Review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2016

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Padlet

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Customizable bulletin boards jazz up collaboration and ease discussion

Common Sense Says:

4

Rating Details

Teachers Say (108 Reviews):

4

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Grades

6-12 This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.

Great for:

See subjects & skills

Create a virtual board with video, text, links, images, and more.

Collaborate with other users using a public link or through private sharing.

The creative options for using the tool are endless.

Help and tutorials are available, as are blogs and a community for support.

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

Cons: Walls are semi-private by default, meaning there's an extra step involved in ensuring total privacy for student users.

Bottom Line: Padlet gives students their own little corner of the internet to collect and save information in a simple, fun manner.

Lesson & Activity Ideas

You can use Padlet in the classroom in various ways. If you are in a 1-to-1 situation, use a projector to show the class a bulletin board you create. Share the URL with the class and have students answer a discussion question, work on a "Do Now" activity, or even create an exit slip. It's also possible to use Padlet as a place to collect assignments; create a shared wall for your whole class and have students upload papers directly to the wall.

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, McCarthyism and the Hollywood Blacklist. Each student could devote their research to a type of media supported by Padlet (video, audio, photo, or text), add it to their group's shared wall, and then present the findings in class. Padlet's blog and Twitter feed showcase other examples of how teachers are using Padlet.

Tool Overview

Padlet is a website and app that allows kids to collect information from the internet and pin it onto virtual bulletin boards using a simple drag-and-drop system. Videos, text, links, images -- basically anything -- can be added to a board and organized there, like a page full of Post-it notes. There's also the option to include rich text (Padlet provides a simple HTML guide in their Help sidebar). You can add as many notes to a wall as you like; it scrolls in all directions.

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.

Learning Value

Editor's Note: Teachers should be aware that Padlet has some privacy concerns. Consult our full evaluation for details.

There are dozens of online bulletin board sites out there, but Padlet is one of the more intuitive and appealing for kids. The colorful backgrounds and customization options let students add some personality to walls, even if they're using them for boring ol' school stuff. The drag-and-drop interface is smooth and intuitive as well. The depth of the site depends on what you put into it; it's basically a blank page, but Padlet shares lots of helpful examples.

Privacy isn't all that tight, 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. Padlet gives kids a lot of freedom to explore interests online and save that information in an organized manner. Whether it's school- or fun-related, kids get to create a space of their own.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

4

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

4

As far as online bulletin boards go, fun backgrounds and a truly simple interface make Padlet a cut above the rest. Students will like the social aspect and can even use the boards for nonschool purposes.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

3

Organizing information is a skill students will continue to use throughout their school and work lives. By sharing boards with fellow students, they'll get experience collaborating and working as a team.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

4

The fantastic interface is so easy to use. A help window pops up alongside the board if needed, and the information is written in a fun, colloquial voice. Data is saved online and can easily be shared.

Common Sense Reviewer

Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher

About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Teacher Reviews

Write a review

Great for all ages
3

Donna M.
Orchard School
South Burlington, VT

3

November 3, 2013
Great Collaboration Tool
2

LaShonda T.
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred
Bethesda, MD

4

October 30, 2013
Fun way to get feedback from a group!
1

Rae Ann S.
Hempfield School District
Landisville, PA

3

March 20, 2014
Padlet is an engaging way to post thoughts and information for the whole class to see.
1

Carrie H.
Gamewell Middle School
Lenoir, NC

3

October 31, 2013
Great for professional learning summary
1

Julie K.
Francis J McGrath Elementary School
Worcester, MA

5

September 5, 2013
Easy and quick forum for posting , for a variety of objectives.

Bonnie S.
PTECH
Brooklyn

3

November 2, 2016

See All 108 Teacher Reviews

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2017 All rights reserved. Common Sense, Common Sense Media, Common Sense Education and Common Sense Kids Action, associated names, associated trademarks, and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. (FEIN 41-2024986) Teaching strategies and digital citizenship tools for educators.

Reading History/Social Studies
RH.6-8: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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: Comprehension and Collaboration
SL.6.1b	Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
SL.7: Comprehension and Collaboration
SL.7.1b	Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
SL.8: Comprehension and Collaboration
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: Comprehension and Collaboration
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: Comprehension and Collaboration
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: Production and Distribution of 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: Production and Distribution of Writing
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: Production and Distribution of Writing
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: Production and Distribution of Writing
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: Production and Distribution of Writing
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.

Padlet

Customizable bulletin boards jazz up collaboration and ease discussion

Subjects and Skills: Padlet

Lesson & Activity Ideas

Tool Overview

Learning Value

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Key Standards Supported

Reading History/Social Studies

Speaking & Listening

Writing

Teacher Reviews

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