How to Get Padlet Pro and Set It Up Right

If you are ready to try Padlet, send CDLI an email to request a Pro account: cdli@seattleu.edu. You can use the free version but it only allows you to create 3 Padlets. If you have used the free version of Padlet before, please note that there are different privacy settings in the Pro account so take a look at the instructions below, especially Step 9 to make sure you have things set up correctly.

Instructions


1. Once you have set up your Padlet account and signed in, choose Make a Padlet from your Padlet Dashboard:

Make a Padlet Button


2. That will open a selection of choices. Select the type of Padlet you want. (Note: you can change this later using the More button  and Change Format—see below.)

List of Padlet types to choose from


3. Believe it or not, your Padlet is set up. All you need to do is change the random Title and Description that Padlet has provided. You can also change the Wallpaper (background). See next step.

Shows where to put title and description for a Padlet along with the button to change the Padlet background


4. Padlet allows you to choose from a number of background types, including Solid Color, Gradients, Textures and Patterns, and Pictures. You can also upload a picture of your own as the background:

Choose a background options in Padlet


5. Once you've made these decisions, Padlet will let you know that you are all set and that the Padlet is ready.  It is, but we also need to cover a couple more options before we move on to getting an embed code so you can post your Padlet into one of your Canvas pages:

Padlet shows that it is ready


6. First, it's helpful to remember that you can always change these settings by clicking on the Modify icon, which looks like a gear.

Padlet Modify button

Also, if you decide to switch to a different format of Padlet, say from a Wall to a Shelf, click on the More icon (3 dots).

Padlet More Button

And this will open up a menu where you can find Change Format:

More Menu showing Change Format


7. Next, you'll want to click on the Share settings to make sure your privacy settings are correct before getting an embed code.

Padlet Share button


8. The default settings in Padlet Backpack are Private but you want to change that so click on Change Privacy.

Padlet default settings


9. When the Change Privacy window opens, choose Secret, then choose Visitor Permissions as Can Write and then Save.

Set up Privacy Settings for Secret and Can Write

10. Now you are ready to get the embed code for your Padlet. Click on Embed in your blog or website:

Choose Embed on your blog or website


11. When the Embed this Padlet window opens, click on the Copy button to copy the embed code:

Copy Embed Code


12. Next, go to your Canvas course and navigate to the page where you want your Padlet. Click on the page's Edit button in the upper right hand corner. When the Rich Text Editor window opens, 1.) Click on the Insert/Edit Media icon in the toolbar (second from left), 2.) Then click on the Embed tab. 3.) Next Paste the Embed Code into the text box and 4.) Click OK. Make sure you also click Save on the page before you exit.

Showing steps to Embed on a Canvas page


CONGRATULATIONS! Now you are set to go and your students can interact with your Padlet directly by clicking on the Plus Sign.

Padlet in Canvas

Additional Notes

  • Any changes you make to your Padlet after embedding it in Canvas will be automatically updated. You don't have to re-embed.

  • We have had some reports of students losing Padlet posts when they were using a Microsoft Surface or other device. This doesn't appear to happen except in cases where a Padlet is embedded on a page. The solution is to encourage your students to always interact directly with Padlet and treat the embedded Padlet as a viewing space only. Here is some example language you can use and adapt. We suggest you put it at the top of the page where you have embedded your Padlet.

For this exercise, we will be posting to a Padlet board. The expanded view of our Padlet board is displayed below and is intended for viewing purposes only. To write on the Padlet, click on the arrow box in the upper right corner and then click the ‘Plus’ icon in the bottom right corner to type your entry.

  • We have not heard of any instances of "Padlet Bombing" but it doesn't mean it couldn't happen if one of your students decided to share the Padlet URL. You could password protect the Padlet but the password could also be shared. If you are worried—and you will have to determine what is best for your group—you could set the Padlet to require that a moderator (you) approves a post before it appears. You can find that setting by clicking on the Modify (gear) icon.

Settings list including Aquire Approval