20 Ways Students Can Use Padlet in the Classroom
Padlet's focus on education Padlet has recently been focusing on education, filling the gap left by Microsoft Flip and Google Jamboard. It integrates a variety of features to provide educators with a comprehensive platform. Multimedia features The video recording and commenting features allow students to record and share 2-minute (free) or 15-minute (paid) videos. Students can comment on each other’s videos with video, text, and audio, allowing for active interaction. The audio recording feature is perfect for students who are reluctant to use their cameras. You can record 5 minutes (free) or 30 minutes (paid) of audio, giving you a variety of ways to express yourself. Drawing tools allow students to express their ideas visually, which helps develop creativity and trackpad skills. The “I Can’t Draw” feature uses AI to generate images based on students’ text descriptions, a useful tool for students who struggle with artistic expression. Collaboration and sharing tools The camera feature allows students to quickly share their work. The file upload feature makes it easy to add content created on external platforms to Padlet. The screen recording feature is available via a Chrome browser extension, allowing you to share students' work in detail. The “Talk for Me” feature converts students’ text into an AI voice, which helps students who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. Hyperlinks make it easy to link to external resources, while reaction and comment features encourage interaction among students. Using learning templates Padlet offers a variety of learning templates. The Sandbox is used as a collaborative digital canvas. The Blog Board is perfect for group projects or character blogging. Collaborative storytelling templates allow students to create stories together. Cause and effect chain templates help students visualize relationships between events. Concept map templates are useful for breaking down complex topics into smaller ideas. The Four Corners template encourages discussion of different perspectives. Templates like Map, Storyboard, Read & Respond, and Photo Gallery support geography, visual storytelling, reading comprehension, and image-based learning, respectively. The educational value of Padlet Padlet promotes collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking among students through these diverse tools and templates. It provides an interactive learning experience and functions as a flexible platform that accommodates a variety of learning styles and needs. Transforming the Classroom with Padlet By leveraging Padlet’s rich features and templates, educators can create more dynamic and engaging learning environments that foster the digital literacy and collaboration skills needed for 21st century education.