This week's tool to know about is from the suite of Google Docs. If you haven't used a Google Document or Google Spreadsheet I suggest you check them out. But today we'll look at a slightly less well-known tool, Google Forms.
Google Forms are a fast and easy way to collect information from a group. The simple interface lets you ask questions that can be answered by text, from a list, or even on a grid. The answers are then stored in a spreadsheet which you control the access to.
Google Forms are great for conducting surveys, but they can also be used for other purposes, like metadata. At Denison University the Costume Collection Project has students gather information about objects during a class then uses their Costume Form to have students submit the information into fields that correspond to Dublin Core elements. The result is a spreadsheet of metadata that can be used for batch uploading into the DRC.
Have you used Google Docs with your digital collections? Let us know in the comments.
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Oberlin's used Google forms for a faculty member's student assistant to record information that will enhance our access to our Egyptology-related book holdings.
ReplyDeleteWe've also used a form to gather permissions to digitize honors papers via email from alumni.