Highly-versatile, Easy-to-use Form Creator–and it’s free!

Everywhere outside of the education industry (which seems to focus on Google Forms), JotForm is the gold standard for creation of forms whether on PCs, Macs, or mobile devices. It can be used to sign up volunteers, get feedback on events, enroll people into classes, ask for donations, or collect payments. A JotForm can even show different questions based on what a user answered in prior questions. Its drag-and-drop interface makes building it intuitive, quick, and easy. With a wide variety of themed templates, it’s easily adaptable to any need. Once the form is completed, it can be shared via a link or social media, or integrated into DropBox, Google Docs, and many other popular platforms.

Check this link. to see if you qualify for an education account that awards you a 50% discount on pricing.

How to use it

Set up an account and then decide if you want to start with a blank page or a template. Follow the simple drag-drop directions to build your form using predesigned name/email fields, text answers, multiple choice selections, drop-down lists, an image, an upload field (where students can send their work to you), or an input table. Format the form to meet your school theme or other design criteria using predesigned themes or one you upload from your computer. Collaborate with colleagues if desired. Share the completed form via a link or embed. Responses can be collected in a spreadsheet, the form itself, or other third-party integrations.

Pros

There’s a lot to like about JotForm and much that will surprise you if your only experience with a form builder is Google Forms. Here are a few:

• In many webtools, freemium online tools give a basic tool away for free and charge for enhancements. This isn’t how JotForm does it. Users of the free account have access to all of the same features as paid users but with lower limits on how many forms they can create, form submissions are allowed, form views available, upload space and submission storage allotted, and the number of sub-user accounts permitted. I like that approach.
• No account is required. There are lots of reasons to have an account but it’s nice it isn’t mandatory.
• Multiple users can access the same form.
• I like that there are lots of videos to explain skills and share customer experiences.

Notes

JotForm allows up to ten payment receipts a month on the free account. While most people won’t need more, if you’re a teacher-author (for example, signing up registrants for a fee-based class you teach or a book you sell), you’ll want a pro account.

Educational applications

Here are some of the most popular uses that will automate your classroom tasks giving you more time and energy to teach:

• collect consent forms from parents for school activities
• push out polls or surveys on upcoming or past events
• collect and curate contact information on parents or students
• collect student projects
• line up volunteers for an event
• get student sign-ups for class presentations including the date of their presentation
• enroll students in afterschool activities or summer classes
• process payments for school activities
• register participants in a Professional Development workshop
• create a quiz that is automatically evaluated, providing students with their score and you with metrics

Here’s a ninety-second video on JotForm:

More than an alternative to Google Forms (or another online form creator), I’ve found JotForm to be the clear choice for ease of use, value, and effortless design. I don’t know how I missed it all these years.

More on JotForm

Comparison between JotForm and Google Forms

Compare JotForm and Survey Monkey

JotForm in the Classroom: An Example

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 20 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-8 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, CSG Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice reviewer, CAEP reviewer, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and a weekly contributor to TeachHUB. You can find her resources at Structured Learning. Read Jacqui’s tech thriller series, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days