Reflection: Padlet as an Interactive ICT Tool
Padlet is one of the first interactive online tools that caught my attention during one of our lecturer's sessions. I remember being curious about it when the lecturer used it to collect our responses in real time during a class activity. The colorful and organized layout immediately made the learning experience feel fresh and engaging, and I later explored it on my own out of interest.
Padlet functions like a virtual wall or bulletin board where users can post text, images, videos, links, voice recordings, or drawings. One of the things I like most about is its simple and visual interface, which makes it easy for both teachers and students to interact without needing advanced technical skills. I tried creating a Padlet wall on my own and was surprised by how easy it was to customize the layout, background, and access settings. Although I haven't used it much in actual classroom teaching yet, I see a lot of potential for future use.
This tool encourages collaborative and active learning. For example, students can brainstorm ideas, post reflections, ask questions, and respond to their peers. Everyone's ideas are visible, which can promote discussions and help shy or quite students participate more comfortably. It also allows the teacher to gather input quickly and see different perspectives in one place.
One challenge I noticed is that if too many people post at the same time, the Padlet board can look cluttered and overwhelming. Also, while basic features are free, some advanced layouts or privacy options require a paid account, which may limit its use in certain schools.
Despite these small issues, I find Padlet to be a valuable ICT tool for making lessons interactive and student-centered. It's a great platform for warm-up activities, exit tickets, reflections, or group projects. In the future, I would like to use Padlet to encourage brainstorming and peer interaction, especially when teaching writing or language activities.
In conclusion, Padlet is an easy-to-use yet powerful digital tool that makes learning more interactive and enjoyable. It's definitely a resource I will explore further as I grow a teacher.
