Wiki vs. Ning

With the start of our next class we are leaving our experience with the Ning behind, temporarily, and moving into a course run on a wiki.  Just today I was signing into the wiki and setting up my page.  I also added my blog address to the sidebar, which got me thinking about which type of tool I like the best for these courses.  The strength in my mind with the Ning is the forums and the community building that can be done easily through the individual pages that all link together and connect in a really intuitive way.  You can share your work on the Ning, but I feel that you are somewhat limited in that they are shared through links to other sites or documents.  Some things can be embedded on the Ning's personal pages, but I feel like the individual page is not designed for content. 

The wiki on the other hand seems like it is built for content, and if ever you don't feel there is a space for your work, you just need to create that space.  The wiki also is highly customizable to whatever the needs of the group are.  Templates can be created, group pages, folders, new files that can be shared by all, images are easily accessed.  I think for our group the wiki is actually my preference.  It isn't as flashy as the Ning, but I feel that its functionality is greater. 

For my 7th graders I have put together a Ning for them to use in class.  I don't know that they are yet ready for the building process that goes into a wiki.  I want to get them used to the Ning and see how communities are built and how they operate before opening up the door a little with a wiki.  I will be doing that sometime towards the 3rd or 4th quarter where they will be discussing novels that are set around the Eastern Hemishpere.  In addition to their discussions I want them to post original content.  They will be researching topics of interest that are linked to the novels they have read.

If you have any experience with novels being used in geography or as inspiration for research work or know someone who does I would love to hear from you.