A collaborative classroom: What can Padlet do?

A Collaborate Classroom: What Can Padlet Do? 

This blog is a "serious" evaluation post (joke 😜). But I will indeed introduce a very useful collaboration tool - Padlet. On this platform, teachers can organize a virtual classroom!

✨  ✨  ✨ What Is Padlet? 

Padlet is an online virtual bulletin board where the teachers and students can freely share their ideas (text, image, video, document, GIFs, etc. ). Everyone can check others' sharing and makes comments, so users can work collaboratively. It is never minded that you want to remain mysterious because you can choose to post content or leave comments anonymously!

It is very convenient to use this tool. It has webpage and app versions, and students can access using their phones, computers or other electronic devices. Moreover, it is free for use.  As a teacher, the basic version provides more than enough functionality for your teaching needs. The free version allows for three Padlets, but upgrading won't break the bank if you want to use it consistently! A paid upgrade offers features specific to educators' needs, including unlimited Padlets, more upload space, folders, and priority support.

Teachers can add moderators and turn on comments and voting features for more collaboration. In China, there may be some controls and demands on speech. Or, if your students are younger. As added checks against inappropriate content, moderators can turn on profanity filters, screening all posts before making them visible. 

Finally, it is very exciting that in China, you don't need to use VPN to access it! 👏

✨  ✨  ✨ How To Use It?  

👉 Step-by-step version

Step 1: Go to padlet.com and create an account. 

Step 2: Create a new Padlet wall by clicking on Create New Padlet.

Step 3: Start working on your Padlet wall by clicking Modify This Wall. Place the team’s project Title and a small Description about the project into appropriate places.

Step 4: Change the Wallpaper and Layout on the Modify This Wall page. Add a preset or customized wallpaper and change the layout to stream, grid, or freeform.

👉 Upgraded version 

1. Ice breaking. At the beginning of the course, teachers can create an "introduction wall" and invite students to introduce themselves with text, pictures or videos. Of course, the teacher can take the lead in making a demonstration, and go through these introductions together in the first class.

2. Brainstorming. Teachers can quickly set up a topic-based Padlet wall so that students can contribute and share their ideas in a timely manner. This brainstorming wall can also be saved and revisted. 

3. Collaborative work. Students can work in groups, and access their own Padlet to collaboratively create a paperless multimedia poster and then share it with other class members. They can also share their teamwork or group project in this platform if the school don't have Learning Management System. Furthermore, Padlect is also a good place to conduct competitions and surveys (you just need to click on "💗"). I suppose the "voting" function will make students more enthusiasm and be engaged in your language classroom! 

4. Class bulletin. Padlet can get updated in real-time so it is a good way to publish class announcements. Once the teacher creates a wall, there are various ways to share it: socially, via Google Classroom, by exporting it to a file, embedding it in a blog or website, or turning it into a QR code. 

5. Flipped classroom. Teachers can post materials in Padlet, and allow students to read, listen or watch. And students can also post their ideas and works, and interact with other students. When coming back to the classroom, they can have a deeper discussion.

6. Mentoring platform. The teacher can post word pronunciation task or short writing task. For example, the teacher uploads a word list and a video (or audio) demonstration of pronunciation. Students need to upload their pronunciation homework on this wall. The teachers can evaluate students' work. Similarly, students can learn from their peers and give feedback. It is also a good opportunity to develop their peer mentoring ability! 

💬  💬  💬 Some Limitations  

1. Padlet is actually a bulletin board.  You can't get instant feedback like you would in a classroom face-to-face. And it is also difficult to have in-depth communication and get detailed responses. 

2. One thing that really bothers me is that I can't get new notifications. There are no notification features for users, except you are the owner of the board! Students need to re-visit the board to see if there are any new posts. I think this limitation might demotivate their learning enthusiasm.  

3. When I used Padlet as a student and didn’t create an account, I often encountered the situation that I could not access it. Later I learned that if you don’t have an account, Padlet will install a cookie on your computer to help you gain access back to your wall.  It can be deleted or blocked by your computer’s virus protection software, leaving users unable to access it.

💟 💟 💟 Hope You Enjoy It~