Google Forms - Are they anonymous?

I LOVE Google Forms.  There are so many great uses for teachers and students in the classroom.

Some of my favorites are:

• Collect parent information - Google automatically combines all the responses into one simple spreadsheet.
• Reading response journal - Use a "Choose from a list" question type to give options for students to respond to their reading.  (example here: http://www.thebestclass.org/bana.html)
• Collecting data - Students create forms to gather real world data.  Teachers can tweet the link to the form to encourage responses from all over the world... go global! (example here: http://langwitches.org/blog/2013/05/18/amplification-transportation-survey/)

More resources:

• My GCISD LEAD with Technology blog post http://gcisdleadwithtechnology.blogspot.com/2012/06/using-google-forms.html
• My Google Forms Pinterest board for lots of ideas for the classroom -http://www.pinterest.com/amypintx/school-google-forms/

Are They Anonymous???

Since we've "Gone Google" in the district, several people have wondered about the anonymity of the forms.  I've played around with it and here's what I've discovered.

When a form is created using our district Google accounts, there are 2 options at the top:  Require GCISD login to view the form and Automatically collect respondents GCISD username.

If only the "Require GCISD login to view the form is checked, you'll be required to login to your GCISD account but your username will NOT be collected.

Here's what the form looks like for the person filling it out:

And here's what the response spreadsheet looks like for the person who created the form:

If the "Automatically collect respondents GCISD username" box is also checked, your username will be collected but you WILL know it.  If your username is being collected, there will be a message at the top of the form telling you.

Here's what the same form looks like for the person filling it out when this box is checked:

Here's what the response spreadsheet looks like now for the person who created the form:

Want to learn more about Google Forms and how to use them in your classroom?  Check out this blog post: http://gcisdleadwithtechnology.blogspot.com/2012/06/using-google-forms.html