Padlet is a free, online resource that allows real time collection of thoughts and ideas. Although, not an application that needs installing to the iPads, Padlet can be very quickly set up on a desktop computer (email and password is all registering requires) and then accessed via Safari on the iPads.
Quite simply, Padlet is one if those educational tools that falls right into the 'simple yet very effective' category.
Allowing you to create a virtual pin board, Padlet allows students to post (or pin) their thoughts to the board. The beauty of this is that they appear virtually in real time. This eradicates the need for a traditional hands up approach , where ideas are collected on a one by one basis and then scribed to the board. It also ensures that everyone is involved and engaged, removing the opportunity for children to take the 'leave it someone else' attitude. Within minutes, the teacher can present a class with a problem or a task and have 30 or more individual thoughts or responses. A Fantastic way, of quickly assessing, building class ideas, collaborating, evaluating, sharing ideas and so forth.
Here are some links to Padlets we have used:
http://padlet.com/wall/layeinkrpm Literacy: Direct and reported speech for a newspaper report.
http://padlet.com/wall/sb7swyp2d Literacy: Similes and metaphors optional homework task.
http://padlet.com/wall/21ptve5th Literacy: Rhyming words
http://padlet.com/wall/f6x8i51hqw Numeracy: Revisiting a mathematical problem.
Below are some examples of how Padlet has been used in my own classroom.
As part of a mental starter, I set the class a problem from the 2003 Year 5 QCA paper. This was a question I wanted to revisit as previously children had struggled with the concept. With Padlet I was able to briefly explain what the question involved but then give each child a chance to submit their own solution. Most importantly this meant that every child had to think about the question and how they could solve it. There was no option of sitting back while others found the answer and fed back to the class. I was also able to respond to those children who hand'the quite understood by responding to their solutions as they appeared on the whiteboard.
The problem:
As part of a literacy lesson we used Padlet to share rhyming words as we were preparing to write rhyming couplets based on our topic work. Children were able to submit their ideas quickly, allowing more time for their own writing activity.
Children were also able to revisit the class ideas via Safari and the iPads on their tables. A great way to support their writing.
Literacy - Creating success criteria:
As part of a lesson writing a diary entry, the children were asked to read an example diary entry and decide what they felt made it a strong piece of writing. The class were then asked to submit one of their thoughts to the Padlet. This effectively allowed us to quickly build a selection of features that we needed to include in our own work. Effectively a class success criteria in 5 minutes, without the need to stand and scribe then on the board whilst talking one to one feedback. Again, it was a powerful tool form making sure that all children were thinking about the initial question of 'what makes a good diary entry ?'
Rhyming words example:
As part of talk homework for Big Writing, children were given the optional challenge of sharing a simile or metaphor to describe the Highway Rat. Throughout the evening, children added their examples which created a fantastic resource to be used as part of teaching the following day as well as a supportive tool for writing through access with the iPads.
In Additon to this, children in more than one class (in this case Years 5 and 6) worked together, using the same Padlet to share their thoughts. A great way for children in different classes to support each other with their thoughts. It also meant that Children who struggle to complete their talk homework task still had ready access to some excellent ideas.
Ideas collected as part of homework: