Random Name Picker
Pick students fairly, one or several at a time, with a card flip or a slot reel. Nobody is picked twice until everyone has had a turn, and the history shows who hasn't been picked this week.
How to use it
- Choose your class from the menu at the top, or type names into the box. Students marked absent are skipped automatically.
- Press Pick a name, or Space. Choose how many to pick at once and whether names appear on cards that flip over or on a spinning slot reel.
- Keep picking. The Still to go list shrinks with every pick, and when everyone has had a turn the next pick starts a new round.
- Check Not picked this week before a discussion, so the quieter students get their turn too.
Questions teachers ask
How is this different from the name wheel?
The wheel is great for a big moment. The name picker is quicker for everyday questioning: it can pick several students at once, it remembers who has had a turn between lessons, and it shows who hasn't been picked this week.
How does "no repeats" work?
With No repeats switched on, each student can only be picked once per round. When everyone here today has had a turn, a new round starts by itself. You can also start a new round at any time.
Does it remember turns if I close the page?
Yes, for saved classes. The current round and the pick history are saved with the class in your browser and included when you download a backup. Typed names are forgotten when you close the tab.
What happens when a student is absent?
Mark them absent on the Classes page and the picker skips them. Their place in the round is kept, so they still get their turn when they're back.
Is the name picker really random?
Yes. Every pick uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator, and every student who is still to go has the same chance. The cards and reel only reveal a name that has already been chosen.
Can I use it on the projector?
Press Present (or F) to show just the cards and the Pick button in large type, with no ads, menus or lists. Press Space to pick and Esc to leave.