Building a Form
The form builder is where you create and edit observation forms. It provides a drag-and-drop interface for organizing sections and elements, with a live preview mode to see how the form will appear to observers.
Creating a New Form
Click the + Form button in the top navigation bar.
A new blank form opens in the form builder with a single empty section.
Give your form a name by clicking the form name field at the top of the page.
Form Builder Layout
The form builder has three panels:
Left panel — Components: A scrollable list of all 18 element types (plus 4 Matrix Scale variants). Drag elements from here into the center panel to add them to your form.
Center panel — Section editor: Shows the currently selected section with its elements. Use the section tabs at the top to switch between sections.
Right panel — Configuration: Form details including categories, school access, and editing permissions.
Working with Sections
Sections are the tabs of your form. Each section groups related elements together.
Add a section — Click the "+ Section" button at the right end of the section tab bar.
Rename a section — Click the section name in the header area to edit it.
Add a description — Click below the section name to add a description.
Reorder sections — Drag section tabs to rearrange them.
Duplicate a section — Click the three-dot menu on the section header, then select "Duplicate Section."
Delete a section — Click the three-dot menu, then select "Delete Section."
Adding Elements
Find the element type you want in the Components panel on the left.
Drag it into the center panel and drop it where you want it to appear.
Click the element to configure its name, description, and properties.
Each element has:
- Name — The question or label shown to observers (supports rich text).
- Description — Optional helper text shown below the name.
- Help — Optional expandable help text.
- Properties — Type-specific settings (e.g., scale range, labels, max file size). See Form Element Types for details.
Reordering Elements
Drag elements within a section to reorder them.
Drag elements between sections by moving them to the drop zones.
Build vs. Preview Mode
The form builder has two modes, toggled from the header:
Build — Full editing access. Add, remove, and configure elements.
Preview — Read-only view showing the form exactly as observers will see it during an observation. Use this to review your form before publishing.
Configuring Form Details
The right panel has three configuration sections:
Details
Attach categories to your form. Categories (like Subject Area, Grade Level, or Class Period) let observers tag observations with context that flows into reports. See Form Categories.
Schools
Control which schools can use this form. Select or deselect schools from the dropdown to grant or remove access. A form must be shared with at least one school to be useful.
Editing Permission
By default, only the form creator can edit a form. Add other users as authorized editors to collaborate on form design.
Tips for Building Effective Observation Forms
Use sections to match your observation workflow. Group related indicators together — a coach should be able to move through sections as they observe different aspects of the lesson.
Start with a rubric matrix. If your school uses a rubric-based observation tool, a Matrix Scale - Likert element with rows for each indicator is the most efficient structure.
Add counters for real-time tallying. Counters work well for tracking student interactions, question types, or other behaviors that happen repeatedly during a lesson.
Include a Free Text element for narrative notes. Coaches often need space for written feedback beyond structured questions.
Use Static Text for section instructions. Guide observers through the form with clear directions at the top of each section.