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Padlet: The Game Changer

Game changer: a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way. You know what they are when you see them. Crocs, the electric toothbrush, sliced bread, ear plugs and mouthwash are a few that come to mind. While we're at it, let's add Padlet to the list. You see, Padlet is a website and app that allows kiddos to post videos, audio, text, links, documents and images to a virtual bulletin board. Sounds pretty fabulous doesn't it?
2nd Grade Ancestor Dolls Padlet/ChatterPix App Smash

Before we move on, you should understand why I sometimes capitalize the "p" in Padlet and other times, I don't. The uppercase Padlet refers to the website and app. The lowercase padlet refers to the individual boards that you create. Let us continue.
Set Up and Settings
There are a handful of settings that allow you to personalize your padlet. Upon creating a padlet, you'll be asked to organize with a layout. Choose from Wall, Canvas, Steam, Grid, Shelf or Backchannel. Then, you can add a title, description, and select a cute little icon, if you desire. You also have a decent selection of preset backgrounds to choose from or you can upload your own. Last but not least, change the URL to something relevant and easy to remember. 
Teachers can opt to turn on profanity filters, comments, and voting features for more collaboration without the worry of inappropriate language. As added checks, teachers can moderate all posts or require that students display their names on the board. Teachers can share the individual padlets via social media channels, embed them in a blog or website, or through Google Classroom. They can also easily create a QR code within the site and share the link that way. Check out this engaging video tutorial, created by yours truly, for 10 minutes of tips and tricks that will leave you speechless.
Free vs. Paid
Padlet offers a free subscription. The free version limits the teacher to three padlets while Padlet Backpack, $12 per month or $99 for the year, allows for unlimited padlets. The paid upgrade offers features specific to educators' needs, including LMS integration, student portfolios, and extra layers of privacy and security. For what it's worth, I feel that the Padlet Backpack subscription is a valuable use of classroom funds. 
How to Use Padlet
There are a multitude of ways to implement Padlet into your curriculum. I have seen it used mostly for showcasing student work. Here are a few other uses our teachers have found for Padlet.

  • Number Talks
  • Exit Ticket
  • Book Discussions
  • Book Recommendations
  • Genius Hour Pitches

Follow the links below for further enlightenment.
30 Padlet Ideas - by Lucie Renard 20 Padlet Ideas - by Matt Miller 100 Padlet Ideas - by Anissa Labrador

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