Cold calling in discussions
Ask the question, give thinking time, then pick. Everyone stays ready because anyone could be next.
A Fair Random Name Picker for Your Class
Call on students fairly, not just the hands that always go up. Paste your class list once, and this random name picker keeps track of who has already had a turn.
Open in full classroom screen
Free, no sign-up. Add more widgets alongside it.
How to use the random name picker
- 1
Type or paste your class list once. It is saved for next time.
- 2
Tap any student who is away today and the picker will skip them.
- 3
Choose how many names to pick (1 to 6) and turn on no-repeats if everyone should get a turn.
- 4
Press Space or Pick. A short drumroll builds the suspense, then the name is revealed.
What it does
No repeats until everyone has a turn
With no-repeats on, nobody is picked twice in a round. A counter shows how many students have been picked so far, and you can reset the round at any time.
Absent students skipped
Tap a name to mark that student absent. The picker leaves them out, so you never call on an empty chair.
Pick up to six at once
Need three helpers or a pair of reading partners? Pick anywhere from 1 to 6 names in one go.
One list for every tool
The class list you save also works in the spin wheel and the group maker, so you only type your roster once.
Ways teachers use it
Classroom jobs
Pick the line leader, the board cleaner and the book monitor in one go at the start of the week.
Exit tickets and share-outs
Before the bell, pick three students to share one thing they learned today.
Frequently asked questions
In your own browser on this device. Class lists save automatically and are never uploaded, and you do not need an account.
Yes. Turn on no-repeats and nobody is picked again until every student in the list has had a turn. Reset the round to start over.
Yes. It runs in any modern browser, so it works on a laptop with a projector, an interactive whiteboard or a classroom TV. On the full board, press F for full screen.
Yes. It is free with no sign-up. The full board adds a timer, a spin wheel, a group maker and more around the same class list.
More free classroom tools
Classroom noise meterShow the room's volume live, with a limit you set and quiet points.Random group generatorEven random groups from your class list, with keep-apart pairs.Spin the wheelA colourful wheel for names, brain breaks and rewards.Visual scheduleLesson steps with a countdown each, so everyone knows what is next.