Padlet

Padlet is an educational application which is available as a mobile app, as well as a desktop, web-based tool, designed for collaborative teaching and learning. The application is captioned by the developer as follows; “Create a page. Put anything on it. Invite your friends. Share with the world.” Truly, as I tried it, I discovered that it is a powerful tool which can be used to enhance the learning outcomes for the learners while making the teachers more productive. In this regard, a user is able to make creative boards, web pages or documents on the application, based on their preferences. The boards are interactive and easy to read. They are also easily accessible by other collaborators, which means that users can share information and ideas. Users have the option of selecting from a repository of pre-designed templates or create theirs based on a blank slate. With a template, one can create content, including text, images, video, audio, and multimedia content. Teachers can upload instructional materials, assignments, feedback, comments, and posts to discussion forums on the platform. Similarly, students can express themselves through different formats of content, including video and text. They can share their posts, comments on their peers, and engage in collaborative projects with their classmates and teachers.

A user who has created an account and a template can easily invite collaborators to comment, like, create original content, make edits in real-time and share their ideas. The collaborators can make the content and interactions more lively and fun, by including real-l-time music, videos, and documents. Perhaps more interesting is the fact that users can share the content they and their collaborators create with virtually anyone they like, including friends, classmates, teachers, family, and parents. As a result, Padlet enriches the learning process and allows the teachers a chance to engage their learners in an interesting learning environment.

The Padlet is beneficial to both teachers and students, as it augments the learning and teaching process. Accordingly, it is highly applicable in the classroom setting. Educators can use the Padlet to create a student-friendly classroom environment that augments the traditional classroom setting. For example, a teacher can use the Padlet as a tool for sharing information materials, such as video links, photos, and documents, which the learners can easily access and share with their classmates online. Also, teachers can engage the students in discussion forums, where the classmates share their views on a topic of study, expressing their feelings and enriching the content. The fact that students can comment on their classmates’ posts means that the Padlet facilitates collaborative learning. Similarly, teachers can give feedback and comments, aimed at helping the students to improve on their learning goals.

Lastly, the Padlet tool is useful in the school library setting, since a school librarian can use its collaboration features to execute library instruction plans marked by sharing and collaborative learning. Here, the school librarian can use the Padlet as a way of availing links and documents to the learners, ensuring that the students have access to relevant information materials in an engaging and interesting environment. The librarian can also collaborate with the teachers to share ideas and concepts, including in developing and implementing instructional plans to enhance the learning outcomes of the students.

Link: https://padlet.com