Google Drive Scripts

In an earlier post, I wrote about the use of scripts within our Google Apps for Education domain. The scripts that are available in Google Drive make some everyday tasks automated with very little set up and no need to know any coding. Scripts exist that will auto score assessments taken in a Google form, pull data from a Google spreadsheet and auto fill a document template, create folders and subfolders that are shared for easy classroom set up on Google Drive, and so much more.

The script that I will share today, called Flubaroo, will auto score any assessment that is given via a Google spreadsheet. It requires very little setup, but will save precious time that is spent pouring over individual student papers to grade a quick quiz or even longer assessments.

Before we begin talking about this script, though, one principle of Google scripts must be mentioned. Each script must be "installed" and authorized for each document in Google drive. So, even though you may have used a script previously in a Google spreadsheet, you will still need to add that script and authorize it each time you create a new document.

To begin using Flubaroo, create an assessment in a Google form, or alternatively use my Sample Vocab Quiz (please make a copy of this for your Google Drive before you add the script!). Once it is created, the next step is to create a response destination.

  

Once the spreadsheet is created, there is one more step before installing the script. Go to the live form and submit the correct answers for each question. It will now be row 2 in your spreadsheet. Label this row as the Answer Key.

 

At this point, we are ready to install the script. Go to the Tools menu option and choose "Script Gallery." Search for Flubaroo and choose the install option. The script will ask you to authorize it to run and access your Google account.

 

Now, it is time to let the script do its work. It cannot be run until there are at least two responses populated on the spreadsheet. There should be a Flubaroo option in the toolbar of the spreadsheet. When that is selected, choose "Grade Assignment."

    

Follow the prompts for each screen to select the columns to grade (with optional question weighting if desired) and the row to identify the answer key. Then, the grading will begin. A new sheet will be created in the response spreadsheet that will display the grades, by student, with identification of how many questions were answered correctly, a percentage correct, and break down of which questions were answered correctly or incorrectly. 

This could give teachers a new reason to use quick, formative assessment daily in their classrooms. With just a few minutes of set up and planning, teachers can gather more information about their students' learning and how to redirect their lessons in real time.

Update Note: A teacher can also add a field into their assessment to collect student email addresses and then once the assignment is graded, send each student an email with their results and answer key for review.