How to Use Orbit in a Classroom
A classroom picker works best as part of an agreed routine. Decide what a selection means, who is included and how a student can pass.
Choose a low-pressure activity
Try selecting the next discussion prompt, a review topic, an example problem or the order of voluntary presentations. A name picker is only one option. Choosing an activity instead of a person can make participation less pressured. A random result does not tell you whether a learner is ready or comfortable responding.
Explain the rule before you use the tool. For example, everyone gets one turn and can pass, or volunteers are included for the next question. Do not use a random draw as a substitute for accommodations, judgement about participation or a learner's agreed support plan. Orbit has no information about those needs.
Prepare names and topics carefully
Open the Names template and replace its examples with the appropriate class list. Check attendance and duplicates. Distinguish two students who use the same name without displaying more personal information than necessary. If everyone should have equal chances, leave weights equal and avoid extra copies of a name.
For a round where each student should appear once, use removal after a result. The list then shows who is still waiting. For independent draws with repetition, leave entries in place and explain that repeated names are possible. A previous selection does not make another student mathematically due unless the list changes.
Images are optional. Use them only when you have permission and a clear educational reason. Keep text labels readable even if you attach pictures. A local classroom screen does not require a public share link, and not publishing the list can be the simpler privacy choice.
Use the right tool for the task
A wheel suits a short list of topics or names. Horizontal Roulette provides the same kind of choice on a strip. Team Generator creates whole groups with balanced headcounts, which is faster than spinning once per student. It does not balance ability or separate particular students automatically; review whether random groups suit the activity.
Dice Roller can provide a value for a game or select a numbered exercise using your own rule. Number Picker is better when you need a uniform draw from a specific range or several unique exercise numbers. Be careful with totals: two dice produce middle totals more often than extreme totals, so they are not the same as one uniform number picker.
The Conversation Starter template contains a few prompts you can edit. Remove questions that do not fit the age group or the setting. Offer a pass where appropriate. Templates are starting examples, not validated lesson plans, and Orbit does not decide whether a prompt is suitable for your class.
Prepare the display and connection
Open presentation mode before the activity so the group sees the result clearly. Check the projected text size and contrast in the actual room. Keyboard controls let you select without moving a pointer across the display. Reduced-motion settings disable introductory Wheel and Roulette movement and limit visual reveals.
Visit Orbit online beforehand and wait for the service worker to activate. Local tools and help content can then work offline, but a new remote snapshot or publishing action still needs internet. Test the exact classroom browser before relying on offline use. A managed device may clear storage or restrict clipboard and fullscreen permissions.
Back up a reusable topic wheel before clearing site data or changing computers. A .orbit file may contain all local names, histories and images, so store it appropriately and do not attach it to a public feedback report. Clear participant history when it is no longer needed. Orbit's local-first design avoids automatic uploads, but your own exports, screenshots and share actions still determine what leaves the device.