Chances are that even if you haven’t created a Google Form yourself, you’ve probably filled out more than a few by now. Most commonly used for quizzes and surveys, Google Forms are a popular way to collect and track data.
Google Forms takes data from those quizzes and surveys and transfers it to a spreadsheet, where you can then analyze the data to your heart’s content! Or maybe, you just want to declutter your classroom and have less student papers piled high on your desk. Perhaps you’d like to teach your students some computer skills too. Let’s look at some ways Google Forms can reduce paper, engage students, and give you valuable feedback about your students.
For Teachers:
- Assessment
- Practice & Review
- Survey
- Daily Check-In
- Self-Reflection
- Notes
For Students:
- Reading Logs
- Measurement, Data, & Graphing
- Taking Notes
Assessment
Google Forms are a great assessment tool. They can be multiple choice, short answer, check boxes, and more. Students can even upload a photo to share. Google Forms can be auto-graded and grades can be imported to Google Classroom. Check out some ready-made quizzes below!
Practice and Review
Similar to assessments, Google Forms can be used to develop fact fluency, practice new skills, or review concepts prior to a test. The settings in Google Forms allow you to give instant feedback to students as they practice. With multiple choice answers, you can use the settings to continue when answers are correct, or students will receive a prompt to go back and try again if incorrect. This is invaluable for distance learning or when students are working independently and you don’t want to be interrupted with, “Is this right?”
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Survey
Another popular use for Google Forms is the Survey. This is a great way to collect information from students or parents. Some of these even have ready-to-go templates in Google Forms!
- All About Me: Create a form to send to students or parents at the beginning of the year to get to know your new class better.
- Parent Contact Info: Ask parents how they want to be contacted, and you’ll always have emails and phone numbers readily available.
- Feedback: Ask students for feedback about anything…field trip, presentations, a key takeaway from a lesson.
- T-Shirt size: I’m always asked to provide t-shirt sizes for students for PTA, or some other small piece of information I’m supposed to write on a paper I can never seem to find. Sending a quick Google Form to students or parents keeps all that info in one place that’s easy to find and share.
Daily Check-in
We all know the value of developing relationships with our students. Nothing can replace the individual fist bump, wink, or “How are you feeling today?” However, consider a daily or weekly Google Form that asks two simple questions.
1. How are you feeling today?
2. Is there anything you want me to know?
Regularly keeping track of students’ feelings can be beneficial. You can look for patterns in the data later, when it comes time for an IEP, a meeting with the counselor, or parent conferences. Though most students will answer “no” to that second question, it allows students to open up to you in a way they may not be comfortable otherwise, and is a great way to connect if you’re only seeing your students through a computer screen.
Self Reflection
As teachers, we were trained to do this constantly. Plan, teach, reflect, apply. Or some version that included being reflective of our teaching practice. Students can benefit from this type of evaluation too. What went well? What can you improve next time?
- End of Semester/Trimester
- End of Learning Unit
- Behavior
- Working in a Group
Notes
So many times I’ll write something on a sticky note, never to see it again. Using Google Forms as a way to take notes might not save time at first, but will keep your classroom clutter free, and you’ll always know where to find the notes you took. Since Google Forms turns all responses into a spreadsheet of data, you can sort by student, date, or behavior to easily see patterns in your classroom as well.
- Parent Communication Log: Make a form just for parent contact and have a clear, time-stamped record of which parents you spoke with, as well as the topic of conversation.
- Student Behavior: Create a form with a checklist of common behavior issues, then just enter a name and check a box. You’ll have a clear record of student behavior in the classroom.
- Academic Successes or Struggles: Keep track of little things you notice throughout the week with a Google Form, then refer back when you’re writing report cards at the end of the term.
Google Forms for Students
Students can also make use of Google Forms for learning and organization. Read about some ways students can make and use their own Google Forms in the classroom.
Reading Logs
Use a Google Form as a digital version of a typical reading log to keep track of reading. Create a form and include the same things as your paper reading log. For example, book title, author, minutes read, summary. Each day, students can use the Google Form to keep track of their reading.
Measurement, Data, and Graphing
For a unit on measurement, have students create a Google Form with two short answer questions: “Object” and “Size.” Then, students can record measurements as they move around the classroom or home measuring things. When they’ve finished, they can sort the responses to find longest and shortest items. To take it further, students could find the mean, median, and mode. Next, they’ll be sharing graphs they made with the data they collected!
Taking Notes
Students can use Google Forms to take notes about anything. Let’s say you’re teaching a unit on angles and students need to be able to differentiate between acute, obtuse, right, and straight angles. They can create a new form with two short answer questions: “Angle Name” and “Angle Measure.” Then, students can fill out the form for each new angle vocabulary word and have a handy, sortable list at the end. You could even add a third question for students to include a picture or drawing of that angle.
How do you use Google Forms in your classroom? Share your ideas in the comments below!
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