The other day, Twitter user @KayceeDammann put out an inquiry about random name selectors for use in the classroom. Always wanting to help members in my online PLN, I provided her with the tool I usually use to choose names for my class (found at Classroom Tools dot Net). This name selector wheel has been a useful tool that has served his purpose for my classes, but another tool that was discussed proved to be far superior.
If you have never heard of Flippity, look into it. I have only been working with the tool for a week now, but I have found its usability much easier than with the tool previously mentioned. Flippity uses Google Sheets to create many different classroom tools from a template loaded through their website. The great thing is, everything is housed within Google Drive.
So, how do you use Flippity? First, visit their homepage and select the tool you would like to use. For me, it was the Random Name Picker.
If you have never heard of Flippity, look into it. I have only been working with the tool for a week now, but I have found its usability much easier than with the tool previously mentioned. Flippity uses Google Sheets to create many different classroom tools from a template loaded through their website. The great thing is, everything is housed within Google Drive.
So, how do you use Flippity? First, visit their homepage and select the tool you would like to use. For me, it was the Random Name Picker.
Next, click on the Template link within the tool you are choosing to use.
When you click on the Template link, a new tab will open that will ask you if you would like to make a copy of the template in your Google Drive. Click the blue Make a Copy button to begin entering information into a Google Sheet attached to your tool.
Once you have created a copy of this template, you can rename the template to help you in being organized within your Google Drive files and folders. Then (as seen with the Random Name Picker), enter the names of the students in your class. It is important that you do not modify the Name or Notes headers found in cells A1 and B1. You can copy and paste from existing spreadsheets starting in cell A2.
Now that you have names entered, go to the File menu and select Publish to the Web. When the new dialog box pops up, click on the blue Publish button. This is an important step because this makes a link found on the Get Link Here tab (found at the bottom of the screen) active and allows you to access your tool.
At this point, you can copy and paste the link from the Publish to the Web box by pressing CTRL+C (or Command+C for Mac users). Paste it to your address bar and it will take you to a link to your finished product.
Within the Random Name Picker you can use the spinner wheel to choose names or group them into random groups of two through five students. Under the More... tab, you will find a link to create tournament brackets.
Flippity has many more tools than just the Random Name Picker, but as stated, I've only been playing around with this for a week. My students absolutely love the anticipation that comes with the name picker and battling it out in a map skills tournament. Anything that can keep my students engaged in content is great for me!
Have a story to share related to using Flippity? Share it in the comments.
Flippity has many more tools than just the Random Name Picker, but as stated, I've only been playing around with this for a week. My students absolutely love the anticipation that comes with the name picker and battling it out in a map skills tournament. Anything that can keep my students engaged in content is great for me!
Have a story to share related to using Flippity? Share it in the comments.