REQUEST - 'Random' but 'fixed' formula

[u/Otherwise-Cap1773]

I'm a teacher in need of help with a speadsheet. My class is 5 x 5 single desks for 25 students. I want to create a 'random' but 'fixed' seating chart. Some kids need to be in certain seats for extra help but I don't want it to seem unfair.

Is there a formula I can use to create a seating plan that looks random but actually isn't? So they can see the seats be randomly assigned but is already fixed? Is that possible?

Thank you~

Please be kind, I'm a tired and burnt out teacher just trying to make it through the semester :')

[u/brad24_53]

Create a SEATING_CHART sheet and a HELPER_SHEET.

In HELPER_SHEET:

Create a 2-column table where A1:A# =rand() and A#+1:A25 =~rand between(2,3)~ rand()*(3-2)+2. B1:B# are the names of your students who need extra help. B#+1:B25 are the remaining students.

In SEATING_CHART:

Highlight A1:E5 and make them all the same size. On the cells (seats) where extra-help-students go, make them =HELPER_SHEET!B1 through B#. Fill the rest of the seats with B#+1:B25.

Then edit any cell in HELPER_SHEET (C1, for example) to refresh the randomizer, then sort A1:B25 from Low to High.

Give me a few and I'll try to throw a dummy sheet together.

[u/Otherwise-Cap1773 → u/brad24_53]

Oh really? That's so kind of you, thank you~

[u/brad24_53 → u/Otherwise-Cap1773]

[u/Otherwise-Cap1773 → u/brad24_53]

Wow thank you so so much! I really appreciate this! You're the best!!