Wikispaces





About Wikispaces
Wikispaces is a free online web tool which allows the user to create a personal space. This personal space is governed by accessing rights by the user. The user can allow only the people who they want to see the site. Otherwise the wiki is considered as ‘private’. Wiki pages are considered as a virtual website which can be edited with or without the knowledge and understanding of html coding. The user can upload images, movies and sound files with ease, along with a diverse range of widgets and an ability to embed and link multimedia on the page. Furthermore, students can edit pages and revise previously edited pages through the use of the history tracker which is a great feature.

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Educational Implementation
The educational advantages of this tool have the potential to enhance student learning and development through the use of this technology. This tool is fantastic for educational use as students can create a wiki page and collaborate with other students in the class, school and even with students from other schools. The potential possibilities for this tool to be used in collaborative work is quite large and the added feature of being able to comment on other students pages is a great idea for constructive feedback on their learning. Consideration does need to look into online ‘cyber safety’ when introducing students to this tool as students are collaborating online and they do have a profile which can be viewed as ‘private’ and personal information does not need to be shared. However, it is important that students are aware of the online threats which can occur.

Advantages:
Online web tool which requires no software installation Can be used anywhere with internet access Stimulates online discussions Suitable for primary and secondary students Easy to use Can monitor who is accessing pages Requires no internet coding experience Teachers can receive a limited account which is superior to the freeware account Storage of page via the internet It’s free

Disadvantages:
Need to subscribe for an account To access the full potential of wikispaces there is a monthly coat associated Requires internet access Limited selection of fonts, and templates Basic edition does not include any design templates Could be blocked to students via browsing restrictions in Some Schools

Summary of Wikispaces
Wikispaces is a great online tool for educational use as it can facilitate collaborative learning amongst students, teachers and the world. The tool receives a four out of five for functionality and ease of use.

For more information view this article which unpacks wikis in detail.

Tool Rating 4 / 5 Stars: