Features available:

Yes/no

What they call it, and how to find it

Reviewer comments

No cost version for classroom use

Y

Wetpaint Wikis that support learning are advertising free.

Select “classroom” as you wiki type when registering, and you will see a link to email and have advertising removed from your new wiki within a business day

Safe, individual student accounts

Y

You set user privileges on your wiki, but user must have an email account. All student users must be 13 or older.

You CAN use the teacher email account for ALL student users, since they have unique user names. This provides good options for monitoring, as well.

Mass enrollment/registration of students and other wiki members

limited

Mass enroll by email addresses pulled from your address book (many email programs, but not all)

This option requires that the addresses currently be in an email address book on your computer. Developers are working on a mass upload registration useful for teachers  in a future version of Wetpaint.

Can “see” student passwords so teacher can help the forgetful or change

N

Developers are working on a mass registration feature for an upcoming version. This will include defining passwords when you upload.

Multiple wikis for a single class or teacher

Y

Create each wiki the usual way.

No limit.

Easy-to-find links to outside wikis  and places possibly inappropriate for the classroom?

Y
(this is not good)

“see other wikis” link on footer on all pages, Yahoo images option, widgets options

There is also a link to Access to such public sites could bring up content inappropriate for the classroom.

Advertising free

Y

This option shows up on “classroom” wikis after the wiki is set up.

Be sure to choose “Classroom” as your wiki type when setting up the account. This  will provide the email information to request ad-free status. Allow 48 hours

Control of access to VIEW wiki

Y

Choose “everyone” or “invited members” option in step 1 of wiki set-up.

Can be changed later from Wiki settings in upper right corner. Click on the Permission tab.

Control of access to edit wiki

Y

“Tell us who can change your wiki” question at set-up. Three options: everyone, those who join, or invited members.

Can be changed later from Wiki settings in upper right corner. Click on the Permission tab.

Ability to track “vandalism” and reset to previous versions

Y

You can see who made changes, assuming you allow only registered user to make changes (see “control of access to edit wiki” above)

Give careful thought to assigning privileges beyond “registered user” to any student. Unfortunately, any reg user can add and delete pages, a possible problem if a student wants to delete another’s work.

Selective permissions to certain pages within wiki

N

Permissions are determined by user level, not by page. You can lock certain pages so only you (admin) can change them. Use your wiki warranaty to spell out consequences of wiki mis-use. Another work-around is to  make a separate wiki that has different privileges and link to it.

On EasyEdit toolbar

Some very handy! Some widgets may be blocked I your school or difficult for teacher to monitor.
Teachers new to such tools may want to “prohibit” their use, since students can “find” inappropriate content.

Other features: To Do list

Other features:
Activity reports

Other features:
Threaded Discussion Forums

Educator ambassador- submit questions to a teacher, 24 hr or less

Three steps, instant access. Some editing to remove unwanted pages automatically provided.

Overall comments:
Pro:
A very rich, complete wiki tool.
The user interface and contextual help are great for even a beginner.
Automatic links in navigation area and quick page template options can be time-savers.
Great quick start tool with user-friendly options.
You can “grow with” Wetpaint as you learn more. 
Page Toolbox makes options very clear on any screen.
Many page templates and design style choices
To-do list very handy and versatile for students and teachers
Integrated spell checker

Con:
Includes non- classroom-friendly features, depending on the administrative policies where you teach and teacher comfort level with monitoring readily-available widgets and discussion threads. 
Fewer options for organizing your Navigation area (hiding pages, for example) or including an outside wiki link in this nav area. Hiding pages can come in handy in “preparing” content you don’t want to “show” yet, such as upcoming units or projects.
Some visual clutter with sidebars down both sides of wiki: Navigation at left and options for what to do at right, Discussion boards below. Might be difficult for elementary students to “see” past the clutter. (Unfamiliar users must learn to use lttile triangle to close some content and “clean up” the look.).
Some page saves slow for our editors