← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Marking a form question as optional or required

A switch on a form question. When on, people must answer it. Switch it off for questions you do not really need, so people can skip them and share less personal data.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 24

Understanding Marking a form question as optional or required in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: Non-essential questions should have Required switched off so people can skip them and share less data. Previewing lets you check that only the essential questions block submission when left empty. Required on means the form will not submit until the question is answered. If you never use the data, the best choice is to delete the question. At the very least, make it optional. Previewing the form lets you test it yourself before anyone shares their data. The fix is to switch Required off, or delete the question if you do not need it at all.

Common mistakes: A lunch poll does not need a home address. Switch Required OFF so people can skip it and share less personal data. The event choice is the main thing the form needs. It should be Required ON so nobody can skip it. Only the non-essential questions should be OFF.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 728–751) and word search (Modules 696–770).

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Learning
Duo
A form asks for a student's home phone number, but you do not really need it. What should the Required switch be?
Switched on, so everyone must answerSwitched off, so the question is optional
Matches
Phone number - Required: ON (not needed for the survey)
↓
A question that is not essential was left as required, which forces people to hand over personal data.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Required
Meaning
A switch on a form question. When on, people must answer it. Switch it off for questions you do not really need, so people can skip them and share less personal data.
Practice
Question: First name
Testing
Gaps
addressQuestion. = false
Check Answer
Spots
1Form: Lunch Poll
2Q1 Home address: Required ON

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Quick Questions

1. A form asks for a student's home phone number, but you do not really need it. What should the Required switch be?
A. Switched off, so the question is optional ✓
B. Switched on, so everyone must answer
If you do not really need the data, switch Required off so people can skip the question and share less personal data.
2. What does it mean when the Required switch is ON for a form question?
A. The person must answer it before they can submit ✓
B. The person can skip it if they want to
Required on means the form will not submit until the question is answered.
3. Which question is the best one to leave as Required?
A. What is your home address?
B. Which lunch order do you want? ✓
The form only works if the lunch order is answered. The home address is not needed, so it should not be required.
4. A club form has a question about a student's birthday that the club never uses. What is the best choice?
A. Keep it and switch Required on
B. Delete the question completely ✓
If you never use the data, the best choice is to delete the question. At the very least, make it optional.
5. Mia sees a question on a form that is not marked Required. What can she do?
A. Skip it and still submit the form ✓
B. She must answer it or the form will not submit
Optional questions can be left blank. People can choose to share less data.

Match the Pairs

Required: ON → The respondent must answer this question before they can submit the form.
Required: OFF → The respondent can skip this question and still submit the form.
A question you do not really need, such as a home address on a club survey, should be optional. → Home address - Required: OFF
Preview the form and try to submit it with a question left blank to test the Required setting. → Preview > leave blank > Submit
Phone number - Required: ON (not needed for the survey) → A question that is not essential was left as required, which forces people to hand over personal data.
Name - Required: OFF (needed to book a spot) → An essential question was made optional, so people can submit the form without giving the answer you need.

Key Term

Required
A switch on a form question. When on, people must answer it. Switch it off for questions you do not really need, so people can skip them and share less personal data.

Fill in the Blanks

1. addressQuestion.required = false
Hint: Type the name of the setting that decides whether people must answer the question.
2. # Phone number is not essential phoneQuestion.required = false
Hint: Type the true/false value that lets people skip this question.
3. # We need an email to reply emailQuestion.required = true
Hint: Type the true/false value that forces people to answer this essential question.
4. # Birthday is not needed at all form.delete(birthdayQuestion)
Hint: Type the action that removes a question completely from the form.
5. # Check optional questions can be skipped form.preview()
Hint: Type the action that lets you test the form as a respondent sees it.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Form: Lunch Poll
B Q1 Home address: Required ON
C Q2 Lunch choice: Required ON
Line B — A lunch poll does not need a home address. Switch Required OFF so people can skip it and share less personal data.
Question 2
A Form: Sports Day Entry
B Q1 Event choice: Required OFF
C Q2 Phone number: Required OFF
Line B — The event choice is the main thing the form needs. It should be Required ON so nobody can skip it. Only the non-essential questions should be OFF.
Question 3
A Form: Chess Club Survey
B Make Q1 Shoe size Required
C Q2 Club choice: Required ON
Line B — Shoe size is not needed for a chess club, and making it required forces people to share it. A question you do not need should be deleted.
Question 4
A Form: Art Club Sign-up
B Q1 Name: Required ON
C Q2 Phone: Required OFF
D Send form without a preview
Line D — You should preview the form and test it before sharing it. That checks that the Required switches work as you planned.
Question 5
A Form: Photo Competition
B Q1 Photo title: Required ON
C Q2 Mobile number: Required ON
D Preview the form
Line C — A mobile number is not essential for a photo competition. Required should be OFF so people can skip it and share less personal data.

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