Q Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2017, Vol. 16, No. 1, 163–171. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2017.

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Books & Resource Reviews

Padlet: An Online Tool for Learner Engage- Below I describe a number of ways that I have
ment and Collaboration, Available at https:// used Padlets for preclass preparation, in-class ac-
tivities, postclass consolidation, and group project
Padlet.com
work in an introductory human resource manage-
Reviewed by Cynthia D. Fisher, Bond University, Australia
ment (HRM) course. These examples serve as ideas
([email protected]). for the many ways that Padlets might be used in
other management classes at all levels from under-
Padlet (previously known as Wallwisher) is a free graduate through EMBA.
Web 2.0 application that provides a virtual wall and First, Padlets may be used for preclass preparation.
collaborative space accessible from any Internet- When a case is to be prepared, students may be asked
enabled device. It is a live online bulletin board that to post responses to questions before class, such as
has been described by its developers as “a living, “what has gone wrong” or “what is the key issue?”
breathing webpage” and “the easiest way to create and This helps to assure that everyone has read the case
collaborate in the world.” Any number of participants prior to class. When articles are assigned, students
can simultaneously view, add, and rearrange content may be asked to post key points or to give examples
on a Padlet, including text, images, and links to other of how what they have read relates to their past ex-
web pages, videos, or documents. The bring-your-own- perience or current job. When I tried this, my goal was
device application is easy for students to use and does for students to collaboratively create CliffsNotes for
not require an account or login to post on an existing each assigned reading. Although fine in theory, two
Padlet. I consider myself technology-impaired, yet drawbacks I found with operationalizing this concept
found it easy to teach myself to create and use Padlets were that students sometimes missed the point of
to actively engage students at all points in the learning the reading or posted inaccurate statements, and that
process. The biggest problem I faced was containing more motivated students felt that others were free-
my enthusiasm and not over-using the technology! riding on their summaries and not reading the articles
Padlets can be created on computers; Android and themselves. These problems may be overcome by
iPad applications are also available. The instructor requiring either everyone or a nominated subset of
must first sign up for a free Padlet account, which can students to add signed posts for given articles, estab-
be upgraded to provide greater choice of backgrounds lishing a classroom culture that values thoughtful
and formats. Instructors begin by creating one or more preclass contributions, or providing instructor feed-
Padlets to support each planned learning activity by back and recognition for high-quality posts.
choosing an appropriate layout (freeform, grid, or Second, I have found that Padlets are incredibly
stream) and creating any headings, instructions, or useful for a variety of face-to-face classroom activities.
categories to which students will respond. The in- In effect, a Padlet multiplies the available air time for
structor makes a link to the Padlet available to stu- a discussion by the number of smart devices in the
dents at the desired time by email, Blackboard, or QR room. Students do not need to wait their turn to speak or
code, then students post their contributions and view compete with their neighbors to make a contribution,
those of others using their own smart devices (phone, allowing many ideas to be put forward in a short space
tablet, laptop). The instructor may choose to leave of time. Students from face-sensitive or non-English
links to Padlets and their contents available through- speaking backgrounds may feel more comfortable
out the semester for continued elaboration or to pro- contributing to class discussions through a written
vide a useful resource for review before exams. post than by making an oral statement to the class.
Padlet posts are anonymous unless students choose Padlets are particularly helpful when the instructor
to add their names. However, as a way to encourage wants to collect ideas and suggestions from the class
participation, instructors may ask students to sign their (e.g., for brainstorming activities). Students may be
posts and count these contributions toward a partici- asked to post their thoughts individually or on behalf
pation grade. Padlet posts also offer a route to partici- of a group after preliminary small-group discussions.
pation for those who are not able to attend every class Most activities that would normally be conducted us-
but who contribute to pre- and postclass Padlets. ing whiteboards, butcher paper, or Post-Its work well

163
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164 Academy of Management Learning & Education March

with Padlets, with the advantages of better visibility listening assignment, the lecture, or a presentation by
to the class and creation of a lasting record of the another student or group. If students work in study
discussion. In addition to collecting input before a groups or syndicates, they may wish to create their
discussion, Padlets can also be used to record and own Padlets to facilitate collaborative note taking
save learning points or the consensus reached after during class.
a large-group discussion. Padlets are also useful for “exit-ticket” activities
For example, I use a Padlet exercise in class on the at the end of a class or after an experiential exercise
first day of the semester to introduce HRM. Students to review, summarize, and apply key points. For in-
are first asked to post all the activities or functions they stance, I ask the class to populate a Padlet on “the five
think are part of human resource management. The most important things to remember about the topic
Padlet is displayed on the data projector in front of the we’ve been discussing today” just before the class
class throughout the exercise, as well as being visible finishes; to record the best advice they can give
on each student’s smart device. I use the freeform themselves on how to conduct a performance ap-
layout, which allows posts to be dragged and dropped praisal interview based on the role-play exercise
anywhere on the screen. In the second step of the ex- we’ve just completed and discussed; and by way of
ercise, we consider the activities students have listed review, to post three true statements about each of
and then sort them into those that are done largely by several selection devices I’ve listed on a Padlet.
HR professionals in the HR department on one side of Third, Padlets may be used after class. End-of-class
the screen, those that are done largely by line man- summary activities such as those listed as exit tickets
agers on the other side, and those that are shared can be done on Padlets after class if there hasn’t been
responsibilities in the middle. This provides a great time in class. Further reflections on how students
chance to dispel misconceptions, such as the idea that might apply what they have learned may be required
HR makes most hiring decisions or conducts perfor- or requested on postclass Padlets. Padlets created
mance appraisals, and to demonstrate that every throughout the semester are also useful resources
manager has substantial HR responsibilities with when students are studying for exams.
respect to their own staff. Fourth, students can be assigned to create their own
Instructors can use Padlets for opening activities in Padlets on specific topics as a longer term graded in-
any class session, perhaps by asking students to post dividual or group assignment. In fact, I first discovered
questions stemming from their preclass reading or to Padlet while searching for a platform for a Wiki-like
give an initial opinion on an open-ended question group assignment. Padlet is not the best choice if an
related to the day’s topic. For instance, at the start of instructor wants students to create a detailed Wiki
my first class on legal issues in HRM, I have students with a great deal of text, but can be very effective if the
simultaneously post every way they know of that goal is to create an interesting “resource wall” with
governments regulate any aspect of the employer– a variety of types of content. I have HRM student
employee relationship. In just a few moments, the groups prepare and present a Padlet on a topic chosen
Padlet and discussion that follows tell me what stu- from a list I provide. Sample topics are as follows:
dents already know and provide a brief overview of 1. Design a Padlet to teach supervisors how to effec-
the topics we will be covering in depth later. I tidy tively conduct on-the-job training for their staff.
up the Padlet after class to remove redundancies 2. Design a Padlet to teach the managers in a res-
or incorrect entries and add topics that were taurant chain about workplace bullying and
missed so that the Padlet provides a complete re- how to manage it, including both prevention
and dealing with incidents.
source for review. 3. Design a Padlet to educate managers and other
When teaching a case, Padlets can replace the employees about the purpose, processes, and
usual whiteboard if instructors create one or more outcomes of good succession planning.
Padlets prepopulated with the questions or head- 4. Design a Padlet to teach branch managers in
ings they plan to use in the case discussion. A few your large bank why and how to conduct exit
interviews with staff who resign.
students may be designated as scribes, freeing the
instructor to moderate the discussion rather than The aims of the assignment are for students to delve
writing on the board. Again, a lasting record of the deeper into a class-related topic, thoroughly research
discussion is produced. it (including reading articles and reviewing videos
Padlets can also be used to provide a backchannel and websites), selectively summarize and assemble
for questions, feedback, or comments on anything go- the most useful resources into a creative, engaging,
ing on in class: an exercise, a video and associated and logically organized Padlet, and then present the
2017 Books & Resource Reviews 165

Padlet to the class to share what they have learned. teaching to students who have no option but to be
Good Padlets include links to well-chosen (or even passive. The forward by David Cooperrider com-
self-produced) videos with a bit of explanation about mends this book for uniting “the best in learning
why to watch each, text, images, links to articles or theory with the world-wide movement to educate
relevant websites, and often something interactive, globally responsible leaders (p. xi).”
such as a test-yourself quiz or flashcard application. Stop Teaching: Principles and Practices for Re-
Although Padlets are presented to the class live, they sponsible Management Education addresses the aim
are also designed to serve as a free-standing training of the Principles for Responsible Management Edu-
or review resource. The assignment not only helps stu- cation (PRME) to help those of us who are teachers
dents learn about their and other team’s topics, but also and facilitators of learning to create educational
provides practice in self-teaching about a new topic, materials, processes, and environments where stu-
evaluating the quality of the information and resources dents can effectively learn how to combine doing
found in terms of both content and value-per-unit-of- good with doing well. The author, Isabel Rimanoczy,
time, thinking about how to apply what they learn in is the convener of a PRME Working Group on the
a practical setting, and creating a compelling tool to Sustainability Mindset. Sustainability Mindset is
educate others. A side benefit for me is that stu- a framework for management education that ad-
dents find some very good materials that I can in- dresses being, knowing, and doing dimensions:
clude in lectures in future semesters. Students inner awareness, ecological understanding, and ac-
appreciate the capacity to virtually collaborate tions for the greater good of the whole. She is a con-
on the Padlet assignment, either synchronously or tributor to the 2016 edited volume Educating for
asynchronously, and consequently the reduced Responsible Management: Putting Theory into Prac-
need for face-to-face team meetings. tice (Rimanoczy, 2016) and is also a member of the
Last, I use Padlet administratively to manage the AIM2Flourish Core Team (aim2flourish.com).
choice of group assignment topics by student teams. The book is structured in three parts. In Part 1,
Students simply post the names of their team members Rimanoczy delves into a persuasive discussion about
next to their topic choice on a first-come, first-served why we need a transformation in higher education
basis on a Padlet I provide for this purpose. This allows from our current state where we simply “teach,” to
other students to immediately see which topics are one in which we actively and intentionally facilitate
taken and which are still available, and lets me mon- learning. She explains that the traditional one-way
itor whether any students are not yet on a team. delivery of expert knowledge is increasingly un-
In sum, Padlet is a very easy to use technology suited for today’s Internet generation. Further, she
that can be applied to engage students in a large argues that the power relation in classrooms gears
number of ways both inside and outside of the students toward doing what is required rather than
classroom. FAQs and links to articles about Padlet learning and doing with a passion and a purpose.
can be found at http://jn.padlet.com/ Links to some In contrast, facilitating learning can be more effec-
of the group project Padlets produced by students tive in achieving the aims of responsible manage-
in my class can be found at https://padlet.com/ ment education. Action reflection learning (ARL) in
cynthia_fisher/examples. particular can help individuals grow in cognitive,
emotional, and spiritual intelligence to be proactive
leaders and shape a better world for all.
Stop Teaching: Principles and Practices for The bulk of the book is in Part 2, in which Rima-
Responsible Management Education, by nozcy presents the 10 Principles of the ARL method-
Isabel Rimanoczy. New York, NY: Business ology from Scandinavia, supplemented by a quick
Expert Press, 2016. 168 pages, Paperback reference Appendix checklist for designing engaging
learning experiences using the 10 Principles. This
Reviewed by Dennis P. Heaton, Maharishi University of guidance about ARL pedagogy can be applied in any
Management ([email protected]). discipline. Each chapter in Part 2 is presented as
responses to imagined questions from characters
This short and enjoyable book is a straightforward representing four learning styles: the Why learner,
guide to why and how to make our courses more the What learner, the How learner, and the So What
impactful for today’s learners by facilitating in- learner. Chapters are then summarized by each
teractive experience-based learning with the aim of these characters “to remind us to address their
of fully engaging students, rather than delivering perspectives.” The 10 Action Reflection Learning
Copyright of Academy of Management Learning & Education is the property of Academy of
Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a
listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print,
download, or email articles for individual use.