Oncourse Forms: Overview

What it does

In the portfolio environment, forms are used to collect, store, and display information in wizards, matrices, and portfolios. Every form consists of a name and a set of named fields represented as text boxes, text or rich text areas, radio buttons, checkboxes, and drop-down menus. In addition, there may be instructions at the beginning of the form and/or preceding each field. Both the instructions and the field names guide participants in completing the form appropriately.

Forms are customizable and can serve a variety of purposes. Every matrix cell and wizard page can include forms for reflection, formative feedback, and evaluation. In addition, you can use forms to collect structured data such as contact information, employment history, or other categories of data that might be included in a resume.

The Forms tool allows site coordinators to add and publish form definition files (called XML schema definition files) to the site so they can be used in other tools (i.e., Matrices, Wizards, and Portfolios).

Note: You cannot actually create XML schema definition (XSD) files with the Forms tool; to create an XSD file, use an offline XML editor or the Form Builder tool. Use the Forms tool to add the completed form to the portfolio site.

Key concepts

Global vs. local forms: Global forms are published by the portfolio administrator and can be incorporated into any matrix or wizard. Forms imported or added to the Forms tool in a specific portfolio site are local and can only be used in matrices and wizards in the same site.

Things to consider

• When you fill in a form and save it, it is stored in your Portfolio Interaction folder in Resources on the My Workspace tab. You will see a separate folder for each portfolio site to which you belong. Each site folder will contain folders representing the matrices and wizards in that site, and each matrix or wizard folder will contain folders for each form type. The forms themselves will be saved inside the folder for the relevant form type.
  
  
• After you have saved a form you have filled in, you can edit the information you have entered until you submit the matrix cell or wizard page for evaluation. Once the cell or page has been submitted for evaluation, all saved forms are locked and cannot be changed.
  
  
• Only the person who fills out and saves a form can edit it; all others see the form as a read-only web page.

Help documentation

For help documentation about the Forms tool, see Forms.

Comments/Questions/Corrections