Google releases another useful feature in the Google Docs platform through Google Forms. Google Forms is a flexible form and survey tool that helps users plan events, create surveys and quizzes, and store collected information in a trouble free and straightforward manner. With Google Forms, students, teachers, parents, and other possible users can easily track answers to quizzes and surveys in just one place.
Google Forms are filled out online, thus, it can be linked to a Google spreadsheet. This means answers to surveys or quizzes may automatically be sent to the linked spreadsheet instead of manually entering the data. A Summary of Responses page is also available if the user opts not to link the survey or quiz to a spreadsheet. This will ensure that even when surveys or quizzes are not linked to a spreadsheet, results are still viewable to those who need it. Because responses are collected and displayed in spreadsheets, users have the option to arrange and evaluate the responses. It is also possible to generate graphs, charts, and statistics that could further help in analyzing information (Karch).
Another helpful feature of the Google Form is its accessibility to others who might have a need for the information. They may access the forms through a published webpage or on a website. Forms may also be sent through emails. What makes it even more exciting to use is how users can create and customize the look of the forms and change the headers, questions, and page breaks within the form (Wolber).
In school, forms can help students collect email addresses, including actual home addresses, create quizzes, build group page welcome forms, and school events calendar entries. Thus, students have a way of providing feedback to fellow students' forms and monitor classroom assignments and submissions, among others.
For additional information, here is link that provides more information about the usage and various features of Google Forms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38H7WpsTD0M.
References
Karch, M. (n.d.). How to make forms, surveys, and quizzes in Google Docs. About.com. Retrieved from http://google.about.com/od/toolsfortheoffice/ss/forms_googledoc.htm
Wolber, A. (2012). Use Google Forms to create a survey. TechRepublic. Retrieved from http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/google-in-the-enterprise/use-google-forms-to-create-a-survey/
