed in this book. It will help me help teachers with our 1:1 chromebook initiative.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would give 5 stars but with tech, I always need to try the suggestions before I seal the deal. Like the pedagogy mixed with the practical samples. Shows the why and the how.

[Alexandra Coutlée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with lots of interesting resources. The links and templates offer really help to get started. I created my first hyperdoc and can't wait to start in the fall :)

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas with templates to transform some of my teaching. It works because my students are 1 to 1 iPads.

[Greg Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource that demonstrates how to turn students loose to choose their learning path.