Choose a wiki tool
Roll your mouse over each criterion at the left to help you make sure that the wiki tool you choose has the capabilities you need. For a detailed comparison, read the tool reviews of all three tools, prepared by the TeachersFirst team.
I will come back to this. I want to play with the wiki tools first: Wikispace sample, PBworks sample.
I don't need to see any more. I am going to set up my wiki right now on Wikispaces or PBWorks. I will be back to read the rest of the ideas on this Wiki Walk-Through!
Choose a wiki tool
Roll your mouse over each criterion at the left to help you make sure that the wiki tool you choose has the capabilities you need. For a detailed comparison, read the tool reviews of all three tools, prepared by the TeachersFirst team.
I will come back to this. I want to play with the wiki tools first: Wikispace sample, PBworks sample.
I don't need to see any more. I am going to set up my wiki right now on Wikispaces or PBWorks. I will be back to read the rest of the ideas on this Wiki Walk-Through!
Ease of Use
The ideal wiki tool can be learned in a matter of minutes, even for young elementary students, as long as they can find letters on a keyboard. Take a look at some samples we have made for you to "play" with. Find and sign the guest book (Click Edit page or Easy Edit) to see just how easy it is. Hint: when you change things, you must SAVE.
Return here by using your BACK button or "Back to Wiki Walk-Through"
TeachersFirst sample wikispaces wiki
TeachersFirst sample PBworks wiki
Appearance
You will want to be able to find things easily within your wiki and possibly to adjust the overall look of the wiki. Look at our sample wikis on wikispaces and PBworks to see some of the options for ad-free wikis.
The TeachersFirst team has done simple customization options on each sample to adjust the appearance, such as uploading an image or choosing colors or "themes."
Can you find each wiki's subpages? (Hint: Look for subpage links at left or right). Do you see where to find information on latest changes and page history?
Be sure to return here with your Back button or the "Back to Wiki Walk-Through" link.
Cost
There are many free wiki tools on the web. Most fund their existence through advertising that appears on your wiki. This can be very distracting or even inappropriate for students who inevitably click on the enticing links. And it never fails that one of the links will go to something awful, just as a parent or principal drops by to visit.
As of early 2010, Wikispaces and PBWorks have offers for free, secure, advertising-free wiki space for classroom use, each with its own features.
Security
You want to be able to make the following settings in your wiki:
- Protect certain pages from changes (find out how to LOCK pages). This prevents accidental erasures. See Manage Space or page options/settings.
- Set the entire wiki to private view (visible and editable only by members) if this is your school's policy. See Manage Space or Wiki Options/Settings.
- Set the entire wiki to protected or member-only editing, if you wish to prevent non-student visitors from making changes. See Manage Space or Wiki Options/Settings.
Make sure that any wiki tool you choose permits the options YOU need.
Two educational wiki tools reviewed
Wikispaces is giving away over 350,000 free, secure, advertising-free wikis to teachers. Read a complete TeachersFirst review of wikispaces.
PBWorks offers free, ad-free, secure wikis for education. Read a complete TeachersFirst review of PBworks.
TeachersFirst has no affiliation or financial relationship with any of these tools, other than friendly cooperation in encouraging teachers to try wikis.
