Padlet Instruction Manual

Padlet InstructionManualIncorporating Junior Cycle Key Skills,School Self-Evaluation and suggestionsfor use1

PadletPadlet is a free online tool that is best described as an online notice board. Padlet can be used bystudents and teachers to post notes on a common page. The notes posted by teachers and studentscan contain links, videos, images and document files.When you register with Padlet, you can create as many “walls” or online notice boards as you like.These walls can set to private or public, with each wall having separate privacy settings. This canfacilitate teacher collaboration in a subject department, which is not accessible by students. Privatewalls can be created by requiring a password to access them, or by limiting access to registeredusers, with specified emails. As the creator of a wall, teachers can moderate all notes before theyappear and privacy settings can be adjusted at any time.Users do not need to sign up to use Padlet, though it is recommended that teachers using it in aclassroom setting would do so, in order to edit a wall, moderate posts and collate all class walls intoone management screen. Teachers can also choose to set a notification to receive an emailwhenever a student posts to the teacher’s wall.Padlet and ICTPadlet is device-neutral, as it works on any internet-enabled device, including: PC, laptop, tablet,smartphone. This means it can work easily in any school which is making use of a mixture of devices.Another selling point is that no software or apps need to be downloaded or installed, so it can beused immediately by anyone with internet access.Walls created in Padlet can be exported in several ways, including PDF or spreadsheet, or embeddedinto your class blog, site or Edmodo page.Padlet and Key Skills“Learners need a wide range of skills to help them face the manychallenges presented to them in today’s world. They develop specificskills in their subjects and other courses. But there is also a more generalset of skills that are needed to support learners in their personal, socialand work lives. We refer to these as the key skills of junior cycle. Aslearners develop each of the key skills in an integrated way they will alsobecome better learners.” NCCA, Key Skills of Junior Cycle, 2013The key skills for the Junior Cycle that students will develop using Padlet are:2

SkillElementManagingInformation andThinkingBeing curiousGathering, recording,organising and evaluatinginformation and dataThinking creatively andcriticallyManaging my learningUsing ICT and digital media toaccess, manage and sharecontentManaging MyselfCommunicatingUsing digital technology tomanage myself and mylearningUsing languageDiscussing and debatingUsing digital technology tocommunicateStaying WellBeing confidentBeing positive about learning3Learning OutcomesStudents can Look for new and different ways ofanswering questions and solvingproblems Recognise what I already know and thewide range of information available to me Analyse information and data presentedin a variety of forms Evaluate the quality of that informationand data and their sources Make judgements about how valid andreliable that information is Prepare and organise information anddata so that it makes sense to me andothers Question ideas and assumptions, both myown and other peoples’ Make connections between what Ialready know and new information Adjust my thinking in light of newinformation Use a range of tools to help manage mylearning Source, share and evaluate informationthat I find in different technologies anddigital media formats Use digital tools to expand my thinkingand source information Use different technologies and digitalmedia tools to give and receive feedback Use different technologies to plan,manage and engage in my learning Edit, correct and improve my writtenwork Participate confidently in class discussion Present my point of view and be able toexplain and support it Use digital technology creatively topresent, interact with and share ideas fordifferent audiences Be respectful and responsible in mydigital and online communications Communicate my opinions and beliefswith confidence in a variety of ways Contribute to decision-making within theclass and group Find enjoyment and fun in learning

SkillElementWorking WithOthersDeveloping good relationshipsand resolving conflictCo-operatingRespecting differenceLearning with othersWorking with others throughdigital technologyBeing CreativeImaginingExploring options andalternativesImplementing ideas and takingactionLearning creativelyStimulating creativity usingdigital technology4Learning OutcomesStudents can Share my ideas honestly and withsensitivity Show respect for different positions anddifferent points of view Contribute to decisions as part of a group Show openness to learning from differentpeople Work in pairs and larger groups to helpeach other when we are learning Help other students to understand andsolve problems Recognise that many different people cansupport my learning and know how to getthat support Demonstrate collaborative learning usingdigital technology Use digital technology to participate incollaborative learning and communicationspaces Respect the rights and feelings of otherswhen using digital media Use different ways of learning to helpdevelop my imagination Take inspiration from the imagination ofothers Try out different approaches whenworking on a task and evaluate whatworks best Seek out different viewpoints andperspectives and consider them carefully Test out ideas Evaluate different ideas and actions Participate in learning in creative ways Use a variety of learning tools that helpme to be creative Be innovative and creative in using digitaltechnology to learn, think and expressmyself Explore the possibilities of mixingdifferent technologies and digital mediato help me reflect, problem solve andpresent ideas

Padlet and School Self Evaluation“School Self Evaluation (SSE) empowers a schoolcommunity to affirm good practice, to identifyareas that merit improvement and to decideupon actions that should be taken to bring aboutimprovements in these areas . SSE enriches thelearning and teaching experience for the benefitof all concerned.” School Self EvaluationGuidelines for Post-Primary Schools, 2012. Theevaluation themes and sub-themes to which theyrelate are set out on the left.The guidelines set out sample evaluation criteria related to each evaluation theme and sub-theme tohelp schools develop their school self-evaluation process. The relevant evaluation criteria to the useof Padlet as a teaching and learning resource are listed below for each of the three themes:ThemeSub-themeLearnerOutcomesAttainment ofsubject andprogrammeobjectivesLearningLearnerExperiences environmentStudents’engagement inlearningEvaluationCriteriaAttitude anddispositionsQuality Statement(s)Literacy andnumeracyIn all subjects and programmes, studentscan meet the literacy and numeracydemandsStudents competently and confidentlyuse and apply the literacy skills that arenecessary to develop their learningThe overall attainment of the studentswith regard to each of the followingliteracy skills is improving or remains at ahigh standard: oral language, reading,writing, critical appreciation of digitaland broadcast mediaICT is available in the classroom andother learning settingsIndividual students and groups ofstudents have access to ICT to supporttheir learning and to enable them tobecome active learnersThe students are enabled to engageactively in their learningAll students participate in the lessonThere is a balance between teacher inputand student participationResources(including ICT)Active learning5Students enjoy their learning of thesubject and are motivated to learn

ThemeSub-themeStudents’LearnerExperiences engagement inlearningLearning to onCriteriaOther learningexperiencesQuality Statement(s)Challenge andsupportAttitudesThe students are adequately challengedand supported in their learningStudents enjoy their learning and aremotivated to learnAll students are encouraged equally toparticipate in lessonStudents are taught across a range ofsubjects and programmes, includingliteracy and numeracy to use ICT to:- present their work- organise and produceinformation- express ideas- develop, support and extendtheir learningAttention is given to the consolidation ofstudent learning during and at the end ofthe lesson, and to the development andapplication of knowledge and skills,including the students’ literacy,numeracy and ICT skills and to thedevelopment of positive dispositions andattitudes towards learningTeaching approaches support students inengaging with the literacy and numeracydemands of the subjectOpportunities for collaborative andindependent work are providedStudents’ prior learning, interests andexperiences are taken into account inlesson organisation and contentClear lower-order and higher-orderquestions are posed and these stimulatestudent responseStudents are enabled to use relevant andnecessary resources (including ICT) tosupport their learningThere is order and structure in the wayactivities are organisedOpportunities are provided for activelearning followed by reflection anddiscussion, independent learning andcollaborative learningEquality ofopportunityICT skills inlearningFocus of nt ofstudentsOrganisation ofactivities6Students are provided with a wide rangeof non-classroom based activities

ThemeSub-themeTeachers’practiceManagement ofstudentsAssessmentEvaluationCriteriaStudent voiceAssessment inpracticeAssessmentrecordsCreating a wall on PadletGo to http://padlet.com/ and click on “Login or Signup”.7Quality Statement(s)Students’ contributions and questionsare encouraged and welcomed in theclassroomDue account is taken of students’ viewsand opinions in accordance with theirage and maturityA range of assessment includingassessment for learning (AfL) andassessment of learning (AoL) is used toevaluate students’ understanding andprogress and achievement of expectedlearning outcomesStudents are involved in the assessmentof their work and progress through selfassessment and/or peer assessmentTeaching and learning are amended inthe light of feedbackTeachers check students’ understandingduring and at the end of lessonsThe gathering of information onstudents’ learning is timely and happensat regular intervals

Click on “Sign Up”Enter your email and a password and click “Sign Up”. Alternatively you can log on using your Googleor Facebook accounts.If you teach a Modern Foreign Language, you may be able to use Padlet in the language of yourchoice by clicking on the drop-down arrow beside English on the top left of the screen and selectingthe appropriate language (in the red box below).8

Click on “Build a wall”.Click on “Modify wall” to change or customise the appearance of your wall.Begin by giving your wall a name or title, a description and then choose an image icon for your wall.9

Select a background for your wall. Alternatively, you can upload one of your own images to use as abackground.Double-click anywhere on the wall to write a note. First add your name, then write youranswer/contribution. You can upload links, files or a photo using a webcam to your note.If you need to edit or delete a note, simply hover your cursor over it and select the appropriate icon.10

You can change the format of your wall at any stage by selecting the gear icon and then choosing“Layout” .If you want your wall to be visible to a specific group of people, you can set this using the privacymenu.Select “Moderate posts” if you want to view posts before they appear on your wall. Click “Reset” tosave your changes.11