In Love With Google Forms

In March of 2011 I attended the C.U.E. (Computer Using Educators) Conference in Palm Springs. The last seminar that I sat in on ended up being the most useful. I forget the presenters name but he was a Chemistry teacher who showed the audience how to create and use Google Forms for the classroom. I had never heard of Google Forms before. If you haven’t either they are located under Google Docs. Google Forms allow you to create online questionnaires or surveys. What is so amazing about Google Forms is that all your students data from the questionnaire is automatically input into an excel spreadsheet to easily reference. I use Google Forms all the time. I am in love with how easy, useful, and efficient it is.

Watch the video below to better understand how Google Forms work

Once you have created a Google Form all you have to do is copy and paste the link to an email, your Facebook, Twitter, or class website. If you don’t have a place to harbor the link you can create a pen.io account. Pen.io is a free and super fast way to make a website with no sign up (literally takes less than 30 seconds). After creating a pen.io account you can embed the Google Form into the pen.io website. This is the way I prefer to do it.

If you need further directions about creating a Google Form click here.

Ways I have used Google Form for the class room include:

·         Class surveys in the beginning of the year

·         Class surveys at the end of the year

·         Online Quizzes

·         Watch a youtube videos and answer the questions

·         Online Handouts

·         Sign up for Projects

More ways to use Google Forms for the classroom

You can also create a Google Form for students to fill out then post another link where they can see their classmate’s responses and you can comment on their responses. I use this often for Projects and Group activities.

Here is a Google Form for you to fill out 

(I embedded the form in a pen.io account)

Click here to see your response and others responses

Using Facebook and Twitter to Connect with Students

After attending conferences on technology integration, conducting research on my own, and working toward a Multimedia Education Masters, I have become convinced as to the power of technology in the classroom. My favorite tech resource that I utilize almost daily is social networking. I have found social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to be useful tools to connect with students as well as provide for personal professional development.

I use Facebook and Twitter to supply students with reminders about assignments, post links and handouts, pose questions, and for motivation. Below are a few examples of how I use these social networking sites to communicate with my students after school hours.

 

A colleague of mine put together these step by step instructions for teachers to create a twitter and a teacher fan page. Note: A teacher FAN PAGE is different than a regular Facebook page. With a FAN PAGE the teacher cannot see student’s personal information or wall. Students will only be allowed to see the teacher's posts and be able to comment on their wall.

Create a Twitter
Twitter is a way to communicate with your students in small, 140 character blurbs.  I like it because students can be your "friend" but you don't have to be theirs.

Step 1: Go to twitter.com.  Click Sign Up.

Step 2: Pick a simple user name that the kids will remember.  Update your bio and picture.

Step 3: Tell your students your username and start "tweeting."  There is a bit of a learning curve here, but understanding the basics is pretty easy.

Create a Class Page on Facebook
Creating a class page on Facebook is similar to twitter, except there are more options (and, in my experience, your students are more likely to have a Facebook account).  By creating a class pages instead of using your Facebook account, you limit their access to just what you want them to see.

Step 1: You'll need a Facebook account.  Like the majority of America, you probably already have one.  Go to Facebook.com and sign up.

Step 2: Suggestion - change your privacy settings on your personal Facebook account so that students can't see your private life.

Step 3: Create a class page (aka fan page).  Choose "public figure" in the lower left hand corner and fill in the information.  Remember that everything you put on this page will be public.  By setting up this class page, students can "like" your page but you don't have to be their friend.

Step 4: Edit your privacy settings on this page.  Do you want this to be a two way communication tool between you and your students?  Or would you prefer it as just a loudspeaker for you?

Step 5: Link your class page and your twitter account so you only have to update the Facebook page.