Wiki tool feature comparison: PBwiki |
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| URL for free, basic teacher accounts: https://plans.pbworks.com/signup/edubasic20. Click Create a wiki and select “education” as the type. Sample wiki using this tool: http://teachersfirst.pbworks.com/w/page/19849884/FrontPage |
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| Features available: | Yes/no | What they call it, and how to find it | Reviewer comments |
| No cost version for classroom use | Y |
Limited features and file space on free version. | |
| Safe, individual student accounts | limited |
As of December, 2008, PBwiki version 2.0 offers the ability to register students without email addresses. Use the classroom featres to access this. | |
| Mass enrollment/registration of students and other wiki members | sort of |
Classroom accounts generates a list of usernames and passwords FOR you | |
| Can “see” student passwords so teacher can help the forgetful or change | Y |
see Classroom Accounts | You can create a full list without emails |
| Multiple wikis for a single class or teacher | Y |
Anyone can make a new wiki any time | |
| Easy-to-find links to outside wikis and places possibly inappropriate for the classroom? | N (That's GOOD) |
Selecting education as wiki type removes this option | |
| Advertising free | Y |
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| Control of access to VIEW wiki | Y |
Make it “private” on set-up | |
| Control of access to edit wiki | Y |
Free accounts allow all visitors to edit if they join. You can also control edit permission by page as of version 2.0 | |
| Ability to track “vandalism” and reset to previous versions | Y |
Improved in version 2.0. Those who edit must join first, so you can see who makes changes. | |
| Selective permissions to certain pages within wiki | Y |
but costs money | new in version 2.0 - PREMIUM feature only |
| Customizable “look” | Y |
Settings> skins | Very limited options for free version |
| Page templates available | Y |
Basic set of three options in free version | |
| Self-created templates available | Y |
Tag any page you make with the word template, and it will show as an available template | |
| Includes blog features/tools | N |
Does include a place for logged-in users to comment on a page | |
| Supports images | Y |
Free version limited to 10MB of file storage. That’s not much! | |
| Supports audio files | sort of |
Only by links to other web servers or file upload (quantities very limited) | |
| Notifies admin (teacher) of changes via email | Y |
Check “notify my of changes” box at log-in | |
| RSS feed for changes available | Y |
RSS icon at bottom of page | |
| Supports video | sort of |
Edit | Can embed videos hosted elsewhere, including built in connection to YouTube |
| Supports file upload | Y |
Files button on each page | Storage limit of 10MB on free spaces |
| Image resizing tool included | N |
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| Easy text editor | Y |
Clickable editor | |
| Spell check available | N |
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| Other features: "plug-ins" (widgets) |
Y |
From edit toolbar | Several categories: Productivity (such as calendar), Photos, PBMagic, Video, and Chat. Some connect to outside sites with content that may be blocked or not classroom-appropriate |
| Other features: generate portfolio from wiki | Y |
Wiki information: portfolios | Can download as a pdf or slideshow “portfolio.” Very handy for teachers seeking to grade a wiki offline or in hard copy. |
| Other features: “snapshot” backup | Y |
Admin> settings>backup | Paid versions get full backup. Free one is text-only. |
| Online support | Y |
Help in upper right and in context on certain items | Connects to a user forum. Forum is a bit cluttered. There is also a blog. |
| Human support | Y |
PBWiki employees monitor the help boards. Email support available for classroom wikis. | |
| Easy set-up (rate 1 to 5, 5 being easiest) | 3 |
Quickstart 3 steps. Creating the wiki and defining its “key” (password) is very quick. | Steps are designed for general wiki use, not just for education, so instructions do not mention things a teacher might want to know. MANY mentions of upgrading for $. |
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Overall comments: Pro: Con: |
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