The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted education in many ways we never imagined, but it has also taught us some valuable lessons. One of the most important is that our learning spaces can be much more than the four walls of a classroom. We need tools that can enhance student creativity whilst accommodating for a variety of student circumstances, such as remote learning and international collaboration. Padlet is one such tool that can help teachers achieve these goals. (Earp, 2022).
Padlet is a virtually free* online tool that allows users to create digital bulletin boards and collaborate with others in real time. It is available on web browsers and mobile devices on iOS and Android, making it easily accessible to students and teachers anywhere with an internet connection. Students can create, cooperate, and edit ideas live and show their work through timelines, brainstorming, blog posts, and much more. Padlet also allows students and teachers to share images, links, and videos, and as a result, enabling full lessons to be held on Padlet, when combined with video conferencing platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet.
Padlet is a great way to stay organised, brainstorm ideas, and work together with peers on group projects and presentations. It is easy to use and can help students and teachers be more creative and productive in their work. Due to its social component, Padlet has been shown to improve student engagement, motivation, and learning, all critical factors that have been a challenge during the Covid-19 pandemic (Ali, 2021; Gill-Simmen, 2021).
As an example, Padlet can be used to allow students in a Stage 4 classroom when developing their understanding of the Earth and solar system (ACSSU115, SC4-12ES) (Australian Curriculum, 2023; NESA, 2018). By working collaboratively through Padlet, students can discuss and solve problems surrounding our Earth and solar system, work towards deadlines, and then present their work in various ways, just like you would in a professional setting. Students can import GIFs to their posts and have others comment on their work (please click on the photo to follow a link for an example Padlet).
This can allow students to work with others remotely and internationally. All these skills are job-transferrable skills that can allow students to build their 21st-century skills, higher-order thinking, and autonomy, all whilst working towards the syllabus outcomes (Goode & Flint, 2021).
In conclusion, Padlet is a valuable resource that can help enhance students’ communication skills, creativity, and learning. Padlet can help us adapt and rethink traditional learning spaces whilst preparing students for the future. It is easy to use and versatile, making it an ideal tool for educators to take their teaching to the next level.
*Use 3 or fewer Padlet boards for free. Share board links with collaborators to avoid exceeding the free limit.
**All photos are screenshots of original author content or playthroughs on Padlet.
References
Ali, A. (2021). Using Padlet as a pedagogical tool. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 22. https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi22.799
Earp, J. (2022, October 12). Education research: Teachers’ experiences of lockdown learning. Teacher Magazine. https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/education-research-teachers-experiences-of-lockdown-learning
Gill-Simmen, L. (2021). Using Padlet in instructional design to promote cognitive engagement: a case study of undergraduate marketing students. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 20. https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi20.575
Goode, J. & Flint, R. (2021). Leveraging STEM and digital technologies to teach 21st century skills in the primary and secondary classroom. Teaching Science (Deakin West, A.C.T.), 67(4), 18–25. https://search-informit-org.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/doi/10.3316/informit.254557985765846
NESA. (2018). Outcomes (linked to course content) science years 7-10 syllabus (2018). New South Wales education standards authority. https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/science/science-7-10-2018
Padlet. (Founded 2012). www.padlet.com
Thank you, Pia, for your insightful and encouraging post on the versatility and accessibility of Padlet. Your observations in regard to the ever-changing nature of 21st Century education especially needing to be flexible for differing software's (such as IOS and Android) are practical. This is especially practical in many classrooms today that are bring-your-own-device environments.
I noticed that you mentioned both remote and international learners and was pleased to see that Padlet is free and accessible as it then means that both of these demographics are reached. I also found that the integration of multimedia within Padlet (collaborative brainstorming, documents, timelines, blogs and posts) means that even when students are as you said, not face to face in the classroom,…
Loved hearing you discuss Padlet, a technology to be quite frank I had never heard of prior to reading your article. Your blog was so well structured it made it all easy to follow. I particularly enjoyed your explanation for how it can be used across the stages and for all ages
Now i see that you have 3 free boards that can be shared across between collaborators. I have two questions regarding this, the first being is this limitless so you could in-fact share this information with an entire classroom?
The second being can you erase the information on the Padlet board so you can continue to use this multiple times over without reaching that limit of 3 ?
Hi Pia!
Your post on Padlet is really good. I especially liked that you talked about how you linked it to the Covid-19 pandemic because that had a major impact on the education of students.
Do you think there are other technologies that Padlet can be used in tandem with as it may provide students with more options?
I also really liked that you mentioned how students can work collaboratively using Padlet because peer work is a very prominent part of the schooling of students and different technologies are likely to keep them engaged.
By Siddiqa Butt (07/03/2023)
Hi Pia Amazing job on your blog about Padlet! Within Covid times I did see it being used as an effective tool to share and construct information pretty easily and you demonstrated it well! I also love how you contextualised it to utilise in an easy classroom environment such as the solar system as you have effectively displayed information as well as images in the solar system order, in a fun and interactive way! However, I would love to know how you can demonstrate students individualisation and personalisation of creativity while using padlet for an activity similar to this? Are there any otherways you can imagine students representing information in a fun and creative way? Would love to know! Still amazing to see! Jeremy…
Hi Pia,
I really enjoyed reading your post. I have never used Padlet before so I found it useful to understand how it works and what kinds of things you can do with it.
Having never used it before, I was just wondering for a new user is it an easy software to get the hang of and understand how to use? Or does it need guidance for beginners?
Thank you for expanding my knowledge on this software as I think it would be a really beneficial way to enhance creativity in the classroom across a range of ages and subject areas.
- Theresa Walsh 6/03/2023