Collaborative Learning with Padlet

What is it? 

Padlet is a kind of online noticeboard for you and your students. The posts look like post-it notes, so students individually or in groups can post their ideas, homework, or projects as one part of a wider collage. Each post has a comment feature below so that many threads can be visible at one time. The layout is clear and inviting, so I would definitely use this as a message board for the class.

How would I use it?

Other uses include student presentations. I have often had students send me their PPPs so I could have them on hand in case their computers had problems, or to avoid plagiarism via extra windows on their computers and/or endless Wikipedia text, but it was often a bit of a hassle to download and organise them on my computer. I think Padlet would be very useful in that regard.
My colleague Betty mentioned they might also be useful for anonymous feedback! Unless the author of the Padlet adjusts the settings, all posts appear as "Anonymous". Therefore, it could be an interesting platform for hearing your students genuine thoughts. Of course, the teacher who allows students to publicly critique her class should be donning a thick skin. Still, there are advantages, in my view, to cutting out the paycheck and promotion wielding middlemen. Students might be more inclined to respond as learners rather than as customers.

Speedbumps?

Many of my concerns about posting and privacy were alleviated by this FAQ page . It seems that Padlet is a well-established trend, complete with its own apps, merchandise, and formatting key; thus it's not surprising that most foreseeable kinks and drawbacks have at this point been addressed. However, I am still wary of clutter. Students, especially young ones, are easily overwhelmed by scattered information, and I'm not too pleased with the way it automatically shifts posts about when you add a new one. Have you had similar concerns or used Padlet in different ways?