Wikispaces

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 * Date |||| // 10-9-08 // || Rating ||  ê ê ê    ( of 5 stars)  ||
 * Reviewer |||||||| // Jenny Conklin // ||
 * Web 2.0 tool name |||||| // Wikispaces // ||
 * Web address |||||| http://www.wikispaces.com ||
 * Description of tool |||||| Wikispaces lets you create simple web pages that groups, friends, and families can edit together.
 * Cost |||||| // FREE // ||

|| // || // (public, private) // ||||  ê ê ê ê ê      || // You can make the site public or private. Also, you make the page so that they may be locked and members cannot edit, or editable. // We have discovered that you can email wikispaces a bulk list of student usernames and passwords, and they will setup an account under the teacher's name so they have complete access and can monitor and limit student access. This allows eliminates the need for student emails. || // You can request an educational site and in most cases, after wikispaces has reviewed the contents of the site, they remove the adds within 24 hours. ||
 * ** Ease of use ** ||
 * Ease of navigation ||||  ê ê ê ê ê      || // Very easy to navigate. Simple navigation system. // ||
 * Accessibility of help ||||  ê ê ê ê ê      || // http://www.wikispaces.com/site/tour#introduction - provides of tour of wikispaces with screen shots, etc. Also, blogs and help pages for users. // ||
 * Quality of help ||||  ê ê ê ê ê      || // Excellent. // ||
 * On-line tutorials |||| Yes || http://www.wikispaces.com/site/tour#introduction - on-line tutorial with video and audio.  ||
 * ** Compatibility ** ||
 * Export capabilities |||| || // na // ||
 * Embedding capabilities ||||  ê ê ê ê ê      || // It allows you to embed a variety of tools, including pictures, video, audio and a variet of widgets. The tool for embedding is very easy to use. //
 * Compatible with these programs |||| // Youtube, google video, widgets, etc.
 * Advanced Features |||| ||
 * ** Customization ** ||
 * Ease of editing ||||  ê ê ê    || Although there is a very simple interface for editing in wikispaces, the tool bar is very difficult to navigate. In order to change the text type and color you have to go into the 'A' and make all of these selections that you can not see as you are editing. Thus, you must make a change, save, then view to determine if the text size, font, etc are acceptable. Also, when you add a picture or table the formatting has a tendency to change after changing causing the entire page to scew and look messy. ||
 * Ability to personalize ||||  ê ê ê    || // Limited. // ||
 * ** Credibility ** ||
 * Quality of resources ||||  ê ê ê ê     || ||
 * Citation & sources |||| || na ||
 * Endorsements ||||  ê ê ê ê     || // Not officially endorsed, however, wikispaces is one of the most popular wiki tools on the internet right now. // ||
 * ** Safety ** ||
 * User registration ||||  ê ê ê ê     || // Requires username attached to email, and a password. You must join the site to make editing changes and the owner can accept or deny access. // ||
 * Website access
 * Advertisements ||||  ê ê ê    || // Free sites do include advertisements down the right hand side of the navigation bar. For an additional monthly fee, you can have the adds removed.
 * External Links ||||  ê ê   || // yes - can be inappropriate. // ||


 * ** Comparable Tools ** ||
 * Google sites ||  ê ê ê ê ê      || // Google Site Review // ||
 * PB Wiki ||  ê ê ê    || // Information goes here // ||
 * Wet Paint ||  ê ê ê    || // Information goes here // ||