Student & Team Picker
Pick random students from your class list with a fun spinning animation. No-repeat mode, team generator, and saved rosters — all free for teachers.
Team Generator
Randomly shuffle and split students into groups for activities, projects, or discussions.
Free Student and Team Picker for Teachers
SmarterSources Random Student Picker is a free classroom tool designed for teachers who want a fair and engaging way to call on students. Simply paste your class roster, click the button, and watch a fun spinning animation select a random student. The no-repeat mode ensures every student gets a turn before any name is repeated. Save your class rosters to reload them instantly next time.
How It Works
Enter your student names (one per line), then click "Pick Random." The tool cycles rapidly through names in a slot-machine-style animation before landing on the randomly selected student. The chosen name is displayed prominently with a celebration effect. Names are tracked in the "Already Picked" section so you can see who has been called on. When all students have been picked, the cycle resets automatically.
Team Generator
Need to split your class into groups? Enter the number of groups you want and click "Generate Teams." The tool randomly shuffles all students and distributes them as evenly as possible. Groups are displayed in clear, labeled cards that you can share on screen with your class.
Why Random Selection Matters
Research in education shows that random cold-calling increases student engagement and reduces the pattern of the same eager volunteers answering every question. It creates a classroom culture where every student is expected to participate, which improves attentiveness and learning outcomes. A visible random selection process also ensures students perceive the process as fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save my class roster?
Yes. Enter a roster name and click "Save Roster" to store your student list in your browser's local storage. You can save multiple rosters (one per class period, for example) and load them from the dropdown at any time. Your data never leaves your device.
How does the no-repeat mode work?
By default, the picker tracks which students have already been called on and excludes them from future picks. This ensures every student gets a turn before any name is repeated. Once all students have been picked, the history resets automatically. You can enable the "Allow repeats" checkbox to override this behavior.
How are teams generated?
The team generator shuffles all student names randomly using a Fisher-Yates algorithm, then distributes them round-robin into the specified number of groups. This ensures groups are as evenly sized as possible, with at most a one-person difference between the largest and smallest group.
Is this tool really free?
Absolutely. SmarterSources Random Student Picker is 100% free with no sign-up, no account, and no hidden fees. It runs entirely in your web browser, so your student data is never uploaded or stored on any server.
Can I use this on a projector or smartboard?
Yes! The spinning animation and large name display are designed to be visible on projected screens. The tool works on any device with a modern browser, including classroom computers, tablets, and phones.