Easy Digital Collaboration: Padlet

I have been using Padlet.com for a couple of years now.  This year it is especially nice because we just went to a Chromebook for each student.  The benefits are many for me. Accountability. The students see others giving correct form for their work, they will want to give the correct form too. It raises the bar for quality work by being public.  This is great for getting 100% participation. Another big benefit is the fact that ALL students will have a voice. You will hear from EVERYONE. Lastly, I love the fact that students really would rather type than write on paper. This will amaze you. They will fill a whole section on a Padlet post, but probably would not like to write much at all on paper. You can use a Padlet tomorrow in class if you like. Just take these easy steps.

1.  Go to Padlet.com and create an account as soon as you can.  It is free.

2.  Once you are logged in, then create a new Padlet.

3.  Click on the Settings Icon and name the Padlet and put any special instructions.

4.  Now set the Layout.  I like Grid the Best.

5.  Now the last thing I do is change the address and copy it.  This makes it easier for your students to get to your Padlet.  It is not necessary to take this step.  However, if you are just giving the students the URL by having them go to it, then you will want to change the name to something easy.  Now your ready for the students.

In class

1.  Have them sign up for their own Padlet.com account before you have them do anything.  When they have done this, they leave a cookie trail for any post they make. (this creates accountability)  I very rarely have them post things without their name.

2. Now you can give them the URL address that you copied above.  Just pose a question and see the Padlet fill up with student responses.

Check out the example Padlets

EXAMPLE 1:  WHO CAN ENTER THE ROOM?

http://padlet.com/sladkey/teenagers

This Padlet is locked so you may not add to it.  There is one below if you would like to try to type into one.

Created with Padlet

EXAMPLE 2: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO.......

Here is another one that asked to pick a city in the lower 48 states and guess the hours it would take to drive there.  Then to calculate how long it would take averaging 60 miles an hour.  Then to find the time Google said it would take to get there. Lastly answer the question of why the Google time is different than yours.

http://padlet.com/sladkey/literalequations

This Padlet is locked so you may not add to it.  There is one below if you would like to try to type into one.  

ADD TO THE PADLET BELOW.  Put your name, school, and location.  Please put an inspirational teaching quote for us all to benefit from.  It could be from a colleague or a former teacher or simply one you have always liked.  Please give credit to whoever gave the quote.  If you don't know, just put anonymous.  

http://padlet.com/sladkey/padletfun

Created with Padlet

You take the Left side and I'll take the Right side

As a math teacher, I give a lot of problems to my students that are equations. This provides a great opportunity for students to work together to solve a problem. Put one student on the left side of the problem and another student on the right side of the problem. Then they can only do things on their "side" of the problem. It was amazing. Basically, it forced my students to work in tandem and at the same speed. Even better was the fact that they had to talk the math out. So one person added something to her side of the equation. That meant that their partner had to add something to their side as well. They would each discuss what had to be done next. If one student tried to do something to one side, the other person would not do anything to their side until things were explained. It was a magical moment. So here is how I designed it.

I did a podcast on this very topic at www.teachingwithsmartboard.com . Check out Podcast #81.

We were doing 2 step equations in Introduction to Algebra

1. Have the students working in pairs. Have them move their desks next to each other.

2. Have one sheet of paper per pair of students.

3. Tell the student in the left desk that they are only allowed to write on the left side of the equation. Also, the person in the right desk are only allowed to write on the right side of the equation.

4. Give a question to your students that is an equation.

5. Watch your students work together to solve the problem.

6. Monitor your students to see when they might be getting done.

7. Pick a student at random to come to the board with their partner and explain the problem. The pair should bring up the paper they were working on to guide them.

8. The pair should "JUSTIFY" what they do. I like to have both students alternate talking.

9. Enjoy having your students engaged!

What are the 13 vitures of a TEACHER?

What do you think should be in the list of the 13 most important Virtues for TEACHERS? It was extremely difficult for me to choose only 13. I'm sure that yours would differ. It is a good exercise for all teachers. Try it yourself and leave your 13 virtues in a comment to this post.
I got the idea from Ben Franklin, who came up with 13 Virtues that we all should live by. They are at the bottom of the post.

Dave's 13 Virtues of a TEACHER
1. Adaptable
2. Collaboration
3. Communication
4. Discipline
5. Empathy
6. Explanation
7. Helpful
8. Humor
9. Integrity
10. Knowledge
11. Patience
12. Organization
13. Respectful

Here are some words that were close but didn't make my list.
Attitude, Caring, Compassion, Consistency, Determination, Dignity, Facilitate, Fairness, Forgiveness, Hopeful, Humility, Instruction, Intelligence, Passionate, Professionalism, Organization, Questioning, and Trust.




Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues
1.Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2.Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3.Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4.Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5.Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6.Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7.Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8.Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9.Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11.Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12.Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13.Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.