Endless possibilities for sorting and categorizing information; goes beyond mere comment posting.
Community Review for Padlet
My Take
What I love about Padlet is that it allows me to maintain classroom control without sacrificing the benefits of some traditional activities. While kinesthetic activities (carousels, four-corners, step-on-the-line) are fabulous for mid-size classes with attentive students, large classes and easily distracted students may find such activities less effective. With padlet, I can simulate these activities in a digital environment by uploading my own graphic organizers or visuals as the wall background, and students post in those places just as they would go to certain locations in the classroom.
In real-time, the tool of moderating comments is less helpful than one might think; I usually turn that off and give students stern warnings about posting inappropriate comments. Taking the time to moderate comments usually detracts from the entire process and slows it down, negating the benefits this excellent tool offers.
How I Use It
On its surface, this product appears to be a simple message posting board. However, if used creatively, Padlet can be an incredible tool to help students sort and categorize information through controlled crowdsourcing. I have used this product to have students react to a particular reading, to provide evidence to support their claims, to arrange and organize evidence and thinking into logical categories, and to give personal feedback without leaving their desks.