Home Google Tips and Tricks Forms Smackdown: Google vs Microsoft

Forms Smackdown: Google vs Microsoft

by Miguel Guhlin
Microsoft Surface laptop on a bedspread

Collecting data via online forms has never been easier. New web-based form tools have revolutionized how we gather and analyze data, making arcane database-backed web tools obsolete.

Even the next generation of database-backed web tools (e.g. Airtable, Obvibase, more solutions) find themselves catering to power users, rather than teachers and students. These descendants of venerable desktop database tools (e.g. Filemaker Pro, Microsoft Access, Alpha IV, Paradox) require some knowledge of databases and how they work. Google Forms and Microsoft Forms drop database complexity and make it easier for K-12 and adult learners to focus on the task rather than the method.

Practical Uses of Forms in K-12 Schools

The uses of forms to support teaching, learning and leading are legion. While you can see 81 Interesting Ways to Use Forms in the Classroom, here are a few of my favorite uses:

  • Gather data about a particular phenomena or event and then use the data for analysis by staff and/or students.
  • Conduct climate surveys to get insights into staff perspectives about the work place.
  • Enable participants to craft self-assessments for appraisal or growth purposes.
  • Get insights from staff/students/community into home technology and/or social media use.
  • Employ forms for formative assessment activities, such as exit tickets.
  • Set up a help desk system to track requests for support.

You can find even more uses online in these TCEA TechNotes articles on the use of forms. Remember, you can easily adapt the uses of forms across the tools available. Find the one that works best in your environment (e.g. Google or Office 365).

Are you a Texas educator using Office 365 in your District? Join the free, open to members and non-members TCEA Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Facebook group!

Feature Comparison

Both Microsoft and Google Forms have a wealth of features. Let’s explore some of those features, keeping in mind that they are rapidly changing.

Update 05/2019: Special thanks to Karyn Filhart (@Filibuster3) for updating the chart below. See her updated version online.

Excerpt from Karyn Filhart’s Revised Chart

ORIGINAL CHART

Feature Microsoft Forms
msforms
Google Forms
msforms
Web link View Microsoft Forms View Google Forms
Account required Free Office 365 account or School Office 365 account Personal Google account^ or Google Suites for Education account
Multiple question types Includes:

  • Choice (multiple choice and checkboxes)
  • Quiz
  • Text (short and long answer)
  • Rating (linear scale and star choice up to 10)
  • Date
Includes:

  • Choice (multiple choice and checkboxes)
  • Multiple choice grid
  • Quiz
  • Text (short and long answer)
  • Rating (linear scale and star choice up to 10)
  • Date
  • Time
  • File upload^
Embed media such as videos/images
  • Images
  • YouTube
  • Images
  • YouTube
Add subtitle description Yes Yes^
Option to shuffle responses Yes Yes for any questions containing multiple responses^
Add question to quiz computation Yes, add any question to a quiz Yes, create a self-grading quiz
Add other option to available responses Yes Yes
Organize form elements in sections No Yes
Adjust theme to reflect color of choice or available background image Yes Yes, and includes option to insert one’s own image
Preview form using built-in desktop or mobile Yes No, but features responsive web design
Re-order questions at any time Yes, with up/down arrows Yes, drag-and-drop
Copy/duplicate question Yes Yes
Delete or trash question Yes Yes
Organize question into multiple pages No Yes, insert page breaks after questions
Branching responses Yes, dependent upon response chosen Yes, with the ability to send to a different page.
Share form online Yes, includes the following:

  • Link provided for copying
  • Embed into OneNote Notebook Page
  • Email link
  • QR code download
  • Web page embedding
Yes, includes the following:

  • Link provided for copying
  • Share form link via email
  • Web page embedding
  • Social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) link sharing
Tracking form completion Yes, tracking is possible if user is required to login to access the form Yes, tracking is possible if user is required to login to access the form
Export results as a spreadsheet Yes, results can be exported to Excel sheet (and other formats from there) and saved for further analysis or placed online Yes, results can be exported in various formats
Form data at rest can be interacted with (Google Sheets tab is similar to an Excel Workbook sheet) No, form data can be printed or deleted but not create a live workbook sheet that can be used, interacted with on another sheet Yes, form data on one Google Sheets tab can be linked and interacted with another tab
Set start and end dates at specific times for when the form is open or closed for access Yes, by date and time No, form must be manually shut down to stop receiving responses. FormLimiter add-on can be enabled, however^.
When form is NOT accepting responses, create a custom message as to why Yes Yes^
Handling of individual or summary responses Yes, options to form creator include viewing, deleting, printing individual and/or summary responses. In summary view, responses are aggregated and appear with graphs when appropriate. Yes, options include viewing of individual and summary responses. Summary view includes aggregate results with graphs. Removing individual responses may require accessing the Google Sheet where Form responses are archived.
View average completion time for the form Yes No

^Special thanks to Eric Curts (@ericcurts; Ctrl-Alt-Achieve) for his feedback and corrections indicated with this symbol.

Update 01/26/2017: Microsoft Forms Enhancements

Microsoft Forms is in the process of rolling out enhancements, as reported by Brandon Cornwell (@CornwellEdTech; Tacoma, WA schools), that include the following NEW features not included in the chart above:

  1. Print summaries of MS Forms charts are now possible.
  2. Individual quizzes featuring student responses, scores and feedback are printable by the teacher.
  3. Extra credit points can now be alloted.
  4. Teachers can post scores, enabling students to to view their quiz score and obtain feedback.
  5. Students can be provided feedback regarding their form responses.
  6. Individual items can now be scored.
  7. Specific value formats (e.g. number) can now feature data entry restrictions.
  8. Math symbols and equation creator are available in quiz mode.
  9. Form creators are prompted as to whether Form or Quiz is planned.

Reflections

Microsoft Forms features have expanded (e.g. a recent addition is collaborative form editing, a feature Google Forms also enjoys) since a preview launch in the summer of 2016. In important ways, it has achieved parity with Google Forms. In other ways, it may have outpaced Google Forms. For educators in Office 365 districts, Microsoft Forms represents a fantastic tool. Given the prompt development of both products, the feature gap will not endure long!

 

*This post was updated January 25, 2017.

 

You may also like

Comments are closed.

You've Made It This Far

Like what you're reading? Sign up to stay connected with us.

 

 

*By downloading, you are subscribing to our email list which includes our daily blog straight to your inbox and marketing emails. It can take up to 7 days for you to be added. You can change your preferences at any time. 

You have Successfully Subscribed!