Day 18: QR Codes and Pre-filled Google Forms
Today’s tool is not a tool but a tip for a tool most of you already use mashed with a tip for another tool you already use. In simple words, how to create QR codes that open a Google form with pre-filled fields.
Why would you want to do this you ask. Isn’t the better question, Why would you not First the how, then I’ll give you some whys.
The steps are simple.
- First, open your form. (Be sure you are in edit mode, not preview.)
- Open the More menu. Up in the right hand corner of the screen, you should see the More menu, the three vertical dots right next to the smiling face associated with your Google account.
- Select, “Get pre-filled link.” This will open your form so you can enter date.
- Enter the information in the fields you want pre-filled. Choose one or all. Its up to you.
- Click submit.
- A URL will appear at the top. This link will open the form again with the data you entered already filled in.
- Copy that link into your favorite QR code generator.
- Save it. Print it. Scan it. Boom.
That’s it. When you scan the QR code, you will open the form with your data pre-filled.
One way to use this in the classroom is to give each student a QR code with their name pre-filled into a form of your choice. When scanned, they open the form and it already has their name. Your form can ask them if they understood today’s lesson or if they need more information about a topic. You could use this for:
- Check ins
- Exit slips
- Sign-up sheets
- Formative assessments
The possibilities are endless. Any time you want to have some pre-set data combined with custom entries. For example, I just set this up for a game we did as part of our STEM Read program. We created a store scenario where teams had to buy goods. Each item for purchase had its own QR code. When scanned, the item name, price, and other details pre-populated. The players entered their group number and the quantity they wanted to buy. It was a super easy way to track what they bought as the game played out.
Next time you are using a Google form to collect data and want to simplify the process by having some data pre-entered, think about using QR Codes that open pre-filled forms.