I downloaded this Google Form Resource…now what? If you are trying to figure out how to use that new Google Forms resource, you are in the right place!
The mysterious Google Form. You know you want to use it, but you aren’t sure how. Today we are answering all the questions you may have about how to use your new Google Forms resource.
How do I download the resource?
When you first download your resource from Undercover Classroom, you receive all the files as either a zipped folder or as a pdf download. Mine show up in either the download file in my computer’s files or they pop-up on the bottom of my screen.
If the file downloads as a zip file, begin by extracting the files. On my computer, just open the zipped file, select all the files, and press the ‘extract’ or ‘extract all’ buttons.
Now you have access to the file!!
Each of the Undercover Classroom files and pdf’s have a teacher’s packet that will walk you through opening and making a copy of the Google Form you will need to download for the project. Watch for sections in the packet that look like the image below.
Once you click on the link you’ll be prompted to make a copy. Click on ‘Make a copy.’
Then, you’re in!!!
Teacher View vs. Student View
To truly know how to use your new Google Forms resources effectively, you have to understand that there are two different sides or views to every resources. The Teacher View and the Student View. Look at the images below to see the difference. The first image is the Teacher View and the second image is the Student View.
The Teacher View
The ‘Teacher View’ is embedded with the answers, can be edited, and allows the teacher to view student responses. Let’s explore the teacher view for a moment.
This is what you see when you open the document.
You can change the name of the file here.
You can read through the questions here.
You can access the toolbox here.
Inside the toolbox, you have the ability to…
- Add a question
- Import a question
- Add a title or description
- Add an image or video
- Add a section
Next, we have the ‘customize theme’ button. This area allows you change the look of this form. If you are downloading or making a copy of a resource from Undercover Classroom, we have already chosen the colors and fonts that work best with the other elements in the resource (like questions, images, etc.), so you shouldn’t need to make any changes here, but you always have that option.
The little eye is the PREVIEW button which is what allows us to toggle to the Student View. Read more about the Student View below.
The little gear symbol takes us into the settings.
There are three sections in the ‘settings’ area. The first section goes over the general rules for the form. In this section, you can decide if you’ll collect student emails, limit the number of responses per student, allow students to edit their responses after they submit the activity, or even if you want them to be able to see the results of the assignment. For most resources from Undercover Classroom, you’ll want to keep all of these options unchecked, but you can always decide what is best for your classroom situation.
The second tab under settings opens up to ‘presentation’ options. In the ‘presentation’ tab, you get to choose whether or not to show a progress bar, shuffle questions, or show a link after submission to submit another response. You can also type in your own message for what the students will see after submitting.
If you are using the resource as a graded quiz in your classroom, you’ll want to check out the options under ‘quizzes’. The options under quizzes allow you to make decisions about how the students will be scored, and what details about their progress they can see (such as right and wrong answers and point values for each question).
It is important to note that all Undercover Classroom resources are set up with the intended settings for use. Before you choose to change any settings, we recommend going up to ‘File’/’More’ and clicking on the button that says ‘Make a Copy’, so you always have access to the original resource in your files.
The next stop on our tour is the ‘Send’ button. This is where you’ll go to share the form with others, but we are going to give that space it’s own section in this post too, so for more on that button, read on.
The last piece you’ll see across the top of your screen are three little dots aligned vertically. These three little dots are labeled ‘more’, but it may be easier to think of them as the ‘file’ tab of this document. Within the ‘more/file’ tab, you can make a copy of the document, print it, and add collaborators among a lot of other options. You’ll use these on an as-needed basis.
Last but not least, let’s take a look at the ‘responses’ section of this form. This is where the Student View and the Teacher View meet. In the ‘responses’ section, the teacher can view the students’ responses and the results of their activity. Right now, the ‘responses’ tab doesn’t show much, but that is why we need to move to the Student View next!
The Student View
One of the common questions I get from teachers is whether or not students will have access to the answers while working on their Google Forms, the answer is no. To see what your students will have access to, simply click on the little eye or the ‘preview’ button.
The Student View allows the teacher to demo the form and see the resource just as their students will. You can even do a test run through the resource to see what your students will experience. This is what my students will see with this resource when they open it.
If at any point, you want to return to the Teachers View of this form, you can go back to the other tab on your computer, or you can click the ‘edit this form’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the form.
Now, I took the time to do a test run of the form. Now that we have at least one result, let’s go back and see what the ‘responses’ tab looks like now.
First of all, you can see that there is one response. Then when we click on in, we’ll see even more!
Now we can see the results. Using the three tabs across the top, we can see a full summary of results, we can choose a particular question to look at, or we can choose a particular student’s results to look at.
This area will also allow you to download student results into a google sheet (excel-like sheet) by clicking here.
Now that you know what the Teacher View looks like, and how to navigate through your options. You also know how to toggle to the Student View, and see the students’ results, but let’s make sure you know how to share the form with students.
How do I share it with students?
Alright, this is the all important question isn’t it. Our Google Form resources were made for easy implementation, and the ease of sharing the resource with students is exactly what makes Google Forms so great.
To share with students, follow these simple instructions.
First, click on the ‘Send’ button.
Then, you have two options. Number 1, you can email students directly by dropping your email list into this section here…
Or you can share the link with your students. To get the link, toggle over to the link button.
Once you are in the ‘link’ dropdown, you have the option to copy the original link or you can shorten the url if students are going to be typing the link in manually. The ‘shorten url’ option is best used if you are going to write the link down on the board for students to enter into their computers manually. Otherwise, the full link is just as effective.
That is all you need, once students have the link, they can work on the form.
How to use that New Google Forms Resource: Other Common Questions
Can I use this even if students don’t have Google accounts?
Yes! The students do not need a Google account to use the resource. They simply need access to the internet and the ability to click on a web link. The teacher will however need a Google account to store the Form and view the student responses.
Can I change the settings?
Absolutely, but be aware that the settings we have set are the way the form was intended to be used, so we can’t promise the Form will meet the intended goals the same way if you start changing the settings.
Can I change the questions?
Kind of. Technically you can add questions, but since we have added questions with images, you will not be able to edit our images. You can, however, change the settings of the question, so that students only get one attempt at the answer. To do that, follow the steps below.
Click on the question you want to change.
Scroll down to where the answer is listed.
Next to the ‘Required’ button, there are three little dots. Click on those.
Then click off the ‘Response Validation’. Without the response validation on, the students will not be told if their answer is correct or not, and they will be allowed to move on without knowing if they are correct. This allows for more quiz-like situations for students.
Hopefully, you now feel more confident using that new Google Form resource with your classes, and you will feel more in control when downloading and choosing resources that best fit your students. For more Google Form resources from Undercover Classroom, check out our store or take a look at some of the activities listed below!
