Try out the online survey below:

if this is your first time using an online form

if you're not sure that your computer handles forms

if you want to verify that this works properly before completing the "real survey"

5-Minute Survey Learning Tool

Here is a "safe" way to practice filling in an online survey. No information is sent until you choose to do so at the very end. Even then, you can change your mind and click the RESET button to erase all answers. If you do wish to test sending this form out, just click the SUBMIT button. None of the answers you give are applicable to any part of the research study... they are there simply for you to practice on! I will send you a reply to show you how your form came through at my end.

If you don't hear from me within 4 days, please send me an email and we will explore what might be the problem. My goal here is to help other teachers learn how to use technology in practical ways. There is no obligation to complete my "real" research survey afterwards. (But of course I am hoping that you will!!!)

A. FIRST TRY OUT GIVING SIMPLE ANSWERS:
Please type your answers in the white boxes. If you change your mind any time in the survey, you can still go back to the answer and change it.

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

I will need your name and email address in order to send you a reply that your survey came through! This 5 minute survey is not being used for any other reason than for you to practice on.

1. What is your occupation?

2. What is your favourite subject to teach?

B. NOW LET'S TRY A "RADIO BUTTON" ANSWER:
Try clicking back and forth between the circles. Only one choice will be allowed.

3. Where are you trying out this form? At home   At school   Other

4. Which type of computer are you using? MacIntosh   PC

C. NOW TRY A "CHECK BOX" ANSWER
Click on as many boxes as you wish for this type of question.

5. Which are your favourite days of the week? (Check two or more.)

Mon.  Tues.  Wed.  Thurs.  Fri.  Sat.  Sun.

D. HERE IS A "POP-UP" MENU
Click on the triangle to see the other options. Highlight the one you want.

6. Which is your favourite "primary colour"? red yellow blue

E. THIS IS A "TEXT AREA" IN WHICH YOU CAN TYPE A LONG REPLY.
Type in the box. If you have a long reply, the box will automatically scroll down. Use the triangles to scroll back and forth to see what you have written.

7. Please comment on whether this 5-Minute Survey Learning Tool was useful to you. Where did you hear about the website? Try to use a couple of sentences so that you can see how the scrolling works!

note: The scrolling will begin after three rows of sentences. Some forms may have a limit on the number of lines you can add.

BTW (by the way!) there are different kinds of forms... I am mentioning this because I recently (as of April 19th, 2000!) switched to what is known as a "cgi script" to redirect the forms to me. This is a little different from the simple "mailto" format I was using originally. Suffice it to say that with this type of system, I don't have to worry about what kind of browser the participant has... the forms will always get through! (Or so the Computer Technicians tell me!) With the other method ("mailto"), some older computers or older browsers will not support the use of forms. (Either the form cannot be sent, or the form appears to have been sent but arrives at the other end with a blank message.) Sometimes there are one or two settings in your browser options that need to be changed. You may want to read up on your browser's features in your online manual! If you are not sure, it's always best to test a form out if possible. When I fill in a form that requires a lot of writing, I usually do it in my word processor first and then copy and paste it into the form. That way I have a copy in case anything goes wrong! (...as if anything goes wrong around computers!!!) If a website is using the "mailto" system of getting forms, after you click "submit" a dialogue box may come up that gives you a warning. An example is shown below. This dialogue box gives you to chance to decide if what you are emailing might be a security issue. If you do decide to purchase something over the Internet, always make sure that the company has the proper encryption methods in place to protect your information and also has a policy in place for not passing your name on to other companies! Example only (not functional)  When you click "OK", you may get a message like the one below. Example only (not functional)

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