Random Idea English: Teacher tools

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Teacher tools - Basic randomiser

Basic multi-purpose randomising tool

This is a very basic randomiser for teachers wanting to randomise groups of words, phrases or sentences for copying and pasting into a document, with subsequent formatting to make worksheets. It does no formatting itself and is offered on an "as is" basis.

Possible uses

Randomising a group of words, for use in a matching or gapfill exercise for example
Jumbling words within a sentence or group of sentences, for example for word order questions
Jumbling a group of sentences within a paragraph - students order the sentences
Making anagrams or groups of anagrams

The best way to see how it works is probably to play around with it for a minute or two.

Known issues - Internet Explorer adds some spaces into anagrams when done in groups. It jumps around a bit.

How to use

Simple randomising - Enter a list of words or phrases into the box below in one of these ways:
1. 1. Vertical
  1. Each one on a new line. .
  2. Select Input separator: None
  3. Select Vertically and click on Generate
2. 2. Horizontal
  1. Each group of words on one line, separated with commas semicolons, forward slashes, or backslashes (a space may also be included after any of these) .
  2. Select Input separator: comma (or whatever you have chosen)
  3. Select Horizontally and click on Generate
Word order - Enter each sentence on a new line
Select Input separator: Space. Select Word order and click on Generate.
Sentence order - Enter each sentence on a new line
Select Sentence order and click on Generate
Anagrams - You can:
1. Enter each word on a new line
  Select Horizontally and click on Generate
2. Enter each sentence on a new line
  Select Input separator: Space. Select Line anagrams and click on Generate
3. Enter groups of words, each on a new line
  Select Input separator: Comma (or whatever you have chosen). Select Line anagrams and click on Generate