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Padlet: A Collaborative Tool of Many Faces

 I. Love. Padlet. 

I've used Padlet before as both a learner and instructor, mostly as a way of collaborating and communicating in the midst of a lesson. It is a great way to stop and allow everyone to share their ideas and thoughts in a course without the discussion going off the rails. Sometimes, it is so easy for class discussions, especially those held amongst the middle school population. I have found that Padlet is a great way to ensure the conversation stays focused. I wanted to explore some of the ways Padlet can be used in the classroom and I found this great blog with a ton of ideas!

30+ Creative Ways to Use Padlet 

Below, I have listed the top 5 I found in this list that I would like to implement in the coming school year. 

1. Live Question Bank: 

This could be a great way to implement a web-based "parking lot." Many teachers have large anchor charts in their classrooms where students can leave questions they did not get to ask during class, usually via sticky notes. I have tried to use this method in the past, but would often forget about the anchor chart in the corner. I think an online platform that I can check throughout a class or during the week in the media center would be way more effective and easy to keep up with, not to mention way easier to organize. 

2. Online Student Portfolio:

I work at an art magnet school, so this could be a really great method for students to showcase their talents and accomplishments throughout the year, artistically and academically. This could include writing samples, reading blogs, videos of performances, and scans of artistic work. 

3. Collaborative Thinking Maps:

I love a thinking map, and allowing students to collaborate on them through Padlet could really enhance a teacher's practice. It would also save the maps for students to refer back to as they need. 

4. Book Discussions:

We are implementing Beanstack to get the kiddos more engaged with reading in the coming year. I would love to have various Padlet discussions going so the kiddos can collaborate and discuss amongst each other about the books they read and log. This could be especially helpful for SSYRA books. 

5. Parent Communication:

Padlet could be an effective way of giving parents and stakeholders a platform to ask questions and make suggestions. It is super easy to use and sign up for, so my hope is the technological barriers many parents face won't be an issue: they can easily participate from their phone. 


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