Background (Challenges)

This course was designed to help make any data collection process easier and quicker, whether it is for a needs analysis survey, an assessment or an upcoming event. I’ve used Google Forms regularly for the past few years as a data collection tool and have taught colleagues how to use it as well. I wanted to create a helpful walk-through eLearning experience that could share with others how they could start using Google Forms to increase the efficiency and ease of data collection.

Solution

I began designing this course with focusing on the end result, setting objectives for what I wanted learners to take away from the course, and then working backwards to create a rough outline of key points and features I wanted to share with the learner on Google Docs. Knowing that my target audience of learners would be those looking to find ways to collect data efficiently, I wanted to be thorough to include all potential options for creation and customization.

Next, I opened up Google Forms and began walking through what would be the intuitive or logical steps a person would take from start to finish to create and customize a new Google Form, taking notes on each one and marking where I could include skill checks for the learner prior to moving on to the next lesson. From there, I wrote an entire script from start to finish of everything the course would cover and began the storyboarding process.

For this course sample, you’ll see two screencast videos I created using Camtasia built into the slides I designed with Canva, MS PowerPoint and Articulate Storyline. It also includes an interactive skill check following the screencast tutorials where the learner is guided along the process of how to get started creating a Google Form from scratch to help familiarize them with the process.

While this is only a sample of the course, the fully built out course would include a similar interactive skill check following each lesson, culminating with downloadable job aids to help the learner independently design, develop and implement their own Google Forms for their own data collection purposes.

Results

While this is only a portion of the course, I would expect positive results from a learner who has moved through the entire course from start to finish, following along and completing the skill checks that would teach them step-by-step how to create and customize a functional Google Form to fit the needs of their data collection purposes.

The course in its entirety is designed to address all major features and functions of Google Forms using a combination of screencast videos, on screen text highlighting key information, audio narration, as well as interactive skill checks that take the learner through each phase and detail of what they would need to know to create and use Google Forms independently.