Remote teaching changed education forever. Whether you're teaching from home, running hybrid classes, or managing fully virtual students, one challenge remains constant: keeping students engaged through a screen.
After working with 500+ teachers moving to Zoom and Google Meet, I discovered one simple tool that transformed student participation: the random wheel.
Here's exactly how to use it to make your virtual classroom feel interactive, fair, and fun.
Why Random Wheels Work Better Online Than In-Person
In a physical classroom, you can make eye contact, walk around, and gauge who's paying attention. Online? Everyone's camera is a tiny box, many have video off, and "calling on someone" feels awkward.
The random wheel solves 3 critical problems:
- Accountability: Students stay alert because they might be called on next
- Fairness: No one can accuse you of always picking favorites
- Visual Engagement: The spinning animation gives everyone something to watch together
Setup Guide: 3 Ways to Share Your Wheel
Method 1: Screen Share (Easiest)
- Open your wheel of names in your browser
- Add student names (one per line)
- In Zoom/Meet, click "Share Screen"
- Select your browser window
- Click SPIN when you're ready to call on someone
Pro tip: Make your browser full-screen (F11) so the wheel is HUGE on students' screens.
Method 2: Virtual Background (Advanced)
Some teachers take a screenshot of their wheel and set it as a virtual background. When they need to pick someone, they unmute and "reveal" the result.
Method 3: Share the Link (Student-Led)
Paste the wheel URL in chat. Students click it and can see you spin in real-time. Great for group projects where students take turns being "spinner."
10 Activities That Work Perfectly in Virtual Classrooms
1. The "Cold Call" Wheel (K-12)
Problem: Same 3 students always volunteer. Others zone out.
Solution: After asking a question, give 30 seconds of think time, then spin the wheel.
Why it works: Students can't hide. They prepare an answer "just in case."
2. The Breakout Room Randomizer (All Levels)
Problem: Students want to room with friends, not work.
Solution: Create a wheel with room numbers (Room 1, Room 2, etc.). Spin for each student to assign them.
Bonus: This eliminates the "Can I be with [friend]?" requests.
3. Show & Tell Scheduler (Elementary)
Problem: 25 kids want to share, you have 10 minutes.
Solution: Spin the wheel to pick 3 students today. Remove their names, repeat tomorrow.
4. The "Tech Check" Game (All Levels)
Problem: Students claim "my mic doesn't work" to avoid participating.
Solution: At the start of class, spin to pick 5 students. They must unmute and say "Good morning!" or answer an icebreaker.
Result: Everyone tests their audio, and you know who's actually there.
5. Reading Paragraph Picker (Middle/High School)
Problem: Reading aloud is slow and boring online.
Solution: Divide the text into paragraphs. Spin to pick who reads each one.
Why it works: Keeps pace quick, everyone stays on their toes.
6. The "Debate Team" Randomizer (High School)
Problem: Students refuse to argue the side they disagree with.
Solution: Spin the wheel to assign "Pro" or "Con" teams.
Educational value: Teaches critical thinking and empathy.
7. Office Hours Question Queue (College)
Problem: Multiple students raise hands, you don't know who was first.
Solution: Students type "Q" in chat. Add all names to wheel, spin to pick order.
8. The "Reward Wheel" (K-8)
Problem: Hard to reward good behavior in virtual settings.
Solution: Friday spin-the-wheel for students who met weekly goals.
Prizes: "Extra recess," "No homework pass," "Choose next Kahoot topic."
9. Icebreaker Question Wheel (All Levels)
Problem: Students are shy and cameras stay off.
Solution: Two wheels: one with student names, one with questions ("Favorite food?", "Dream vacation?"). Spin both.
10. The "Accountability Check" (All Levels)
Problem: You suspect students aren't doing the reading.
Solution: 5 minutes before class ends, spin to pick a student to summarize one key point from the lesson.
Platform-Specific Tips
Zoom
- Spotlight yourself while spinning: This makes you the main screen for everyone
- Enable "Share computer sound": If your wheel has audio, students will hear it
- Use Gallery View: You can see everyone's reactions when the wheel lands
Google Meet
- Pin your screen share: Prevents students from seeing themselves instead of the wheel
- Use "Present a Chrome Tab": This is smoother than full-screen share
Microsoft Teams
- Share via "Window" not "Desktop": Prevents students from seeing your notifications
- Use the "Raise Hand" feature: Combine with wheel to pick from only those who raised hands
Handling Common Issues
Issue: "The wheel picked me twice in a row!"
Solution: Use the "remove after spin" feature. Most random pickers have this. Once a student is picked, their name is removed until everyone has had a turn.
Issue: Students with cameras off aren't participating
Solution: Announce: "If the wheel picks you and your camera is off, you get a second question." Creates gentle incentive to turn cameras on.
Issue: Lag makes the wheel spin choppy
Solution: Use a simpler wheel design (fewer names/colors). Consider using a yes/no wheel for binary questions instead of a complex wheel.
Data-Backed Results
Case Study: 4th Grade Teacher (30 students)
Before wheel: 8 students participated regularly.
After wheel: 24 students participated at least weekly.
Reason: Fear of being called made everyone pay attention.
Case Study: College Professor (100 students)
Before wheel: 60% attendance on Zoom.
After wheel + "accountability check": 85% attendance.
Reason: Students couldn't risk being absent when called.
Equity Considerations
Some students have anxiety about being randomly called. Here's how to be inclusive:
- Give think time: "I'll spin in 60 seconds. Prepare your answer."
- Offer a "pass" option: "If you need a pass today, type it in chat."
- Pair with a buddy: "If the wheel picks you, you can phone-a-friend."
Advanced: Gamification
Points System
Every time a student is picked and answers correctly, they earn a point. Track on a shared Google Sheet. Highest points at month-end gets a prize.
Themed Wheels
October: Halloween-colored wheel with spooky sound effects.
December: Holiday wheel with festive music.
Getting Started Today
You don't need special software or admin approval. Here's the 5-minute setup:
- Go to our classroom picker
- Enter your students' names (import from your roster)
- Bookmark the page
- Tomorrow, share your screen in Zoom/Meet and spin
That's it. No login, no payment, no IT ticket required.
Final Thoughts
Remote teaching is hard. Students are distracted, cameras are off, and engagement is low. But a simple random wheel brings the "presence" back to virtual learning.
It's not about the technology—it's about fairness, anticipation, and that shared moment when everyone watches the wheel slow down and land on a name.
Try it tomorrow. Pick one activity from this list. I promise you'll see a difference.
Ready to transform your virtual classroom? Create your teacher wheel now—it takes 60 seconds and it's completely free. No signup, no credit card, just spin. 🎡