Random Group Generator

Video Guide: How to Use Randomization to Create Fair and Effective Groups

Video guide with full transcript

About Random Group Generator

Welcome to the Random Group Generator, a free online tool designed to help you create fair, balanced random groups from any list of names. Whether you are a teacher forming study groups, a team leader organizing project teams, an event coordinator creating competition brackets, or anyone who needs to divide people into groups randomly, this tool makes the process quick, easy, and completely fair.

Why Use a Random Group Generator?

Random group assignment eliminates bias and ensures fairness in team formation. When humans manually create groups, they often unconsciously favor certain combinations or avoid others. A random generator treats everyone equally, giving each person an equal chance of being placed in any group.

Research in educational psychology has shown that random group assignment can actually improve collaboration outcomes. When students or team members know that groups were formed randomly, they are more accepting of their assignments and more willing to work together effectively.

Key Features

Two Flexible Grouping Modes

1. Group by Size

Choose this mode when you know how many people you want in each group. For example, if you have 20 students and want groups of 4, you will get 5 groups with 4 members each. If the numbers do not divide evenly, some groups will have one extra or one fewer member.

2. Group by Number of Groups

Choose this mode when you know how many total groups you need. For example, if you have 15 people and need 4 teams, the tool will create 4 groups with either 3 or 4 members each, distributed as evenly as possible.

Common Use Cases

Education

• Forming study groups for classroom activities
• Creating project teams for assignments
• Organizing peer review partners
• Setting up lab or workshop groups
• Assigning book club discussion groups

Workplace

• Creating cross-functional project teams
• Organizing breakout groups for meetings
• Setting up mentorship pairs or groups
• Forming brainstorming teams
• Creating rotation schedules

Events and Activities

• Tournament bracket seeding
• Party game team assignments
• Sports team drafts
• Trivia night team formation
• Secret Santa or gift exchange groups

How to Use This Tool

1. Enter your names: Type or paste the names of people you want to group in the text area. Enter one name per line. You can include first names only, full names, or any identifiers that work for your situation.
2. Choose your grouping method: Select either "By Group Size" if you want to specify how many members per group, or "By Number of Groups" if you want to specify the total number of groups.
3. Enter your number: Based on your chosen method, enter either the desired group size or the total number of groups you want to create.
4. Generate groups: Click the "Generate Random Groups" button to see your randomly assigned groups displayed in colorful, easy-to-read cards.
5. Copy or reshuffle: Use the copy buttons to save your results, or click "Shuffle Again" to generate a new random arrangement if you want different groups.

Understanding the Results

After generating groups, you will see:

• Statistics Summary: Shows the total number of members, groups created, and the size range of groups
• Color-Coded Group Cards: Each group is displayed in a distinct color for easy visual identification
• Group Letters: Groups are labeled A, B, C, etc. for easy reference
• Member Lists: Each card shows all members assigned to that group with numbered positions
• Copy Buttons: Individual copy buttons for each group, plus a "Copy All" button for the complete results

Tips for Best Results

• Clean your list: Make sure each name is on its own line and remove any blank lines or duplicates
• Be consistent: Use consistent naming (all first names, or all full names) for a cleaner display
• Check the count: The name counter below the input area shows how many names you have entered
• Reshuffle freely: Click "Shuffle Again" as many times as you like until you get an arrangement you are satisfied with
• Use presets: Try the preset examples to quickly see how different grouping options work

Privacy and Data

Your name list is stored only in your browser using local storage. No data is sent to our servers or stored in any database. When you close your browser or clear your browsing data, the saved names are removed. This ensures your data remains private and under your control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the randomization truly random?

Yes, the tool uses Python's random.shuffle() function which implements the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm. This is a well-established algorithm that guarantees each possible permutation has an equal probability of occurring.

What happens if my number does not divide evenly?

The tool handles uneven divisions gracefully. When grouping by count, extra members are distributed one at a time to the first groups. When grouping by size, the last group may have fewer members than the specified size.

Can I use this for very large groups?

Yes, the tool can handle lists of hundreds of names. However, for very large lists (over 200 names), the visual display may become lengthy. The copy function works well regardless of list size.

Why did I get the same groups when I shuffled again?

Each shuffle is independent and random. With small lists, there is a higher probability of similar arrangements occurring by chance. With larger lists, repeated arrangements are extremely unlikely.

Can I save my groups permanently?

Use the "Copy All Groups" button to copy the results to your clipboard, then paste them into a document, email, or note-taking app for permanent storage.

Additional Resources

To learn more about random group formation and its applications:

• Fisher-Yates Shuffle Algorithm - Wikipedia
• Randomization in Research - Wikipedia

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