SurveyMonkey

**SurveyMonkey ****__Overview:__ SurveyMonkey is an online resource that allows users to create online surveys. These surveys can be accessed through emailing a link to users or posting the link on a website or wikispace. **  __ Features: __
 * To access surveymonkey goto---[|www.surveymonkey.com]
 * Completely free to sign up
 * Users can customize their surveys with different colors, by adding logos and other creative control options
 * Users can select different types of questions including: multiple choice, rating scales, drop-down menus, etc.
 * Users can choose how to collect survey results
 * Result analysis is available in real-time through charts, graphs or text
 * Users can share results if desired (upgraded account only)
 * Results can be downloaded into spreadsheets (upgraded account only)

__ Strengths __ : 
 * Basic accounts are free
 * Customization of questions comes in handy for various uses
 * Users can require an answer so questions can't be skipped
 * Surveys can be tracked using IP addresses. So if the survey is completed in class on school computers and inappropriate language or answers appear, the culprit can be found and dealt with accordingly.

__ Weaknesses __ : 
 * Many features aren't available with the free basic account
 * There is no "education" page for this site
 * Students would have to sign up for their own account to create surveys, including providing email and other information
 * Collecting results and navigation can be tricky at first, but after creating one survey it gets easier!

__ Before using... __ 
 * Before giving your students the go-ahead to make surveys, try it out first. This will help trouble-shoot problems they may encounter.

__ Best Practices: __


 * 1. Surveying Students**--This has been used in my classroom to survey students on various projects. After completing their first technology based project of the year, I created a survey to see if they had enough support, the medium used, etc. It was completely anonymous and there is no handwriting to give them away so students were pretty honest. The link to the survey was posted to the class' wikispace and they were given time in class to complete. SurveyMonkey collected the results in an easy to read bar graph which gave an overview (for screen shot click here. media type="custom" key="3178236"
 * 2. Student made Quizes for Assessment--**I have used this method of assessment successfully for independent reading, but there are a number of ways it can be used. Students can "play teacher" and create their own assessments for something they were responsible for learning. This could be done with grammar rules, vocabulary or anything else we require our students to be held responsible for regularly. Students can create quizes and post the links on the wikispace for other students to complete or for the teacher to grade. Make sure if students do this and they are collecting answers that question number one is a place for a name. SurveyMonkey can be tracked using IP addresses, however if students aren't taking the quiz on school computers this can be nearly impossible and very time consuming!