How to use the random student picker
- Paste your class list and press 💾 Save to keep it for next time.
- Tap anyone who's absent under Absent today.
- Pick: press the button, tap the wheel or press the Space bar. The counter shows how many students have had a turn.
- Keep going until everyone has been picked; a new round then starts by itself.
Why random picking works in class
When students know anyone could be asked, more of them think about the answer. When they can see the pick is fair, and that nobody gets picked twice while others never do, it feels like a game instead of a trap. A visible random student selector also takes the pressure off you: it wasn't you who chose, it was the wheel.
Teacher tips
- Ask first, then pick: pose the question, give thinking time, then spin, so everyone thinks.
- Use pairs for hard questions: make pairs with the pair generator, let them discuss, then pick a student to share.
- Groups in seconds: the same saved list works in the team generator for project groups.
- Make it a moment: the duck race or balloon pop makes choosing who goes first a small event; Quick pick keeps the pace up during a busy lesson.
- Friday fun: run a ⚔️ Team battle between two halves of the class, or a duck race 🏆 Tournament for who picks the class reward.
- Jobs and rewards: pick the line leader, the board cleaner or the student who chooses the class reward.
Names stay on your device: no accounts, nothing uploaded, which keeps student names private.
📖 More ideas in our guide to picking students at random, fairly, and ready-made wheels for classroom jobs, brain breaks and questions of the day.
Questions people ask
How do I pick students at random without repeats?
This page starts with No repeats until everyone is picked switched on. Every student gets a turn before anyone is picked a second time, and a counter shows how many have had a turn. When everyone has been picked, a new round begins.
What if some students are absent?
Tap their names under Absent today. They are left out of the picks (and off the wheel) until you tap them again or press Everyone is here. Your class list itself doesn't change.
Can I save my class lists?
Yes. Type or paste a class, press 💾 Save and give it a name like "5B Maths". Open it from My saved lists next lesson. Lists are stored on your own device; nothing is uploaded.
Does it work on a smart board or projector?
Yes. Press fullscreen (or F) and the game fills the screen with large text. It runs in the browser on interactive whiteboards, Chromebooks, iPads and laptops, and after the first visit it even works offline.
Which game should I use with my class?
The wheel is quick and familiar; the duck race and claw machine build suspense for younger pupils; balloon pop (last one standing) is great for choosing who goes first; Quick pick is best when you just need an answer.
Is it fair to every student?
Yes. Picks use secure randomness, every present student has the same chance, and because No repeats until everyone is picked is on from the start, nobody is picked twice until everyone has had a turn, which students quickly notice and appreciate.