padlet.com
What Padlet.com Is
Padlet is a cloud-based visual collaboration and content-sharing platform. At its core it gives you “boards” (often called padlets) that act like digital bulletin boards or canvases where people can post and organize content — text, images, videos, audio, links, and documents — all in one place. It’s designed to be simple to use: boards load in a browser or app, and contributors can add content in real time. (Padlet)
It started out as Wallwisher and rebranded to Padlet. The company is based in San Francisco and Singapore. (Wikipedia)
How It Works
You log in or sign up, create a board (the padlet), and choose a layout. There are different visual formats — grid, stream, wall, timeline, map — depending on how you want to present ideas. Once it’s created:
Anyone with access can post items (text, images, documents, etc.).
You can control privacy: public, password-protected, or restricted to specific users.
Contributors can post at the same time — it’s live collaboration.
Boards can be shared via link, QR code, or embed (e.g., in an LMS or site). (Padlet)
Recent versions include AI tools that can help generate content on boards from prompts (for things like lesson planning or maps). (Padlet)
Common Uses
People use Padlet for many kinds of work, but it’s especially common in education:
Brainstorming & idea collection: Teams or classes post thoughts to a shared space. (askus.northampton.ac.uk)
Project management or collaboration: Organize resources and timelines visually.
Instructional support: Teachers post resources, students submit work. (askus.northampton.ac.uk)
Discussion boards: A facilitator posts a question and participants respond. (askus.northampton.ac.uk)
Portfolios or research hubs: Collect work in a central visual space. (Digital Education Systems Help)
It’s also used outside education — in business workshops, team planning, creative routines, and community projects — wherever people need a shared visual space to collaborate. (myngo.eu)
Key Features
Here’s what the platform supports, practically:
Real-time collaboration: Multiple people can add and edit content simultaneously. (Padlet)
Multimedia support: Text, graphics, video, audio, file attachments. (Padlet)
Custom layouts: Board styles like grid, timeline, or map views. (Padlet Help)
Responsive design: Works in any modern browser and on iOS/Android apps. (Padlet Help)
Privacy controls: Public, link-only, password protected, or restricted boards.
Sharing & integration: Share via links, QR codes, or embed into LMS/other tools. (Digital Education Systems Help)
Pricing Breakdown
Padlet has a freemium model — free basic use with limits, and paid plans for more features: (Padlet)
| Plan | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Free (Basic) | Up to 3 active padlets, limited file sizes. (Capterra) |
| Gold | More padlets (e.g., ~20), larger uploads. (Capterra) |
| Platinum | Unlimited padlets, bigger file uploads. (Capterra) |
| Team | Collaboration features for groups, user roles, bigger uploads. (g2.com) |
| Classroom | Teacher-oriented features for up to ~200 students. (Padlet Help) |
| School/Enterprise | School-wide deployment and administration tools (custom pricing). (g2.com) |
Costs vary by plan and region. Free users can start without paying, but may hit caps on how many boards they keep live or how big their files can be. (Capterra)
Strengths
Fast setup: You can create a board in minutes. (Padlet)
Flexible content: Anything from text to video to drawings. (Padlet)
Collaborative: Multiple contributors at once. (Padlet)
Accessible: Works across devices and integrates with common learning platforms. (Digital Education Systems Help)
Visual organization: Helps teams see structure at a glance.
Limitations
The free tier is limited in the number of active boards and upload sizes. (Capterra)
Privacy and compliance can be a concern in some institutional settings — some administrators are cautious about student data and external hosting. (Wikipedia)
Heavy use or large files usually require a paid plan.
Key Takeaways
Padlet is a web-based visual collaboration platform that acts like a shared bulletin board for text, media, and files. (Padlet)
It’s easy to use and flexible, suitable for classrooms, teams, workshops, and personal projects. (myngo.eu)
The free plan lets you start immediately, but paid plans expand storage, board limits, and collaboration tools. (Padlet)
It’s strong for real-time interaction and visualization of ideas, but be mindful of limits and privacy policies if using it with sensitive data. (Wikipedia)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to use Padlet?
Yes — to create and manage boards you sign up with an email or through the app. Contributors may be able to interact without accounts depending on the board’s privacy settings. (teachfloor.com)
Can students use Padlet without signing up?
If the creator sets the board to public or shared by a link with posting permissions, yes — students can interact without creating accounts. (teachfloor.com)
What kinds of content can I post?
Text, images, videos, links, documents, audio — pretty much all standard digital formats. (Padlet)
Can I embed Padlet in other sites or platforms?
Yes — boards can be embedded in websites, LMS platforms, and other systems that accept HTML embeds. (Digital Education Systems Help)
Is Padlet safe for schools?
It depends on your policies; Padlet has education plans and privacy settings, but some institutions evaluate external hosting carefully before adoption. (Wikipedia)
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