This project (2018-1-SE01-KA201-039098) has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Database of Innovative Learning Objects



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TITLE
Padlet

Web Based Tool suitable in Science Learning Activities.
LEARNING OBJECT
Using Padlet in the investigation of Osmosis Using Jelly Bear Sweets
WEBSITE OF THE PRODUCT
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Web Site/Portal, Mobile Apps
SUBJECT TAUGHT
Chemistry, Biology
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE
Basic
TARGET GROUP AGE
14 – 16 years old
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
Yes
DESCRIPTION
Padlet is an online tool which can be used to create multiple scenarios of learning in a collaborative online learning environment.

The Dashboard presents users with multiple options for developing learning activities and is suitable for all Science subjects.

Padlets enables teachers to create classroom activities and engage their students in a collaborative way. Supporting students through learning creatively through technologies rather than just consuming them.
Teachers can also apply settings to encourage students to post reactions to their topics of study.

Padlet can be used in a similar way to a bulletin board where all types of media objects can be posted and shared.

Padlets provides teachers and students with a variety of activities for collaboration. These include:

• Learning about a new topic
• Conducting an Experiment
• Carrying out research on a particular topic.
• Revising an existing topic.
• Students can work on an individual projects or in teams as specified by their teacher. Teachers can set the permissions on the topic of choice allocating activities to individual groups.

Padlet contains a variety of tools to support learning:

Walls – A Wall can be created by a teacher on a particular Science topic and the students can then contribute to the topic in many ways. Students can upload – Notes, photographs, images, links to resources, Locations, Snaps, Videos, etc. all of which contribute to the discussion on the topic of choice.

Canvas – A Canvas can be used to connect various researched topics and demonstrate the connections between particular topics.

Streams – A stream can present content in a streamline format and can be beneficial when developing incremental content on a topic.

Grids – A Grid can be used for a scientific experiment where students can upload photographs and descriptions of specimens.

Timelines – A Timeline can be used to present content on a horizontal line, demonstrating the order in which activities are carried out for instance when reporting on an experiment.

Shelf – A Shelf stacks content in a series of columns which can be useful when revising topics.

Maps – A map can be used to add content to points on a map.

Backchannels – A backchannel can enable students to communicate in a chat like environment.

Finally, activities can be archived so that teachers can keep their developed resources from year to year.
INNOVATIVE LEARNING OBJECT
An example could be Investigating Osmosis Using Jelly Bear Sweets (e.g. Haribo or Gummy Bears)

The class will already have been given information on osmosis: the movement of water molecules from a high concentration of water to a low concentration of water across a semi-permeable membrane. They may have seen it demonstrated using Visking (Dialysis) Tubing or potatoes. Previous information can be included on the padlet for recall purposes. This could also include links to videos on youtube.

The investigation could also be used in a module on the Nature of Science, where it challenges the students to put the Scientific Method in Action. They are set an investigation challenge and asked to create experiments following the steps of the scientific method — observe, ask, hypothesize, test, and evaluate.

This investigation will engage them by using the jelly bear sweets and also padlet as a means of compiling the results of their investigations.

The students are given jelly sweets, petri dishes or beakers, water, salt, sugar, timers, paper towel, rulers, weighing scales. They are given time for discussion in small groups and then are asked to write up their methods for the Investigating Osmosis experiment.

The teacher has a number of prompts on the padlet board:
What will happen?
How will we measure it?
What will the Independent Variable be?
What will the Dependent Variable be?
What will the Constant Variable be?

Then the students are asked to share their plans for the experiments and ultimately share their findings on a padlet. They can add photos at the various stages of the experiment, and other images as well as the text notes.
EXPERT'S COMMENT
This is an effective collaborative ICT tool for use in a classroom environment for any age group.

This tool can be used across multiple subject areas and topics.

This tool is free but there are additional tools and resources which become available when paid for through additional subscriptions.
TEACHER'S COMMENT
The teachers compared Padlet to Office 365, and noted it was more powerful than using PowerPoint, for example. If the students learned how to use Padlet it would be a powerful tool with which to do presentations. There are many online videos showing how to use Padlet. User registration may be an issue.