5 ways to prevent cheating on your Google Form Quiz

If you are using Google Forms to give quizzes and tests in your classroom, you are likely aware that some students have figured out various ways to "game" forms to get a better grade:

1. Open a tab to look up answers
2. Preview your form before class to look up answers
3. Send questions to their friends
4. Share answers with friends
5. Take screenshots of your the quiz questions
6. View the HTML page source to find answers
7. Look at a friends screen to select answers
8. Right-click on words to check definitions and spelling
9. Share answers with classmates during passing time
10. Write down "cheats" on their hand or paper

The fact that students are looking for shortcuts to improve their quiz scores shouldn't come as a surprise. (You may have been this student when you were in school!!)

I believe that formative and summative assessments have an appropriate role in the classroom and that it is our duty as educators to take reasonable action to maintain the integrity of these assessments.

Google Forms is a tremendous tool for organizing and automating digital quizzes. Here are five tips for designing "cheat proof" Google Forms!

👉 Note: want to see all of these tips in action? Check out this demo form!

Shuffle answer choices to block screen creepers

When asking a multiple choice question, click on the "snowman" to find the "shuffle option order" feature which will randomize the order of the answer choices in your question.

Shuffling answer choices will make it more difficult for "screen creepers" to copy answers from a classmate.

Note: Google Forms does have a "shuffle question order" feature, however using it can lead to issues. I recommend shuffling answers over shuffling questions. 

Use page sections to block assessment previews

Add sections to your quiz to prevent students from previewing a form before class. This is a common problem if you post your quiz through Google Classroom to all of your sections early in the day. 

You can take this a step further by adding a "password" to your form to prevent students from moving ahead until you are ready. 

An easy way to do this is to collect their personal information (name/section) on the first page of the form, but require a password before they can access the quiz question. 

Set up a password by adding a short answer question and using the data validation feature to require a specific number or phrase. 

Note: this is not a 100% secure solution and should not be used to protect sensitive information. 

Use page breaks to create alternative assessment paths

Google Forms doesn't have a question bank feature to create different assessments for each student. However, you can create a similar experience by creating a branched form. 

First, add an un-graded multiple choice question in your quiz: “pick a number”, “pick a color”, etc. 

Next, set up 3-5 different sections to your quiz using the section feature mentioned in tip #2 above. Add as many questions as you like to each section.

Finally, add a "go-to" rule to direct students to a different section of the based on their response to the un-graded question that you added. 

Prevent cheating by asking better questions!

Don't limit your self to multiple choice questions. 

• Sequence questions - use the "checkbox grid" question type to ask students to sequence or arrange items in a list.
• Matching questions - use the multiple choice grid question type to create a matching question (great for vocabulary quizzes!)
• Reading Passage - use the title/text element to add a short reading passage. 
• Video question - have students watch a video and then answer questions about it (great for math and world language. 
• Image question - images can be used as the question stem or question choices (great for science, math, social studies, and elementary students)
• Free response / short answer - If a student can answer all of the multiple choice questions correctly, but can't articulate 2-3 sentences on the same topic...something is wrong.

Enable locked quiz mode

Locked quiz mode is one of many tools you have to protect the integrity of your assessments. When used in combination with the tips above, you have done your part to protect the integrity of your classroom quizzes. 

Locked mode prevents students from accessing external resources while taking a quiz. Their tabs, extensions, chrome apps, and screenshot functions will be disabled during the duration of the quiz. 

You can turn on this feature the settings page on your Google Form OR when assigned through Google Classroom.

I wrote a detailed overview of locked quiz mode here.

If you use some / all of the tips listed above, you have done your part to protect the integrity of your assessments and encourage your students to practice academic honesty. 

There is no way to be 100% certain that students can't cheat on an assessment. Ultimately, they are harming themselves and their academic growth. Our job is to encourage, instruct and train them to do their best and show good character, even when they have the opportunity to cheat. 

Managing Comments in Google Classroom (2018 Update!)

Google Classroom is an under-rated messaging platform for teachers and students. When used effectively, the messaging / commenting capabilities in classroom lead to rich conversations and learning moments between teachers and students.

The 2018 update to Google Classroom significantly changed the location and emphasis of three commenting options in Google Classroom. I anticipate a bit of confusion on the part of teachers and students at the beginning of the school year as everyone adjusts to the new layout.

There are three different ways that comments / messages can be sent in Google Classroom: class comments, private comments, and question responses.

It is important that both teachers AND students understand when to use each of these three options.

Here's a quick overview of all three options:

🎥 Note: click here if you prefer learning via video!

Class Comments 

Class comments are visible to the entire class. Google Classroom doesn't support student:student messaging, so the class comment feature is the only way that students can communicate directly to one another.

Everyone in the class can see class comments. Teachers have the ability to disable this feature entirely, delete an individual comment, and mute an individual student.

The class comment area is an ideal place for students to coordinate a study group, ask classmates for help on a challenging problem, or ask for a copy of a handout / resource. 

Class comments tend to be the most problematic element of Google Classroom. "Hey," "Hi" and "Wasssup" tend to be the most common comment that is left! This is distracting and causes lots of annoying notifications!

I recommend that teachers allow students to set the policy for comments. Ask them what type of comments that want to see and how they would like this feature to be used. Once they have established their own ground rules, allow them to self-police their policy. If they are unable to use this feature in a professional, useful manner, it can be turned off entirely.

Private Comments

Private comments allow a student to ask a question directly to their teacher. The 2018 update to Google Classroom places a lot more emphasis on private comments.

Private comments are a wonderful way for students to ask for help, get clarification on an assignment, and receive personal feedback from their teacher.

Teachers will heavily use the private comment feature to provide feedback to students. Check out this video on using private comments to improve essays and other writing assignments.

Question Responses

If you use the question tool in Google Classroom to ask a free response question, students have a third way to respond through Google Classroom.

The response in this area should be directly related to the discussion question. Submitting an answer will mark this assignment as "done."

You have the ability to decide if you want students to be able to view the responses from classmates when you set up the question. You can also prevent students from editing their response.

Students won't be able to view responses from classmates until AFTER they have responded. This prevents them from making up an answer based on the class responses.

How are you handling comments in your classroom? What policies have been successful? Leave me a comment and share any resources that you have created!

Create group assignments in Google Classroom

Google Classroom makes it easy to assign individual work and whole-class assignments. But what about group work?

It takes a little bit more effort, but you CAN facilitate group work through Google Classroom.

Here's what I recommend.

🎥 Note: If you would prefer a video overview of this process click here!

1. Create a new topic in Classroom to organize your group project

2. Prepare your resources

For my project, two students will work together to research an injury to the human body and identify the proper treatment.

I created a Google Doc with the requirements and guidelines for the project.

This is my template file. It is organized in my class resources and templates. I use this file every year, so I don't want students editing my original.

That's why step #3 is important

3. Copy the resources for each group

I make a copy of my template for each group. I have a smaller class so I only need three groups. I make a copy and rename the file for group 1, 2, 3, etc. 

You will want to put these files somewhere you can easily find them. I usually stick them into the Drive folder that is linked to my class.

4. Create your assignment in Google Classroom

There are a few unique things that we are going to do with this assignment:

• Add "group 1" to the assignment title
• In the instructions, list the member of the group
• Attach the document for group 1 that we copied in step 3
• Make sure you chose the "students can edit" option for your resource

DON'T POST THE ASSIGNMENT...

5. Select your Group Members

We only want the members of Group 1 to get this assignment.

Click the drop down for "students" at the top of your assignment and select the members of the group.

Now you can click the assign button!

6. Copy the assignment for groups 2, 3, 4, etc

Now we need to send the assignment to the rest of the groups.

This is the easy part!

Use the "reuse" option in classroom to copy the assignment you just posted!

Don't forget: 

• Change the title of the assignment to include "group 2..."
• List the members of group #2
• Remove the Group 1 document and replace it with the group 2 document

Repeat for the remainder of your group!

The end result is a nice list of the assignment for each of your groups!

7. Monitor your groups

Each student will only be able to see the documents assigned to their group. 

You (the teacher) will have access to all of the group documents. 

Click on a group assignment to: 

• Open their document and observe their progress
• Send private comments to everyone in the group or individuals in the group
• Enter grades for each member of the group

This is one of many different ways to organize group projects in Google Classroom. If you have suggestions or modifications for my process please leave a comment!

3 Things every teacher MUST figure out

The school year is upon us! Teachers across the country will soon greet a new group of students. There's nothing like the hope, promise, and excitement of the first day of school. The whole year is in front of you; you have an opportunity to start fresh - to do things the "right" way this time.

Determining HOW you are going to run and operate your classroom is a critical question. Every teacher needs to answer these three critical questions:

1. How am I going to send information TO my students? 

Teachers must have an effective way to get assignments, links, articles, homework, instructions, templates, etc to their students.

Bady ways* to send information to students: 

• Ask them to type www....
• Print it out - save a tree!
• Email it - so 1990

Good Ways to send information to students: 

• Use Google Classroom!
• Create a class website
• Use another learning management tool (but really, you should use Google Classroom!)
• Setup a shared folder (but really, you should use Google Classroom)

2. How am I going to receive information FROM my students. 

You must have a foolproof way to receive finished work, questions, drafts, and reflections from your students.

Bad ways* to receive information from students:

• Email - you get enough email already
• Sharing Google documents - "shared with me" is a disaster already.
• Printing - save a tree. 

Good ways to receive information from students

• Have them turn it in via Google Classroom (for real, your life will be much easier)
• Have them submit work via a Google Form. 
• Use shared folders in Google Drive (but really, you should use Google Classroom!)

3. How am I going to grade, evaluate, and provide feedback to students? 

You must have a simple and effective way to provide feedback to students. Your method should be easy for you to provide and simple for your students to receive. 

Bad ways* to provide feedback: 

• Use a PDF annotator to write on student work (don't believe me, ask Alice Keeler, she'll explain it. = ) 
• Print everything and mark it up on paper - this takes too long
• Just give 'em a grade, skip the feedback

Good ways to provide feedback: 

• Use the comment feature in Google Drive
• Leave private comments in Google Classroom
• Use Kaizena to leave verbal feedback. 
• Record a screencast and send it to students. 
• Use a rubric tool like Goobric or OrangeSlice

It doesn't really matter how you answer these three questions. No two classrooms will be the same. What IS important is consistency. Pick your tools and methods and be consistent! 

How have you answered these three questions? 

*I'm not against, typing URLs, printing, email, hand-written feedback, etc. But I would NOT recommend using these methods as your standard way of sending, receiving, and providing feedback to students.