🔷 Padlet: a platform for collaboration, interaction and sharing

💻With the use of multimedia technology in English language teaching, collaborative online learning models through the use of websites or apps, for example, are becoming more recognisable and accepted by teachers and students. This blog will introduce a platform that can make the English classroom a collaborative, interactive and sharing model, namely Padlet. (You can click here to explore!)

💭One of the features of the Padlet is that there are multiple templates that allow for different permutations of each of the mini-modules. (as shown below) Based on this, we as English teachers can develop different collaborative activities within and outside the classroom, such as completing flow charts, timelines, etc. (different templates)

💯Before you start, you need to know how to create a Padlet with the chosen theme. For example, once you have chosen the "Wall" template, you need to set the title, description, background image and other basic information for the new Padlet. You also need to set up the details such as the permissions of each student and how to join the Padlet. Considering the need for confidentiality of student work, I usually set a password so that only students in the class can join each other.

 (Set basic and detail information)

Thus, a Padlet with a topic has been created! Students can access it through the link you have shared and feel free to post their mini-modules in this Padlet.

So, how do we as English teachers integrate the Padlet into our English teaching process? Usually, I use it like this ......

• In the classroom

📢Debating: 

Students express their ideas and opinions on the Padlet around the same topic and comment on each other's views, either refuting or supporting each other. One of the features that comes with the Padlet that can work well with this activity is that the teacher can choose to keep each student who speaks anonymous. This will encourage those students who are shy to express their ideas more without feeling embarrassed.

 （Students debate around the theme）

💬Thinking Maps: 

Using the 'Canvas' function, students can freely arrange the mini-modules. Teachers can ask students to work in groups or as a class to complete a mind map. This allows students to complete the task efficiently and also to develop their assignment and communication skills.

 

• Outside the classroom:

✏️Assigning homework: 

students can present their work via Padlet. It is worth noting that Padlet allows for the sharing of multiple forms of resources, such as images, videos, audio, etc. This richness adds more interest and flexibility to the homework. Also, an advantage is that students who do not have ideas and thoughts can refer to others' work for inspiration.

  (Students can present their results)

🔖Collaborative writing:

After the teacher has given a topic, several students in the group need to work together to create a story, e.g. A writes the beginning, B writes the middle, C writes the end and D does the final checking and rewriting. This process allows each student's imagination to be fully utilised and allows them to practice writing through a collaborative process.

👆These are some of the common ways I use Padlet in and out of the classroom, what do you think? If you have some new ideas, feel free to write and discuss them with me in the comments section below!

📍There are, of course, some limitations to Padlet. For example, some students may have a mischievous attitude, messing up when commenting on others, deliberately writing irrelevant content or even hurling abuse at the author. When this is discovered, the teacher can remove the anonymous mode when using Padlet next time and interview the student with the bad attitude. 

Finally, if you still have questions about how to use Padlet, you can watch the video below and perhaps find the answers here.

🏁See you next time!