Padlet

What is it?

Padlet is a virtual wall tool where users can add or post content, including, text, images, videos, documents and links, and comments in real time and asynchronously.

Posts can be organised into categories with different layout options and templates available. You also have the ability to control sharing, access and permissions. Padlet also allows you to save ‘virtual walls’ to provide students with an opportunity to review and reflect on their learning, and give instructors a snapshot or summary of student ideas, thinking and learning activities.

This can be useful for teaching and learning to encourage and foster active learning based on discussion, collaboration, knowledge sharing and problem solving around particular topics for face-to-face, online activities or both.

Why use it?

Padlet can be used for various learning activities. Below are some ideas on how you might want to implement Padlet in your subject:

• Brainstorming and mind mapping – Students can collaborate and interact with each other through Padlet, by sharing ideas, thoughts and comments in real-time and asynchronously.
• Q&A Board/Backchannel – Students post comments and questions about particular topics during a live teaching session or asynchronously. The ability to post anonymously can be particularly useful for students who do not feel comfortable speaking directly during class. Instructors can address these questions during class or on the Padlet.
• Topic summary/Collaborative note-taking – Instructors can consolidate learning by asking students to add notes to a Padlet, which can be exported and used as review materials.

How do I use it?

1. Go to padlet.com
2. Click Sign up  and register if you would like to have your own account.
3. Click the Make  button.
4. Select the layout option for your Padlet. Add a title and description. You are also able to customise the appearance, posting, and filtering options for your Padlet. Click Next once you are finished.
5. Now click on the Start posting button and you are ready to begin. Click the “ + ” button or double click anywhere on the Padlet to begin posting.
6. Select your Padlet’s privacy setting and sharing options from the Share  link located on the top-right of the page.

Considerations

• Select the right layout for the purpose of the activity to avoid messy posts
• The ‘free’ account allows up to three Padlet walls at a time, with the ability to reuse these walls. When reusing walls, ensure you export or save the wall first, allowing ideas and activities to be stored for future reference.
• Embed your Padlet wall into a content area to enable students to directly access it from the LMS. Watch a 2 minute video that shows you how to embed Padlet in Blackboard .

Resources

• Padlet and collaborative learning – University of Sydney
• Online Tools for Teaching & Learning: Padlet – University of Massachusetts