Gaggle+(Free)

Gaggle is an powerful system with options for email, message boards, chat rooms, blogs. Gaggle account gives users access to students. These features can be accessed or made unavailable through the administrator who sets the priviledges and access levels.


 * Security Levels:**
 * 1) All student email can be viewed and monitored
 * 2) All messages are filtered to identify inappropriate language
 * 3) Gaggle uses "blocked text" and "blocked address" - these lists can be edited
 * 4) Anti-Pornography scanner engineered to identify and block obscene visual depictions, child pornography, or images harmful to minors
 * 5) Notifications of violations sent to the teacher who set up the accounts
 * 6) Additional message header information is added to identify the computer and time messages were sent;
 * 7) Students are initially asked to view use policy and agree to acceptable use guidelines
 * 8) Message boards have a "Report Abuse Link" where students can anomyously report offensive comments.
 * 9) Gaggle has Virus and Spam control - levels of security and a Report Spam button


 * Ease of Use:**
 * 1) Students login to Gaggle to access the features set by their teacher.
 * 2) Fully functional email system - functions can be set to limit the features
 * 3) Built-in Address Groups - based on the access level set when accounts are created


 * Set-Up:**
 * 1) Teacher registers online and is given the School Master username and password
 * 2) Lists of students can be imported
 * 3) Teacher sets up the individual student acounts and sets an initial password
 * 4) Students can then logon, changing the password if desired.
 * 5) Extensive user guides for the adinistrator and web support: http://www.gaggle.net/system_help/help_index.html


 * Look & Feel:**
 * 1) The free version of Gaggle is supported by many different kinds of advertising including: banner ads, direct messages sent to users, pop-up ads, login ads and tag line messages in outgoing email.
 * 2) Format is intuitive and has features typical of many popular programs
 * 3) Friendly interface to the communication tools for students
 * 4) Extensive options in Administative Controls

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 * Cost:**
 * 1) Free