As part of our commitment to sustainable, accessible, and institutionally supported digital learning tools, we will not be renewing our Padlet license. This means Padlet will be gradually phased out as an approved platform. Although many of us have utilised it for collaboration and engagement, the time has come to look at alternatives more closely aligned with our current platforms and digital strategy.
What are my alternatives?
After looking over numerous Padlet samples, staff in the Digital Learning Team (DLT) have determined important user cases and some well-considered substitutes. Here are some examples created by our team to demonstrate how smooth these transitions can be, along with screenshots and recommendations.
For structured learning and content delivery: Blackboard Ultra
Blackboard Ultra is a user-friendly environment for sorting and delivering coursework in an uncomplicated, sequential way. Blackboard Ultra lets academics add content directly inside expandable/collapsible containers (i.e. ‘learning modules’ and ‘folders’) such that students may more easily find and interact with content.
For discussion boards: Blackboard Ultra
Using Blackboard Ultra for discussions can boost student engagement and encourage collaborative learning. The platform features a clean, user-friendly interface that makes it super easy for students to post, respond, and connect with their classmates and instructors. One of the advantages is its support for structured and threaded discussions, which helps everyone keep track of conversations and build on ideas over time. Instructors can also step in to moderate discussions, give timely feedback, and monitor participation, all of which contribute to a more inclusive and accountable learning environment. Also, since discussions are a feature of Blackboard Ultra, students have all their course materials and discussions in one place.
For interactive learning content, instructions and guides: Xerte
Xerte is an excellent authoring tool for creating accessible, media-enriched learning objects suitable for asynchronous, self-paced learning. With an extensive range of customisable templates, it can be tailored to meet the needs of many different subjects and learning goals. Xerte is especially well-suited to creating branching scenarios, interactive quizzes, and exploratory content, and is thus a good option for teachers looking to create engaging, student-directed experiences.
For live engagement: Mentimeter
Mentimeter is an ideal piece of software for adding real-time interaction to live sessions. It allows educators to quickly integrate polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions into classes and seminars and maintain students’ attention and activity. Results are immediately available to all participants, sparking discussion and immediate feedback. Its user-friendliness on various devices makes it an easy tool to use in both classroom and online education environments.
Final thoughts
The DLT is here to support you in the transition. If you need assistance in redesigning a particular activity or have questions about what tool is best for your teaching objectives, don’t hesitate to contact us.
While change can be daunting, it also opens doors to new possibilities. By adopting tools that are fully supported, accessible, and tailored to your teaching needs, you’re better able to continue to deliver rich, engaging learning experiences.