For teachers
A random student picker your class will actually watch
Cold-calling feels fairer when everyone can see the draw. Put Headspin on the projector, pick a game, and let a claw machine or a marble race choose who answers next.
- Free, no sign-up
- 2 to 16 names
- Provably fair
How it works
Add your names
Type 2 to 16 names, or paste a whole list at once.
Choose a show
Six games, from a UFO abduction to a knockout arena. Same fair odds in every one.
Press play
The winner is drawn and sealed first, then the show reveals them.
Built for the classroom
- “Everyone gets a turn” makes sure each student is picked once before anyone is picked again.
- Fullscreen mode (press F) and readable name tags for the back row.
- Quick shows of about 5 to 8 seconds, or full shows when you want the drama.
- Reduce motion setting for students who are sensitive to movement.
- Nothing to install and no student data leaves your browser.
Ideas for using it
Choose who reads next, who presents first, which table group gets to line up, or who picks the class reward. It works for tutoring groups, clubs and small classes of up to 16 students per list. For bigger classes, split the class into two lists, for example by table or by row.
Six ways to pick a name
- UFO AbductionA saucer drops out of the night sky over a sleepy farm, sweeps the crowd with its scanner, and beams up one lucky earthling.
- Marble Grand PrixEveryone gets a marble on a neon mega-track. Live standings, lead changes, and a photo finish decide who crosses first.
- Claw MachineA glowing prize cabinet packed with name capsules. The claw wobbles, feints, grabs — and drops one lucky capsule down the chute.
- Neon PlinkoA towering neon peg board. One chip, dozens of real physics bounces, and a slot with your name at the bottom.
- Big WheelA towering game-show wheel with chasing marquee lights and a flapper that clacks every peg — right down to the last teetering tick.
- Knockout ArenaEveryone drops into a floating arena. Hazards sweep, the floor crumbles, and bumpers fly until only one is left standing.
Questions
Can I make sure nobody gets picked twice?
Turn on “Everyone gets a turn”. Each winner sits out the following draws until everyone has been picked once, then a new cycle starts. “Reset turns” brings everyone back early.
How many names can I add?
From 2 to 16 names per game, each up to 40 characters. Paste a whole list at once and Headspin splits it into names for you. Duplicate names are numbered automatically so everyone stays distinct.
Do I need to create an account or share student names?
No. There are no accounts. Names are stored only in the browser you typed them into and are never uploaded.
Is it really random?
Yes. The winner is drawn with your browser’s cryptographic random number generator before the show starts, and every name has exactly the same chance. The animation only reveals a result that is already locked in.
Does it work on phones and projectors?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser on phones, tablets, laptops and big screens, with a fullscreen mode (press F) for projecting to a room. Graphics quality adjusts to the device automatically.