Padlet Institutional License Now Available for WashU Instructors
The Center for Teaching and Learning is happy to announce that Padlet is now officially licensed and available for use for WashU faculty.
What is Padlet?
Padlet is a digital pin board software, a virtual wall, and a collaborative space, that allows users to gather a variety of objects into a single digital place. Users can write text, record audio and video, add links to websites from across the web, or upload pictures to a Padlet wall. This is a great tool for live (Zoom or socially-distanced discussion) as well as asynchronous discussion. It can also be used to develop a collaborative wiki-like project. Users can like others’ posts and comment on them. Learn more about Padlet in our teaching guide.
What does the WashU License Allow for?
WashU has purchased a Padlet Pro plan, which gives anyone who has a @wustl.edu email the opportunity to set up an account with unlimited walls/pin boards (these are called Padlets within the software).
What Do I Do to Set Up an Account?
You’ll go to https://padlet.com/auth/signup and use your WUSTL email address to set up an account. All it requires is your email address and a unique password to make an account.
What if I Already Have a Padlet Account with My WashU Email Address?
To upgrade to the institutional account, you’ll only need to log out and then log back into your account. You can check to verify that you’ve been upgraded from the free account to Padlet Pro by clicking on account details–>settings–>billing.
What if I Already Have a Padlet Account with an Outside Email Address?
If you already have a Padlet account attached to a different email, you can update your account to switch over to the WashU paid account. You’ll log into Padlet and click on account details–>settings. Then, under basic info, change the email address associated with the account to your Wustl email address. You’ll then need to log out and back into the account to refresh the settings. Note that it may take up to 24 hours before the account has officially switched over to the paid Pro plan. You can also click here and follow the steps to upgrade your account: https://padlet.com/premium/upgrade/claim
How Can I Use Padlet with Canvas?
We do not have a license for the LTI Canvas app for Padlet. However, you can very easily embed a Padlet into a Canvas page using the embed code (just like you would for a video). You can also put a link to a Padlet in a page or assignment directions within Canvas. Students would then click on the link to engage with the activity. The CTL is happy to work with you on going through these steps the first time!
Who Should I Talk with to Learn More?
The staff at the Center for Teaching and Learning would love to help you brainstorm ways to use this tool effectively in your teaching. For a brief one-on-one tour of Padlet or a brainstorming session about potential productive uses in your teaching, please contact Dr. Sally Wu (sallywu@wustl.edu) to set up a consultation.
