BP12_2009103_Web 2.0 Tools - Classtools.net

BP12_2009103_Web 2.0 Tools
Classtools.net

Classtools.net is a website that lets users create a variety of applications all from the classtools.net website. Once the application has been created, you may save the application to your local hard drive. From there, the application may be added to a personal website, blog, or other Internet area where the user has control to add content to the page. Classtools.net does not host any of the applications that are created, but they will host and have available templates that are created.

There are a variety of applications that are created and can be modified including:
• Arcade games
• Countdown timer
• Random number selection
• Post it
• Venn diagrams
• Timelines
• Target diagrams
• Jigsaw diagrams
• Living graphs
The tools found here seem more as a method of creating applications to be used, rather than any form of direct collaboration. Once the application has been created, then they may be shared via blog sites, web sites, or even RSS feeds built into either type of site.
There are many sample lesson plans available in each area; many have multiple examples for a variety of subject areas. In the ‘Maths’ section, yes it does appear that the English used may be a little off; there are seven sample lessons. Using the sample lessons could give the user an example of what can be created with each of the templates that are available.
All of the templates are created in Flash, which should keep the file size relatively small, and should allow most sites the ability to handle each activity created without running into problems with file size.
A couple of confusing aspects are when you save, it does create an html document that is directly downloaded into the downloads folder, but when looking at the file, it seems that it links directly back to the classtools.net website with a coded web page. So I can see that if this tool were to be used, there would have to be much more investigative time spent to fully utilize the applications created here. Overall, I would say that it has some good ideas behind it, but it is not quite ready for the average user.