Using Padlet
Padlet is an online tool that allows students to share text, images, links, videos, and more. It can be shared with your students or colleagues by embedding the padlet on a VU Collaborate page, scanning a QR code, or providing them with the unique Padlet link.
This guide includes
Steps to follow when setting up and using a Padlet:
Request a Padlet account
Staff Only
Send your request with your eNumber.
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Students
Create a free account (with up to 3 Padlet boards)
Step One: Access Padlet
1. Go to Padlet at Victoria University and log in with your provided login details.
2. When you sign in, the first thing you see is the Dashboard.
If you have an existing Padlet account, you will be given the option to import previously created Padlet.com into your VU Collaborate Padlet account.
See Import my personal padlets to a Backpack account
New Dashboard
3. Click + Make on the top left 
Then click on Blank board tile to create a new Padlet board.
Or select a template from a range of use cases.
To navigate around the new dashboard, or to switch back to the classic view, refer to the video by the Padlet team: Introducing Padlet Home
4. Enter your board title, ideally can be the unit name or unit code and topic (i.e.: ABC1234 - Introduction to...).
5. Select a format (1) and turn on/off sections (2).
Padlet offers several kinds of options as shown in the image below which can be used for different learning tasks.
- Wall - similar to Pinterest, allows you to post texts, images or videos.
- Stream - looks like a blog where only one post is seen at a time in order.
- Timeline - displays in a horizontal list of items.
- Grid - displays items in a row and therefore looks better when the items are of similar size.
- Canvas - can be used to develop mind maps to show inter-relationships.
- Map - allows posts to be added as a point on a map.
Step Two: Customise your Padlet board
Customise the look and feel of your board via Settings.
1. Open Padlet Settings by clicking on the gear icon on the right screen.
2. Scroll through the list to modify and customise your board:
- Heading:
- Title - ideally be the unit name or unit code
- Description - insert the question or activity prompts.
- Appearance (background, theme, etc)
- Layout (group posts and sort posts)
- Engagement (comments and reactions)
- Content (moderation)
- Advanced
3. Padlet settings will be saved automatically by the system.
Once done, click on the X (close) icon to exit the settings panel.
Step Three: Add Collaborators
Next, to ensure other users (students or colleagues) can access and post on your Padlet, you would need to configure padlet Privacy settings.
1. To access the Privacy setting, click on the Share option on the top right.
2. Type to search for staff using their names/emails/staff ID in the Add a collaborator field (Staff Only).
Then, adjust any permissions if needed.
Step Four: Share your Board
Boards created in Padlet can be exported in several ways, including as a PDF, an image, a spreadsheet, or printed out. Your Padlet can also be shared by its unique URL, or QR code, or embedded into your unit space.
Some commonly used are:
Embed into your unit space
To embed the code into an HTML page in your learning space, first, you will have to copy the embed code from Padlet.
1. In your Padlet, click Share
2. Before sharing your board, ensure your Padlet is set as writable (Writer (1)) and Secret (2) (only viewable by embed code or link) as below.
If you choose the "Organisation wide" option, it's restricted to users in your organization. Visitors not in your organization will be denied access, in this case, students won't be able to access them as they're not required to have accounts).
3. Select Embed in your blog or your website, then select Copy padlet embed code.
4. Return to your Unit Space, and add a new document or edit an existing document HMTL page.
In the HTML editor, click on the insert stuff icon, then select Enter Embed Code.
5. Paste your embed code into the text box, then click Next.
6. Click Insert.
Then click Save and Close, to confirm your changes.
Present your board as a SlideShow
To display your Padlet board as presentation slides, simply click on the Open Slideshow option from the top-right menu.
A new tab will open and show your board in slideshow format. The look and format of the presentation will be the same as the appearance settings in current your board.
For more information, you can also refer to the Padlet Slideshow guide, by Padlet team.
Manage Padlet boards from Block to Block
At the start of each Block, it is the unit convenor's responsibility to make sure that all content and activities in the unit site are up to date, this includes Padlets.
In general, Padlets should be changed/updated in the delivery space, and there are three options to help you accomplish that.
Option 1: Make a copy (remake) of the Padlet board and embed it in the HTML page
Option 1: Make a copy (remake) of the Padlet board and embed it in the HTML page
If you want to have a completely new Padlet with no responses from previous students and you want to maintain the previous responses so that those students can review it, it is best to remake the Padlet and embed it. This takes a bit longer but ensures student privacy and access to learning materials and activities.
- Go to VU Padlet Dashboard and select the Padlet board you need to remake
- Select Remake from the options column
- (2) rename your new padlet with a useful name that helps you to keep track of your board (e.g.: topic, unit code, teaching period & year).
- Tick on the (3) copy design and/or copy people and privacy.
- For multiple location groups within the same unit site, you may wish to create separate Padlets per group.
- Add any new unit convenors or key teaching staff as Members of the Padlet with Can administer permissions (see Adding Collaborators).
- Navigate to your relevant page in the VU Collaborate site and remove your old Padlet board
- Embed the new Padlet that you have just remade, following Sharing your Wall.
Answer common Padlet questions
Click on each tile below for more details and instructions.
