Random name picker Name picker for class
Cold-calling that students see as fair
Teachers who call on volunteers hear from the same five hands. Teachers who choose by eye drift toward the students who make eye contact. A name picker takes the choice out of the room, and in rounds mode it adds the one thing that matters in a classroom: nobody comes up twice until everyone has gone once.
The roster here has 24 sample names. After a name is drawn it moves to Already drawn, and the next press can only choose from those who are left. When the last name is drawn, press Put all back and the next round begins. The list is kept in this browser, so you can stop at the bell and carry on tomorrow.
Equity is the main reason to use it. Quiet students, who rarely raise a hand, get the same chance as the eager ones, and the class sees that the choice is random, not a punishment. Use a low-stakes question for the first draws, and let a student say "pass" once and ask a neighbor. If you want a student to be able to come up again right away, open Settings and switch off Set drawn names aside (no repeats). The plain random name picker draws several names at once just as easily, and the random student picker wheel is the same idea as a spinner.
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Running a draw during a lesson
- Open Names and replace the sample roster with your class. Delete anyone who is absent today so you never call a missing student.
- Ask the question first, then press Pick a student. Pausing before the draw gives everybody time to think, since anyone could be next.
- Check Already drawn to see who has gone. Press Put all back when the round is complete, or any time you want a fresh start.
- Use Present to show the name on the projector, or leave the screen turned away and read the name aloud.
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Questions about picking students at random
Will a student be picked twice in one round?
No. Every drawn name is set aside until the list runs out. When the list runs out, the page tells you, and Put all back starts a new round.
Can I save a roster for each class period?
Yes. Under Settings you can keep several lists, one for each period or section. They are saved in this browser only, so they do not leave your computer.
What if I want a student to be picked more often?
Write a number after the name, like Cora *2, to give her twice the chance. Use it rarely, since the point of the tool is that everyone is treated the same.
How do I draw groups of students instead?
Raise How many to 3 or 4 and one press picks that many names. For a full class split, the random group generator makes the whole set at once.
Is a student's name shared with anyone?
No. The list stays in your browser and is not sent to a server. A share link carries the names inside the link, so only send it to colleagues.
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Other ready-made setups
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