Padlet helps you collect, organise and present ideas, files and multimedia in one shared visual board. You can use different layouts such as boards, timelines, maps and discussion-style spaces to support preparation, brainstorming, reflection and collaborative sharing, which makes Padlet useful both during class and in asynchronous work outside class.
- Functions
- Brainstorm | Collect student work | Group collaboration
- Via Canvas
- Standalone
- Difficulty of use
- Easy to use
Examples of use in your education
Use Padlet when you want students to contribute short responses before, during or after class in a way that becomes immediately visible across the group.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Pre-class input - Ask students to post a short response before class, for example an answer to a question, a first reaction to a reading or a short self-introduction, when you want to use these contributions as a starting point for the session.
Live response board - Use Padlet during class when you want student responses to appear visibly in one shared space rather than disappear in oral discussion.
Backchannel questions - Use the board as a stream for questions or ideas during a lesson, especially when some students are less likely to speak in plenary discussion.
Asynchronous response - Keep the board open after class when students need more time to add a considered reflection or contribution on their own schedule.
Tip 1
Give students one clear contribution task at a time, so the board stays focused and the responses can be used meaningfully in follow-up teaching.
Tip 2
If participation is hesitant, consider anonymous posting for low-stakes activities in which the goal is to broaden contribution rather than track individuals.
Use Padlet when you want students to place different experiences, examples or viewpoints next to each other and respond across the group.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Perspective exchange - Use Padlet when students need to place contrasting examples, experiences or viewpoints side by side so these can be compared explicitly.
Prompt-based discussion - Build a board around one question, article or stimulus when students need to respond to the same prompt and then read each other’s interpretations.
Response to resources - Combine links, videos or readings with student comments when you want the board to support both preparation for class and follow-up discussion after students have engaged with the material.
Tip 1
Tell students whether they should only post their own response or also reply to others, so the board supports the kind of interaction you actually want.
Tip 2
Use separate Padlets for different topics or units when you want each discussion to stay clearly focused and easy to navigate.
Use Padlet when students need to gather sources, ideas or outputs together in one place during a group task or multi-part activity.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Shared resource board - Ask groups to collect articles, links, examples or media on one board when they need a visible shared resource base.
Group outputs - Use Padlet when different groups need to present interim or final outputs in a format that others can also view and compare.
Multi-format tasks - Let students upload text, images, documents, audio or video when the learning task benefits from more than one response format, for example a short reflection with an image or a group explanation supported by files and media.
Project board - Use the board as a place where groups gather materials and intermediate ideas before moving to a more formal final product or presentation.
Tip 1
Use one shared Padlet when you want the whole class to compare contributions in one place, and separate group Padlets when each group is developing its own work more independently.
Tip 2
Use labels, columns or clearly named sections when several groups are posting to the same board, so the content remains readable.
Use Padlet when you want the layout of the board itself to help structure how students organise information.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Timeline layout - Use a timeline when students need to order events, phases or developments in a process.
Map layout - Use a map when location matters to the task, for example when students need to connect examples or cases to places.
Grid or list - Use a simpler layout when students need to organise resources or short responses in a more ordered way.
Template choice - Start from a Padlet template when you want the task structure to be clear from the beginning rather than built from scratch during the activity.
Tip 1
Choose the board format according to the learning task before students begin, so the structure supports rather than distracts from the content.
Tip 2
Check how the board appears on different devices if students will access it in more than one setting, so the layout remains usable for everyone.
How-to videos
How to change the style and privacy of your padlet
How to use Padlet as Teachers
How to teach with Padlet
Getting started
- You can find all the relevant information on the official site of Padlet.
- You can explore Padlet for Education here.
Support
In case of educational questions, please contact your learning innovator or web team from your faculty.
In case of technical difficulty, please consult the Padlet Help Centre.
