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Instructional Tools for Engagement: Padlet

Internet tools that teaching faculty can utilize

Padlet Link

Padlet Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Many uses
  • Engaging for students
  • Good for visual learners

Cons

  • Can be confusing/overwhelming to learn and set up
  • Only three free Padlets at a time

Padlet Introduction

To begin, navigate to Padlet.com and click on sign up on the top right. You have the option to sign up with Google, Microsoft, Apple, or with an email. 

Once you are in your dashboard, you can click "Make a Padlet" on the top right of the page. 

Pink button with text saying "make a padlet"

You will have two primary options as to the type of Padlet. You can choose a Wall, or a Wall with sections (Shelf). 

A box with text underneath that says "Wall" and a box with text underneath that says "Wall with sections (Shelf)"

The Wall format will have entries in no specific order. The Shelf format will give users the option to place their entries in different sections. 

Once you create a Padlet, they will appear on your dashboard under "All". To begin, you can click on this Padlet, and it will take you to the actual page where participants will post. 

The most important thing here is getting your Padlet to your students. To do so, you can click on the arrow in the top right where it says share. Here you will have a number of options. The primary options would be copying the link to your clipboard or bringing up the QR code.

List of options with "Copy link to clipboard" and "Get QR code" circled in red

If your students are viewing your screen, clicking the QR code would be the easiest option, as students would simply use their phones to get to the Padlet. If you prepare a lesson incorporating a Padlet ahead of time, you can distribute the link this way. 

Using Padlet

Beginning, Middle, or End

Padlet is a great tool for quick, informal feedback. You can use it at the beginning of class as a warm up to get students to share ideas pertinent to the coming lesson. It is also a great exit ticket, asking students to share one thing they learned in the lesson or one question they still have. 

Organizing Ideas

Using the shelf method, you can ask students to place ideas they have in different categories. 

Padlet Accessibility

While Padlet does support most screen readers, it lacks in other accessibility features such as low vision contrast. Read more about Padlet's accessibility policy here.