Left handed or right handed?

[Sarah Aspden]

Hello. I’m looking for you all to hit me with some feedback on left/right handed IWB use please! ????

I’ve made an assumption that our right-handed users are mainly standing to the right side of the whiteboard (as you look at the whiteboard) to teach. The theory being that this a) allows you to keep your body turned towards the class as you engage with the board b) helps minimize the shadow you cast on the board, and c) prevents you blocking what students can see of the board. I’m sure you will correct me if this assumption is wrong :).

Working along this line of thought, I also presumed that left-handed users would mostly stand at the left side of the board for the same reason. But...I’m hearing about left-handed users who pretty much always stand at the right side of the board, and about left handed users who stand equally at both sides of the board...Do left-handers have to be more flexible in how they use the IWB, or is it just that the right-handed presenting theory was misguided all along?

It would be really helpful if I could get as much feedback as possible on this. I don’t need a long response - a simple left side of board, left handed will do.

If you’re one of the people who blows the theory out of the water, such as a left hander who stands at different sides of the board at different times, or a right-hander who stands at the left of the board pretty much always, feel free to fill me in with more info, such as what determines where you stand. Is it the type of tasks you are engaged in? The layout of content and/or software? How much you need to be facing and engaging with your students?

Purely out of interest while we are on the topic, do you notice a difference in how your left and right-handed learners interact with the IWB?

All feedback greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance!

[dentje]

I'm right-handed and I tend to use both sides of the board, partially depending on what I am doing and where I am doing it.

If I need to write on the board, which happens now and again, then standing to the right turns my already bad handwriting into an illegible mess due to the weird body position it produces.So, I move to the left. I agree that turning your back is bad, but I can see no other way at those few times when I need to write something more than a single word.

If I am manipulating objects, then I generally stand wherever is easiest for me to reach - standing on the right all the time and reaching over to manipulate an object on the left does not help to keep the board visible for students!
If I do stand on the left, and the task I wish to accomplish is not too complex (which is generaly true), then I tend to swich hands to click/move and object, highlight text, point, etc.

Another factor is the layout of the room. We have classrooms of varying sizes and the position of equipment is sometimes a compromise between practicality and desirability. Therefore on occasion I have more access on one side of the board that another.

My classroom style generally consists of minor 'prowling' where I move enough (I think) to keep the students (and myself!) awake, but not so much that it's like watching a tennis match. ;)

[srchlc]

I'm a righty and I mostly stand on the left. Your theory is broken! :D Now, I do move around the board when I am talking and not writing, but if I write from the right you won't be able to read what I wrote. I do turn my back and write from the left. Kids tend to stand wherever they can reach and not block the projector. They flex more than me.

Holli

[kevhogg]

Theory down the plughole for me too...
...as a right-hander standing to the left of the board I can extend my arm further across the board than when standing to the right and reduce shadow.
Not sure how left-handed teachers hold their activpen - will that affect their reach?

[LisaD]

I'm left-handed the keep the palette on the right side. (But I throw a ball with my right hand. Does that make me weird?) :eek:

Lisa

[gpatrenos]

I'm a righty but work on both sides of the board.:eek:
I guess I just can't stand still.:rolleyes:

[dentje]

I'm left-handed the keep the palette on the right side. (But I throw a ball with my right hand. Does that make me weird?) :eek:

Lisa

The hand you throw a ball with is only a small part of what makes you weird, Lisa. :p

[LisaD]

Ok, now. Let's play nice! :p

Lisa

[pmcgonagle]

I'm a righty, so when I'm writing on the board, I'm usually standing on the left side of the board. I stand on either side when I'm manipulating objects. :)

[Laura OHalloran]

Hello Sarah

When I first used an IWB with Activ software it was ActivStudio 1. I am right handed and stood mostly on the right hand side of the board so that I could turn the pages (bear with me....)

When ActivPrimary first came out I stood on the left hand side of the board because that's where the tools were (are you getting a pattern yet?)

When I learned that you could change where the tools were (yes it took a while!!) I experienced freedom of movement!!

Mostly I am in a training situation when I am using the board and, I have to say, that as it's always in other people's classrooms, I stand where there is space to stand! What I mean is that in some classrooms there is often a wall at one side, or a bookcase or various other obstructions.

This is not particularly helpful maybe as I'm a bit of an 'all over the place' person!!

Laura :D

[Alison]

Ditto Kevin!! +wave+

But we also have massive restrictions due to space, so I had to learn to switch to the right when I moved classrooms. Annoying for my colleague who was a lefty forced to be on the left, when she wanted to be on the right! We needed to switch rooms! I had a year where I got to switch back and loved it! :D Now I'm back on the right again. I much prefer being on the left, for the same reasons as Kevin, but I'll pretty much stand anywhere and use either hand, depending on what's nearest, where the pen happens to be etc. Never fails to amaze the lefties that I can go over to the 'dark side' with ease! :eek:

Guess I must be weird too....

[alydon]

I tend to stand on the right ( right handed) but that is
a) becauseI am lazy and cantbe bothered to move primary tools,
b) my computer is on the right so if I need to type
c) there is fire extinguisher on the left
d) I hold my pen like a cigarette and it is easier to write that way:)

[LisaD]

You're a hoot! :o:rolleyes:

Lisa

[alydon]

Glad to amuse- clwnmakes perfect sense to me!!!

[cvj]

I'm right handed and I stand on the left hand side of the board because the way my room is set up it works best to have my podium on the left side of the board. I have everything situated on that side...but if I need to write something a little longer I will move to the right side of the board. I have also created my flipcharts to be used from the left - meaning I put things like photos on the right. If I ever change rooms I might have to remake all my flipcharts!

[nvaughn]

This happened to me when I first got board, I am a righty I usually on the right side of the board. But then again
I am on the left too also. But I sometimes stand in the middle of the board blocking the projector like an idiot :p!

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

[Selda Ziya]

What about using a wand? That can help you extend your reach to the board and maybe a good solution where space is tight or there are obstructions or height issues. It also stops you from standing in the middle of the board and the children enjoy using this tool aswell. :)

[nvaughn]

Hey,

I just recently started using the wand with my students, It works great!