Ready to Collaborate?

Padlet was something I stumbled across, a colleague showed it to me, and I was hooked, I signed up for a free account right away- yes free! I know how amazing! Get your account here Padlet.

Padlet is an online tool for collaboration, a whiteboard everyone can write on, a page that everyone can add to. Use this in an education setting and it becomes an interactive tool where learning can take place in and outside the classroom.

I used this tool when I delivered Teacher Training sessions as a way of introducing IT, to my learners, to show how it could be used in the classroom to good effect. As well as demonstrating a positive use of technology and supporting the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) for learners.

It is straight forward to use, you can modify it for your purposes, even upload your own photo for the background. You can easily embed your Padlet in a web page, VLE , or even export it as a PDF which means it can become assessment evidence. Best yet each Padlet comes with its own QR code, so its easy for students to find the page so they can start collaborating with the teacher and their peer group. So students can type the link for your Padlet in their web browser or follow an emailed link or scan the QR code. They can then answer the question posed, upload a picture, watch the linked video or make comment.. As owner of the Padlet the teacher can delete or modify the page as needed.

These are some excellent ways to put Padlet to the test in your classroom:

• Session wrap up- what were the hot topics for the day, what do you need to know more about?

• Answer class wide set questions, on a one to one basis or group activity – a good way to check learning, prior to an assessment

• Use your own picture and get the students to label it- I used to get the students to label the healthy and safety hazards in the classroom and then save the Padlet as evidence towards relevant criteria

• Feedback on a project, assignment or even a session – if the teacher is bold enough to ask the question!

• As a research page, the wider class is divided into groups with a topic to research and present back to the group, Padlet can present and store the information. So why not try it, it can be used in the classrooms or for flipped learning outside the classroom, with e-learning materials or even in team meetings or social groups to plan events and outings. So try it, sign up for that account, invite people to collaborative and enjoy the adventure!

This was a blog originally posted on my previous blogging platform