How the Random Name Picker works
The name picker draws one name from a list you paste. The label on the widget is Enter names (one per line). You press Save Names, then draw. It is for cold calling when you want the draw to be visible.
- Click Names in the dock.
- Open the gear. Paste the roster into Enter names (one per line): and press Save Names.
- Press Pick when you need a speaker. Read the name aloud.
- Press Save Board so the roster stays in this browser.
Settings and features
The picker stores the list you save. It does not connect to a gradebook.
| Control | What it does | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Enter names (one per line) | The roster the draw uses. | The class list changes, or you want a subset such as students who have not shared yet. |
| Save Names | Keeps that list on the widget. | Right after you paste, before you draw. |
Ways to use it in class
Cold call
Paste the full roster at the start of the unit. Draw one name for a short answer. Say the name, wait, then move on. The projected draw stops the argument about who you always pick.
Share-out after writing
After silent writing, draw two names to read one sentence. Stop at two. A picker that runs for ten minutes is a stall, not a share.
Jobs
Use a short list of roles (materials, timekeeper, reporter) on one tile and the roster on another if you want both. Or paste only the students who still need a job this week.
Ready-made boards
Morning meeting
A name picker already on the opening board.
Open this boardClassroom agenda
Jobs and a picker next to the day's list.
Open this boardStory starters
A picker for characters, plus a writing timer.
Open this board
When not to use it
- A student has asked not to be called on that day. Take the name off the list.
- You need groups, not one speaker. Use the Group Maker.
- You need a visual spin the class watches. Use the Wheel.
Accessibility and privacy
Say the name out loud. A student who cannot see the tile still needs to hear who was drawn. Names stay in this browser when you press Save Board. They are not an account and they are not sent to a gradebook. Copy link shares the layout with another computer.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I type the class list?
In the box labeled Enter names (one per line): then press Save Names.
Will it skip someone who is absent?
Only if you delete that line before you draw. The widget does not know attendance.
Is this the same as the wheel?
No. Names draws from the list. The Wheel is a spinner you fill with one name per line and press Spin.