With a variety of formats to choose from, teachers can create engaging Padlets which encourage students to participate in online activities. Padlet can be used for:
Promoting Creativity and InnovationTeachers can create and share Padlets which encourage students to brainstorm ideas. By brainstorming ideas, students’ creative skills are enhanced and they get exposed to new perspectives from their classmates. With the profanity filters, checks against inappropriate content, and the ability to screen all posts before making them visible, Padlet gives teachers the opportunity to manage students’ posts, making it a safe space for brainstorming ideas.
Assessing StudentsFormative assessments can be conducted informally using Padlet. Teachers can prompt students to write reflections after a lesson, or post their comments and questions on a Padlet to gather information on students’ understanding of instructional content. Posts can be made anonymously or teachers can require students to display their names when posting content.Padlets can be shared on any LMS using the various sharing options. Padlet, however, integrates with Canvas so managing assessments becomes easier for teachers who use that LMS.
Enhancing CollaborationThe comments and voting features encourage collaboration among students, as teachers can divide students into groups to work together and contribute to one another’s posts. Created Padlet walls can be shared with others via QR codes, links, exports, emails, or embedments on a website or blog.
To get started with Padlet, teachers can visit padlet.com to sign up for a free account or paid subscriptions, namely the Pro Account and Padlet Backpack. Free accounts limit teachers to three Padlets at a time, but the paid subscriptions provide teachers with additional features and privacy protections. Specifically, the individual Pro Account offers unlimited Padlets and there is also no limit to how many Padlets teachers can upload. The Backpack account, which is a subscription for schools, offers student portfolios, bigger file uploads, and other additional features.
Teacher information collected when signing up for a Padlet account is kept secure and not shared with third parties, unless permitted by users themselves. Teachers who create Padlets can decide to make their content private or public, depending on their settings, which can be changed at any time. Padlet’s terms of service specify that the school, teacher, or district is responsible for any parental consent requirements or obligations covered under COPPA or FERPA. The terms also specify that Padlet is not intended to be used by people under the age of 13 (as Padlet creators) without the Backpack guidance, supervision and consent of their parents, guardians and/or authorized school officials.
Aside from adhering to the general Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Padlet is compatible with screen reader software such as VoiceOver and Apple. Currently, Padlet’s homepage is keyboard-accessible. The company’s goal is to eventually make all content on Padlet keyboard-accessible as well.