A Simple Option for Online Forms
Updated February 18, 2020
A Simple Option for Online Forms
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Google Forms
I use Google Forms to make and track progress in training module quizzes for the academic coaches that I hire and train in my academic support program. Google Forms makes it simple and free to provide training assessments in an easily accessible, online format to maximize convenience for employees. Because the quiz access is granted through a link and individuals simply input their email address as they start the quiz, it's much less complicated than using a product or site that may require all users to set up an account and keep track of a username and password. Other employees on my campus use Google Forms for quick event sign-ups or other non-academic purposes where a high level of security and confidentiality isn't needed.
- There are various control settings that are useful, such as whether or not to have a user provide their email address, so that you have options to gather info anonymously or track data from the forms in the case of a sign-up or training. Other settings include requiring responses to certain items and controlling access by sending via a link or to certain emails, or making a Google Form publicly available.
- Like other documents in Google format, Google Forms are created and stored within Google Drive, so it's easy to create and keep them with other Google format documents, even filed within specific folders. The participant responses to the Google Form are simply accessed through the Form itself under the "Responses" tab. It's nice not to have each separate response arriving as an email or a file that would be accessed separately; it's all in one place.
- Google Forms has a variety of document types, such as a sign-up sheet, basic poll, or a quiz. Within each type, you have various options regarding the layout and item formatting. For example, the quiz option allows you to choose a question format (multiple choice, T/F, scaled response, etc.) for each individual question and you can also program an answer key.
- My number one issue is that in quizzes, the Multiple Choice Grid format (essentially, a matching section, which is the ideal format for some information) will not allow an answer key to be programmed. This means manual grading of an item of this type.
- Some features are not very intuitive, such as adding an answer key. It's rather buried. The Help option will provide guidance, but I feel that as a relatively tech-savvy person, I should be able to find and use all commonly used features without having to go to the Help section.
- Forms do not automatically include email notifications to the creator when participants finish the quiz, and this setting has to be turned on manually for each form you create. It would be handy if there were an across-the-board option to indicate that you do or don't want email notifications for responses to all your Forms.
- It has made it easier and more convenient for new hires to access training and work through module quizzes on their own when they have time. The ability to leave in rich, personalized feedback for them is a great component, as well.
- I now have a permanent record of all trainee module assessments in one place should I need it for accreditation purposes, etc.
Survey Monkey works well for basic polls and standard surveys, but it does not have a quiz/assessment format and doesn't work well for things like activity/event registration and sign up. Survey Monkey also has a limit on how many responses you can gather with a free account (100 responses).