Five Tools for Creating Automatically Scored Formative Assessments
This morning I answered an email from a reader who was asked to teach additional classes this fall. She reached out to me for suggestions on tools to create self-grading formative assessments to save her time this fall. I’d bet that there are many other teachers in the same situation and wondering the same thing. […]
Microsoft Forms Tutorials for Teachers
I’m taking the week off to do a bunch of fun things with my kids. While I’m away the most popular posts of the year so far will reappear. Despite the fact that I’ve been using Google Forms for as long as it has existed and that it is my default tool for creating online […]
How to Use Live Presentation Mode in Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms has a lot of features that make it better than Google Forms for classroom use. Those include a built-in timer and embedded use of Immersive Reader. This week Microsoft added another great feature to Microsoft Forms. That feature is a live presentation mode. The new live presentation mode in Microsoft Forms takes your […]
15 Microsoft Forms Tutorials for Teachers
Despite the fact that I’ve been using Google Forms for as long as it has existed and that it is my default tool for creating online forms and quizzes, there are some things about Microsoft Forms that I prefer over Google Forms. One of those things is the ability to convert a Word document into […]
New and Notable Microsoft Forms Features
Mike Tholfsen is my go-to person for all things Microsoft Edu. This week he released a new video highlighting nine new features in Microsoft Forms for 2023. A couple of the updates are what I would call mostly cosmetic. The rest of the updates are definitely worth noting and trying if you haven’t already given […]
How to Convert Google Forms into Microsoft Forms
Yesterday I published separate collections of tutorials for using Google Forms and for using Microsoft Forms. But what if you are transitioning from a Google Workspace environment to an Office 365 environment and don’t want to recreate all of your forms from scratch? There is a solution to that problem. In the new video that […]
Eight Tutorials for Getting Started With Microsoft Forms
This post was inspired by a former colleague of mine who reached out to me for some help as she transitions from a school that uses Google Workspace to one that uses Microsoft Office 365. Specifically, she was concerned about losing access to Google Forms and whether or not she could use Microsoft Forms for […]
How to Sort Microsoft Forms Entries by Completion Time
A couple of days ago I helped a reader who needed a quick way to sort Google Forms responses so that the most recent submission was always easy to find. I’m guessing that there’s probably a Microsoft Forms user out there who would like to know how to do a similar thing. That’s why I […]
How to Create a Timed Quiz in Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms recently got some new features that are helpful for teachers. One of those new features is the ability to set a time limit for completing a quiz once it has been started. This is different than the setting to automatically close a form at a given date and time. This new timed quiz […]
How to Convert Word Documents and PDFs Into Microsoft Forms
There are many little features of Microsoft Forms that shouldn’t be overlooked. And there is a new big feature of Microsoft Forms that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. That feature is the ability to import Word documents and PDFs into Microsoft Forms. The import feature in Microsoft Forms makes it possible to quickly take a quiz […]
Using Branching Logic in Microsoft Forms to Provide Directions
Branching logic is a great feature in Microsoft Forms that can be used to direct people to specific questions or further information based on how they answer an initial question. I’ve used branching logic to differentiate quizzes that I’ve created. I’ve also used it to create self-guided help resources for students. In this new video […]
Five Uses for QR Codes in School Settings
Over the weekend I shared a neat QR code generator called QRToon that lets you create a QR code that includes a cartoon version of yourself in it. Writing that post got me thinking about how far QR codes have come since I first saw them while working for Roadway Package Systems (now called FedEx […]
Embed Google Forms & Microsoft Forms into Canva Designs
It seem like every week I find something new and interesting that can be done with Canva. Last Friday I discovered that you can embed working Google Forms and Microsoft Forms into your Canva designs. This works with Canva’s website templates as well as presentation and infographic templates. In this short video I demonstrate how […]
A Solution When Google Forms or Microsoft Forms Won’t Do What You Need
Google Forms and Microsoft Forms can be used to accomplish a lot of common school tasks like creating self-grading quizzes, managing sign-out/sign-in sheets, and collecting survey data. But there are some tasks that Google Forms and Microsoft Forms can’t do or can only do in a rather convoluted way. I was reminded of this when […]
Handy Microsoft Forms Settings for Teachers
On Monday I shared a video that demonstrated how to use videos in quizzes created with Microsoft Forms. That video is one of four that I recently created to provide teachers with a comprehensive overview of how to create quizzes in Microsoft Forms and how students view quizzes in Microsoft Forms. The shortest video in […]
How to Use Videos in Microsoft Forms Quizzes
Microsoft Forms has improved a lot over the last few years. In fact, there are some things about it that I prefer over Google Forms. One of those things is the way in which you can use videos as question prompts. In Microsoft Forms you can include a video as a part of question instead […]
A New Option for Shortening Microsoft Forms Links
It has always been possible to shorten long Microsoft Forms URLS with third-party services like Bitly and Yellkey. Recently, Microsoft added a built-in URL shortener to Microsoft Forms. This option now appears when you click on the share button in Microsoft Forms. Check the small box that reads “shorten URL” and you’ll have a shortened […]
Make Sign-in/ Sign-out Sheets With Google Forms or Microsoft Forms
This week is school vacation week here in Maine. I usually take this week off to go ice fishing on Moosehead Lake. Unfortunately, that’s not happening this year. Instead I’ll be “staycationing” and working on some projects around home. While on my staycation I’ll be sharing some of my personal favorite tools. In the past, […]
How to Give Self-grading Quizzes to Students Who Don’t Have Email Addresses
Yesterday afternoon a reader sent me an email to request help creating and distributing self-grading Google Forms quizzes to her students who don’t have email addresses. Specifically, she wanted to know if a Google Forms quiz could be put into Schoology and if her students could take the quiz without having to enter an email […]
Three Ways to Create Online Forms to Collect Samples of Your Students’ Work
This blog post originally appeared as in my Practical Ed Tech Newsletter. Subscribe to have my favorite tips sent to your inbox every Sunday evening. Teaching online classes and hybrid classes is a new challenge for many if not most of us. Collecting samples of work like math problems that students have traditionally done on […]
How to Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Forms
A couple of days ago I wrote about recently discovering that Immersive Reader works in Microsoft Forms. Immersive Reader is Microsoft’s free accessibility tool that enables students to hear text read aloud. It also enables students to see text in larger size, in greater contrast, and in greater spacing. When used in Microsoft Forms Immersive […]
Immersive Reader in Microsoft Forms – Quiz Questions Read Aloud
Over the weekend I read Microsoft’s announcement that Immersive Reader will soon be available in PowerPoint (“soon” was left undefined in Microsoft’s announcement, that usually means a couple of months). What I also learned from the announcement is that Immersive Reader is now available in Microsoft Forms. Apparently, it has been there for a little […]
How to Use Microsoft Forms for a Classroom Sign-in/ Sign-out Sheet
A couple of weeks ago I published a video about how to create a sign-in/ sign-out sheet to use in Google Classroom. A few people have since emailed me to ask if it’s possible to do the same thing in a Microsoft environment. It is possible to do that with Microsoft Forms. In this new […]
How to Include Videos in Microsoft Forms Response Feedback
Last week I shared directions on how to include videos in the answer feedback on questions in Google Forms. Microsoft Forms users can do a similar thing. When you create a quiz with Microsoft Forms there is an option to include messages to display when students view their answer summaries. Those messages can include video […]
Alternatives to Google Forms
Earlier this week I answered an email from a reader who was looking for a way to collect “check-in” information from students but didn’t want to use Google Forms. Here are the alternatives to Google Forms that I suggested she try. JotForm JotForm is a good tool for creating fillable PDFs and online forms for things […]
How to Use Microsoft Forms to Collect Files
In this week’s Practical Ed Tech Tip of the Week I featured three ways to create online forms to collect files from students. One of those options is to use Microsoft Forms. With Microsoft Forms you can specify the type and size of files that you’ll accept in response to a question or prompt. You […]
How to Use Branching Logic in Microsoft Forms
For teachers working in schools that use Office 365, Microsoft Forms is a great tool for creating online assessments. Branching logic is one of the features of Microsoft Forms that is sometimes overlooked. It’s a great feature that can be used to direct students to a specific section of a form based on their answers […]
Three Easy Ways to Create Forms That Accept File Uploads
Last week Microsoft announced that a new file collection option has been added to Microsoft Forms. That feature is the option to accept file uploads in response to questions. The file upload option is already available to some users and is rolling out to others over the next few weeks. Microsoft Forms isn’t the only […]
Microsoft Forms Now Supports File Collection
Microsoft Forms offers a good way for teachers to create online quizzes and surveys. Over the last couple of years Microsoft has steadily added more and more features to it. File collection is the latest feature to be added to Microsoft Forms. File collection in Microsoft Forms lets you create questions that students or parents […]
Microsoft Forms Will Soon Have a Read Aloud Option
Earlier today Microsoft announced a slew up updates to popular classroom tools including PowerPoint, Word, OneNote, and Forms. The update that jumped out at me is the addition of Immersive Reader to Microsoft Forms. Microsoft Forms is the Microsoft equivalent of Google Forms. Teachers can use it to create surveys and quizzes including automatically graded […]
Immersive Reader is Being Added to Microsoft Forms
Immersive Reader is a fantastic accessibility function available in many of Microsoft’s most-used products including Word and OneNote. Thanks to a Mike Tholfsen Tweet, this morning I learned that Immersive Reader will be available in Microsoft Forms later this summer. Immersive Reader in Microsoft Forms will enable students to have passages, questions, and answer choices […]
Five Ways to Collect Registration Information for Summer Events
This time of year always feels exceptionally busy as the end of the school year nears while at the same time many of us are planning for summer activities like camps and summer enrichment programs. Automating or streamlining as many things as possible can make things feel a little less hectic. If you find yourself […]
How to Set Answer Requirements on Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms is a good tool for creating online surveys and quizzes. Setting answer restrictions is one of the overlooked features of Microsoft Forms. Creating answer restrictions allows you to specify the type of input that you’ll accept in response to a question. As you can see in my new video, setting answer restrictions can […]
Math Keyboard and More Updates to Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms doesn’t get as much coverage on this blog as Google Forms, but that doesn’t mean that Microsoft Forms doesn’t have some great features. In fact, it has some features that I wish Google would add to Google Forms. In March Microsoft added some nice features to Microsoft Forms. For students and teachers, the […]
How to Create a Survey in Microsoft Forms & Sort Results in Excel
Microsoft Forms is an excellent tool for creating online quizzes and surveys. You can use it to create multimedia quizzes like the one that I demonstrated here. You can also use it to create anonymous surveys. That’s what I demonstrate in the new video that I created on this snowy morning in Maine. The following […]
Microsoft Forms is Adding Email Confirmation
Microsoft Forms is an excellent though often overlooked Microsoft tool. Like its better known rival, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms can be used to make quizzes and surveys. Last night (a strange time for a feature announcement) Microsoft’s Forms Blog carried the announcement that Forms would soon have an email confirmation option for Form respondents. When […]
NoteStreaming 101 – What You Need To Know To Get Started
Earlier today on Twitter I posted a question about notebooks. Specifically, I wanted to know who still uses physical notebooks and, if so, if there is a preference for lined or unlined paper. By the way, I use a notebook with unlined paper and I draw with a Uniball Signo 207. Do you have a […]
My Top 5 Choices for Making Multimedia Quizzes
Over the years I have tried and written reviews of dozens of tools that teachers can use to create multimedia quizzes. But at the end of the day there is just a handful of tools that I consistently think of when it is time to make a quiz myself. Those tools are included in the […]
How to Create a Multimedia Quiz With Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms offers a good way for Office 365 users to create multimedia quizzes. The quizzes that you create in Microsoft Forms can be automatically graded for you. One of the features of Microsoft Forms that I actually prefer to Google Forms is the layout of images used as part of question prompt. Watch my […]
Ranked Responses – New Microsoft Forms Question Types
Microsoft recently added a couple of new response formats to Microsoft Forms. The new response formats are “ranking” and “Likert.” These new response types can be used when making a quiz or a survey in Microsoft Forms. The new ranking response format is exactly what you would guess that it is. You can build a […]
Music, Doodles, and Forms – The Week in Review
Good evening from Maine where I am getting ready to watch the Patriots play their first playoff game on their way to the Super Bowl. Before I enjoy the game and some delicious chili, I have this week’s post popular posts to share with you. This week’s list features some Google Slides and Forms tricks, […]
Getting Out of Your Ed Tech Rut
For the last seven weeks I’ve been making it a point to try out the features of Microsoft’s offerings for teachers and students. See yesterday’s post about Microsoft Forms as an example of that. I have been doing this because it is forcing me to take an honest look at the competitor to G Suite […]
Three Things I Like About Microsoft Forms
I’ve been a devoted user of Google Docs, Forms, and all things G Suite for more than a decade. I’ve helped thousands of teachers get started with Google Forms. I tell you all that as a way of saying that it takes a lot for me to be happy with an alternative product. But that’s […]