Week 5: Type, Post and Share -- Padlet

 

New technology that makes your students love classroom.




When I was a student and sit in an English classroom, the last thing I wanted was the teacher talking the whole session and no interaction with students. As an English teacher now, I always try to make my classroom more engaging and encourage everyone to speak the target language. So this week, I found a new technology could help language teachers to create an interactive learning environment. Introducing the Padlet.


Interactive, creative and fun.

Padlet is an educational tool which can present, share and interact with students. It has many features but the one I like the most is a real-time collaborative platform. Sounds a bit like google doc right? Well, they do have some similar features, but Padlet works so much better in the classroom.

You will need an account to use Padlet, so the first step is to set up your account. If you have a google account, this step will be so much easier, you just need to log in. Then it takes you to the dashboard where you can view all the work you've done and the ones you wish to continue. This is the place you design your teaching material and create the place that students can put their ideas in!



When you finish and upload your design, students can access it using the URL you share with them. The best thing about it is they can use any devices to view and interact with! Here is the example of my previous experience of using Padlet. The example is from one of my peer teacher Weixi He (何唯希), many thanks to his valuable resource and support.  


You can see as participants, we can post our ideas, picture, videos, and it's real-time so teacher can see them and give feedback immediately. And students can also see other posts and give comments, so everyone who has the URL can interact with the rest of the class!

 

Before you start, a few things you should know…

1.     This is not a free tool.

Unfortunately Padlet only give 3 posts to free user, you can upgrade if you like it. The price information is on the website. But don’t worry, you have 3 chances, use them well!


 2.     It requires internet and digital device.  

I know that not every classroom and students have the access to devices and internet. And Padlet have to rely on internet, do if your classroom does not have internet, it might be better to try other tools…


 3.     It might not very suitable for young learners

Padlet needs participants have basic knowledge of their equipment, such as typing, sending pictures, etc,. I don't think it's realistic for children to use their personal devices properly and effectively in the classroom, it will bring a lot of trouble to classroom management.

 

That's it for this week, see you next post!

Comments

  1. Your opening paragraph directly attracted me to come in and read this blog! I felt the same way when I was a student, and your words resonated strongly with me! After becoming a teacher, I also found it difficult to encourage students to participate in interactions. The Padlet you introduced is really interesting. I will use it to design my teaching materials in the future, hoping it can attract my students. The structure of your blog is also clear. I can find useful information quickly. But can you add an explanation to the picture? I don't quite understand what they mean.

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  2. Padlets seem like a fun, interactive educational tool. I was really sad when I saw that it wasn't a free tool and only gave free users 3 posts.

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