Website review by Marianne Rogowski, Common Sense Education | Updated November 2018
Padlet
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Padlet

Create and collaborate via interactive multimedia bulletin boards

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Learning rating
Editorial review by Common Sense Education
Community rating
Based on 118 reviews
Privacy rating
71%| Warning Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
6–12 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
Subjects & Skills
Communication & Collaboration, Creativity
Great for
Media Literacy, Creating Media, Assessment, Presentation
Price:  Free, Free to try, Paid Free accounts support five padlets and 10 MB of storage. After a 30-day free trial, individual accounts are $12 per month or $99 per year and offer unlimited padlets, no ads, and more. School plans are $1,499 per year.
Platforms:  Website
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Take a look inside

6 images
Customize your own board from scratch, or work from a template.
Collaborate with other users via text, video recordings, drawings, and more.
The creative options for using the tool are endless, and the gallery provides lots of ideas.
Use the arrow feature to show connections among posts.
Kids can vote and comment on others' posts if teachers allow it.
Help and tutorials are available, as are blogs and a community for support.

Pros: It's beyond easy to use, the customizable interface is intuitive, and help is available around every corner.

Cons: There's a possibility that students will post content that's inappropriate or filled with errors -- that their peers will see.

Bottom Line: The versatility of Padlet presents kids with opportunities to share content and knowledge in ways most comfortable for them.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Because it's device-neutral, you can easily use Padlet in your 1:1 or BYOD classroom. At the start of the year, get to know your students by having them post a selfie or video discussing what makes them unique. In math, use the draw feature to show work: Ask students to solve an equation, and discuss the different ways their peers approached the problem. For fine arts, pair it with a tool like Google Arts and Culture to post a work of art and ask for students' reactions, or have students upload a recording of themselves singing or practicing an instrument.  

Padlet really shines as a tool for group projects. Divide the class into small groups, and have them work together at home to research a particular subject -- for example, key leaders in the civil rights movement. Each student could devote research to a type of supported media (video, audio, photo, or text), add it to the group's shared wall, and then present the findings in class. Alternatively, let students pool notes together in class for a virtual group study session. Looking for more inspiration? The site's blog and social media pages showcase many examples of how teachers are using Padlet to enhance learning.

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Put this tool into practice:
Standards:

Padlet is a website and app that allows kids to curate information onto virtual bulletin boards using a simple drag-and-drop system. Students can start with a template or a blank page and add videos, text, links, documents, images -- basically anything -- to the wall and organize it, like a page full of Post-it notes. Kids can add as many notes to a wall as they like; it scrolls in all directions. Teachers can opt to turn on profanity filters, comments, and voting features for more collaboration without the worry of inappropriate language. As added checks, teachers can moderate all posts or require that students display their names on the board.

Students can also upload documents they've created, such as class notes or completed assignments. More than one person can contribute to a Padlet wall, opening the door to teamwork and group projects. Once kids create a wall, they can share it through the usual social media channels (Facebook, Twitter), export it to a file, embed it in a blog or website, or turn it into a QR code. There's also the option to keep walls private, of course. There are lots of places to get support, including social media pages, a fun blog, a FAQ section, and lots of use cases. A paid upgrade to Padlet Backpack offers features specific to educators' needs, including LMS integration, student portfolios, and extra layers of privacy and security.

There are plenty of online bulletin board sites out there, but Padlet is one of the more intuitive and appealing for kids. Colorful backgrounds and customization options let students add personality to walls, and opportunities to engage with others through voting and comments will pique their interest. The depth of the site depends on what you put into it, but the developer's website and social media pages share lots of helpful examples.

Privacy isn't all that tight since kids can see everyone's posts in real time, but with a watchful eye, there's great potential for collaboration and teamwork here. Padlet walls are great for study groups, class projects, and discussions. For teachers, the walls provide the chance to see student learning at a glance and feedback from peers (be sure to teach kids the skills to give appropriate feedback). On the flip side, students who create and share padlets will be able to go into more depth, perhaps writing longer pieces, showing connections between concepts, or even creating multimedia presentations that combine videos, images, drawings, and text. 

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

As far as online bulletin boards go, fun backgrounds and opportunities to create multimedia make Padlet a cut above the rest. Students will like the social aspect and can even create personal boards outside of school.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

With so many options for use, teachers have a chance to guide student learning in almost any area, be it an individual presentation, team collaboration, or whole-group learning experience.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

While additional accessibility features would benefit more students, most will find the tool intuitive. Help is available in several places, including a fun Padlet-inspired blog. 

Common Sense reviewer
Marianne Rogowski Media specialist/librarian
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Key Standards Supported

Reading History/Social Studies

  • RH.6-8.7

    Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

  • RH.9-10.7

    Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text.

  • RH.11-12.7

    Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.6.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.7.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.8.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.9-10.1b

    Work with peers to set rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g., informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual roles as needed.

  • SL.11-12.1b

    Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed.

Writing

  • W.6.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.

  • W.7.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.

  • W.8.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

  • W.9-10.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

  • W.11-12.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.

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Community Rating

(See all 118 reviews) (118 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Paul R. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Sterling Middle School
Sterling, United States
Visually appealing display of brief discussions, brainstorming, and even final products.
Padlet in itself serves its purpose well, and can be an effective and visually engaging tool for student discussion and content submission. The free response nature requires that students have a good understanding of the quality and purpose behind the posts they are about to make, which can help create a very interactive technology experience.
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Data Safety
How safe is this product?
Users can interact with trusted users and/or students.
Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
Profile information is shared for social interactions.
Data Rights
What rights do I have to the data?
Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
Users can control their information through privacy settings.
Users can create or upload content.
Ads & Tracking
Are there advertisements or tracking?
Data are not shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.
Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.

Continue reading about this tool's privacy practices, including data collection, sharing, and security.

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