Google Forms & Group Discussion

January 27, 2017

Once upon a time, our fifth grade team decided to create a rubric to assess California State Standard SL 5.1:

“Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and

teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas

and expressing their own clearly”

which is followed by four substandards/descriptors (SL 5.1.A, etc.). This was all good until I realized that I could use my new skill learned at the San Diego EdCamp (thanks, Kyra Bowers!) to make a digital version and not fuss with a pile of paper and a clipboard as I walked around the room, or took notes during a Reading or Math group. Having my Google Form pulled up on a tablet is much cooler!

To create a digital rubric (I also use this technique to quickly check in Math and Reading Group assignments [separate Forms/Sheets]), I used Google Forms and chose the “Multiple Choice Grid” answer type.

“Question 1”: Assignment: Short Answer (answer type)

“Question 2”: Student’s name: Drop Down

“Question 3”: Student’s participation in group: Multiple Choice Grid

When setting up “question” 3, DO NOT type any kind of a title. If you do, the title will precede each descriptor on the Sheet, and you won’t be able to see the descriptors. The “rows” will be your standards and the “columns” are the descriptors for achievement (I’ve shown a sample of just the beginning of each section/question). The corresponding sheet will be set up differently, but don’t let the columns and rows confuse you. Keep in mind what you want your FORM to look like.

Be sure, when setting up the Multiple Choice Grid that you turn on “Require a response in each row”. This will ensure that the student gets feedback for each descriptor.

The GOLD is in the Google Sheet that is created. I use conditional formatting to color each descriptor so that I can see, at a glance, who may need some guidance and/or be observed again for mastery. I never feel like I have to assess every student during every discussion/lesson. However, I do feel it’s important to have more than one observation for each student per term. On the Form below, the students’ names are (not shown) at the far right: