Group Posters and Pinboards with Padlet

Sharon Boyd

• New ODL programme for 2012-13• 18 students in 12-13; 14 in 13-14• Virtual learning environment – Blackboard Learn

What is Padlet?

• Padlet (http://padlet.com) describes itself as "paper for the web“

• It is a tool allowing individuals or groups of people to create shared noticeboards or walls, like a more open, simple version of a wiki.

• You can drag and drop items onto your wall, double-click to write some text, change the background and settings and add links to images, websites, movies...

Planning…

• We've been talking about a group activity which should use the content from our week but also tie in somewhat with the previous weeks.  

• …work in their groups to devise some educational material aimed at the public (suitable for use on a web site, an information board in a reserve, a short pamphlet, etc…

• “Your display should be presented in the form of a single slide using PowerPoint/Keynote”

Issue

• “I can see us potentially encountering problems with the students creating a shared slide poster, as some may have Keynote, some may have PowerPoint and some may have Impress.”

Solution• Using Padlet (previously called Wallwisher):

http://padlet.com/ - will allow all group participants the option of adding, moving and tweaking the page together without restricting them to a particular piece of software or operating system.

The decision…

Response following staff testing:

“Padlet looks great! I have just had a go with it and think it would work perfectly, providing everybody else is happy with that option too. Seems like an excellent new tool for the students to get to grips with as well.”

Why did we choose Padlet?

• Free!• Simple and easy to use• Creative• Straightforward registration and privacy controls• Student-led• Printed versions

Alternative considered• Lino• “Advertisements: As a condition for using this service, if the user

contents are displayed, the user understands and consents to the displaying of advertisements related to such contents and other information.”

Guidance for Students

Guidance for Students

Considerations…

In the information provided to students:

“One point to note - Padlet is not a University of Edinburgh product, you are posting out to the world. As a result, you should be careful of the copyright of resources, e.g. images, that you are using.

You have access to the discussion board [on Learn], so you can use this for private discussions with your group.”

Privacy settings guidance

• We recommend that one member of the group creates a Padlet account and sets up the wall. When you set up a board, you have the option to Modify the wall - this allows you to set the privacy settings The default option is a Hidden link - this means that only those people with whom you share the link will be able to view and post to your board.

• If you wish to ensure further privacy, you can make the board completely private and ask fellow group members to share their email addresses to arrange access. Given that you are creating a wall for the public, and to make it easier to share with the rest of the year when you have completed your task, we recommend using the default Hidden link option. However, the decision is yours based on your group preference.

Example

Feedback

• “All the groups did great work :) Padlet is a tool that will be recommended to my friends and family for their own purposes !!”

• “I would love to save all our hard work plus it was a fun memory to keep!! :) I think this Padlet thing is a great tool and we should spread the word to others... My kids in Middle School love it!”

• “The introduction of new tools like the padlet used in the week of the 'Threats to Amphibians'”

• “Well done to all of you on the Padlets, it worked really well didn't it, and I think we'll definitely be using that tool again!”

Questions?

Contact: sharon.boyd@ed.ac.uk