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Randomizers Home
A collection of randomization algorithms (in Perl, PHP, and Javascript) with uses in language teaching/research

  1. Randomizations from a Corpus
    (a) randwords_classic (formerly rand_words, moved here from Lextutor Home on March 5 08)
    Randomizations are from user choice of either heads or full families from VP-CLassic lists (1k, 2k, or AWL). Output can relay to Multiconc Interactive and ID-Words activities. (*New!* AWL Sublists) Apr 2012

    (b) randwords_bnc
    Like (a) but draws its randomizations from the full 20 BNC lists. Somewhat less developed than above; used in My Word Coach project; good for exploring mid-to-low frequency zones (to prep Frequency Trainer?) No link to Muticonc (many concordances would be unproductive).

    (c) randwords_kids (*New!*)
    Draws its randomizations from the 10 250-word family VP-Kids lists. Use for building tests (selecting random items), intuitively gauging a vocab level, or just for fun.) Soon: auto-feed output to Muticonc Graded reader corpus.

  2. Randomizations from User Input
    The Compleat Randomizer
    'Compleat' in accepting (a) numeric and text input, (b) text-as-words and text-as-sentences input, and (c) producing output in four formats (column, numbered column, a-b-c- lettered column, and row). Works offline.

    Related: As well as up-front randomizers, several Lextutor tutorial routines use behind-the-scenes randomization to create motivation and novelty and also to prevent unwanted sequence-learning effects: GroupLex, Reaction Time, Dictator, Freq Train, MultiConc, and the N-word/rational Cloze.


Built on hackers' and coders' discussions in countless online blogs and forums; focused on language issues by Tom Cobb, Université du Québec à Montréal