Blog Post 4: Padlet

padlet.com

        

        This blog entry is about Padlet, a tool of my own interest found in the list of TLC- L2: Learning through Collaboration technology resources. Padlet is a website and application that allows people to make their own walls or pages called padlets where they can invite other people to view and participate in it. You can both create your own padlets and join others that you are invited to via padlet link. It is a collaborative, interactive tool that allows communication and sharing between teachers and students. On Padlet, you can post text, images, link files, and more. It has both free and pay-for subscription services called "tiers" that include more features and options for the customization of your padlets. 

        For ease of use, it is very simple to figure out. All you have to do is create an account and select the free version. There is even an app for mobile devices that makes navigation even easier. It is clearly laid out on creating your own padlet or joining others' padlets. The dashboard gives you access to all your padlets, as well as the padlets that have been shared with you previously and bookmarks for important padlets. Creating a padlet is super simple, and it allows you lots of customization options. In addition, there is a step-by-step tutorial you can take when you first create an account that explains each feature. I think students would figure out this website very quickly when it comes to sharing their own thoughts and viewing their classmates. You also have the option to edit your previous shares, which adds to the ease of it.

        The versatility of Padlet is pretty good. I does not have a ton of features in the free version, but it definitely accomplishes the goal of being an online collaborative workspace. It is quite versatile in the things it lets you share. You can just post simple text bubbles, upload images and files, post links, record videos, make drawings, and more. I have included an image of all the forms of content you can share on the board in the free version. In addition, you can archive padlets so that they can no longer be viewable but can still be accessed in their own place. This site could be used in lots of different ways inside and outside of the classroom. It would be a great tool for group work, idea sharing, information collecting, and more. Because of how simple it is, it makes it very versatile in its uses. 

        In my future classroom, I think the overall likelihood of me using this is moderate. It is a cool tool for collaboration between teachers and students with each other, and I am sure it would be a great thing to use during virtual learning. I can see myself using it during times like brainstorms when I want to give students the ability to post their ideas in a common space. It relates to class content, as I said above, in the TLC Framework. It is a great tool for the Collaboration step in the Learning process. I like that it allows for different forms of working together and interacting with each other. I can also see myself using the padlets as mindmaps of sorts, where both my students and I can post information about lesson content for other students to review when needed. It would also be a great way for students to ask questions if they have them outside of class where I can respond to them, and other students who might also have questions can see my answers. When looking for interactive sites for collaboration between my students or with my students, I think this is a great resource to keep in mind. I enjoyed using this site, and I think students would too. 

Link to Padlet tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC69Sr-OQik