Google Form with Online Repository

Proposed Solution #2

Form example: https://goo.gl/forms/3JquSEAFwMRVjPfp2

Repository example: https://awesome-table.com/-LSN5N6V5PLTDU8T2OP0/view

Online repositories are a convenient method for researching tools and resources. Consistent categorisation and effective filtering make it easy to search out appropriate resources. On the other hand, repositories that don’t feature enough frequent and recent submissions quickly wither and die on the vine. Without an active community demonstrated through discussion boards or social media conversations, repositories can also feel sterile and unwelcoming. The current design also requires frequent administrator intervention in order to link with message boards, although this could be remedied with custom programming.

Advantages

Google Form:

Easy to build and to fill out
Google Form responses are added automatically and immediately to linked database
Google Form can be edited at any time
Users do not require an account to access Google Forms
Data is protected on Google servers
Free

Online Repository:

Google Form entries/submissions are displayed automatically through Awesome Tables
F2L site appears to be unique - no similar service on the Internet for French second language teachers
Users do not require a Google account to access the repository
Attractive design
Links to developer website for manufacturer information
Links to discussion boards regarding each resource
Searchable and filterable along metrics likely to be of importance to educators: submission date, grade levels, subject matter, language skills developed, cost and more
Also free

Disadvantages

Google Form:

Forms are not an avenue for discussion
Privacy concerns surrounding email addresses on Google servers
Questions surrounding data ownership since Google effectively hosts the form and the database
Database headings are reset with every edit to the form, messing up the repository
The form is useless without promotion encouraging users to submit resources and tools

Online Repository:

Requires an administrator to link new submissions to preexisting threads or to create a new one. This process could be automated through code or through integration with Google suite.
Administrator must hand-link images to the database entries at the moment. Only users with a Google account may upload images and these must nonetheless be formatted
Small display size means very limited information is presented
Requires ongoing submissions to ensure that content does not become dated

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