TeachersFirst: Wiki Walk-Through

Wiki tool feature comparison: Wikispaces Free "Plus" Membership for Teachers
URL for teacher accounts: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers Sample wiki using this tool: http://teachersfirst.wikispaces.com/ TRY IT! back
Features available:	Yes/no	What they call it, and how to find it	Reviewer comments
No cost version for classroom use	Y	“Plus” plan, usually bears a cost. Use the URL above to access the for teachers offer.	Over 100K free wikis have been given away, and they now offer 250K more!
Safe, individual student accounts	Y	See directions on http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teachers to email the info to wikispaces
Mass enrollment/registration of students and other wiki members	Y	See directions on http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teachers to email the info to wikispaces
Can “see” student passwords so teacher can help the forgetful or change	Y	Use mass enrollment feature to set their passwords	If students CHANGE their password. you will not know.
Multiple wikis for a single class or teacher	Y
Easy-to-find links to outside wikis and places possibly inappropriate for the classroom?	Y (not a good thing)	Widgets accessible from TV-type icon on editing toolbar. Some widgets access "general public" content.	Your school filtering may block sites such as YouTube, anway.
Advertising free	Y
Control of access to VIEW wiki	Y	"private" or "public"	Free Plus account for educators gives you great control
Control of access to edit wiki	Y		Free Plus account for educators gives you great control
Ability to track “vandalism” and reset to previous versions	Y	Page history
Selective permissions to certain pages within wiki	N		You can lock certain pages so only you (admin) can change them. Another work-around is to make a separate wiki that has different privileges and link to it.
Customizable “look”	Y	Manage space> Look and Feel	no "themes"
Page templates available	N	One basic page offered
Self-created templates available	Y	Manage space> Manage templates	Use an existing page you have made as a start-point for a new page.
Includes blog features/tools	Y	Can integrate with your Typepad blog- see help.
Supports images	Y	lcon of tree on editing toolbar	Upload, select from your collection, or link by URL. Limits: single file 10 MB, total files: 2GB
Supports audio files	Y	Widgets (TV icon on toolbar) or as linked file. No podcast syndication or RSS feed.	Link to the file elsewhere on the web or embeds using code from other sites. Limits for free PLUS account: single file 20 MB, total files: 2GB
Notifies admin (teacher) of changes via email	Y	My Account : select pages for email notification or leave set for all, or Notify Me tab on individual pages
RSS feed for changes available	Y	Notify Me tab on individual pages
Supports video	Y	By embedding video based elsewhere on the web: YouTube, Google Video, Teacher Tube, others? Use TV icon on editing toolbar
Supports file upload	Y	Tree icon on editing toolbar	Limits for free PLUS account: single file 20 MB, total files: 2GB
Image resizing tool included	N
Easy text editor	Y	Toolbar like Word. Newer features in 2008: text coloring/formatting, table tools.	Click Floating Toolbar to keep it with you as you scroll.
Spell check available	N
Other features: widgets	Y	TV icon on editing toolbar: Video, Audio, Calendar, Spreadsheet, Document, Polls, RSS Feed, Chat and IM, Slideshow, Map	Some very handy! Some widgets may be blocked in 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: Private messages	Y	Manage space> Members> click on person’s name to send message	Teachers could use this to comment directly to students on their work.
Online support	Y	Help in upper right. Also teacher-specific Help at http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teachers. Newer help is searchable.	Not as much contextual help as some other tools (help right next to an option)
Human support	Y	Only by submitting via email, not in real time
Easy set-up (rate 1 to 5, 5 being easiest)	4	Use educator page and directions at http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers100KSeveral videos for demo and help.	Don’t forget to request free “plus” level
Backup download available	Y	Manage space> back up space	Complete offline copy available for download
Overall comments: Pro: The first wiki service to offer free, ad-free wikispaces for educational use Auto-save of drafts as you edit. A clean and clear tool without confusing clutter or unnecessary options. Teacher-friendly help pages Help for bulk enrollment a big plus for secondary teachers of many students Generous file storage space Can add pages that do not show in Navigation area yet. Hiding pages can come in handy in “preparing” content you don’t want to “show” yet, such as upcoming units or projects. Con: Anyone can access Manage space, not just the wiki organizer. This may be a problem with curious students. Widget availability can be a problem for teacher not comfortable managing such easy availability or for teacher in schools where these items are forbidden.
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