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: The routines above are up-front randomizers. But several of Lextutor's 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.