Creating an Effective Board Presentation Mercer Science and Engineering Club 3 Creek Rim Drive Titusville, NJ 08560

Overview The starting point: good researchThe starting point: good research Why is the presentation importantWhy is the presentation important What needs to be includedWhat needs to be included Laying out the boardLaying out the board Choosing fonts and figuresChoosing fonts and figures Simplify, simplify, simplifySimplify, simplify, simplify Construction TipsConstruction Tips KISS (Keep it simple, stupid)

Good Research: It’s a start You can’t hide bad research with a fancy presentationYou can’t hide bad research with a fancy presentation Good research does not sell itselfGood research does not sell itself Not all details are equally importantNot all details are equally important You will know what should be presented. It is simply a matter of how.You will know what should be presented. It is simply a matter of how. A research paper and research documents complement a presentationA research paper and research documents complement a presentation

Why The Presentation Is Important It helps sell your project and resultsIt helps sell your project and results Elementary and Junior DivisionElementary and Junior Division –Entries are judged exclusively on the presentation Senior DivisionSenior Division –Judging includes both the presentation and an oral defense –The presentation is the backdrop for the oral defense

Presentation Components I RequiredRequired –Board –Abstract (can be on its own stand) RecommendedRecommended –Research paper –Research documents –Detailed results –Abstract handouts

Presentation Components II OptionalOptional –Audio/video presentation if it augments the static, board presentation –Project artifacts if useful for oral presentation (senior division) –Artifacts built by student (photos recommended) Not RecommendedNot Recommended –Project artifacts not used for oral presentation –Tools used for experimentation

What The Presentation Does Attracts attention to the projectAttracts attention to the project Provides the initial introduction to viewers of the project (i.e. judges)Provides the initial introduction to viewers of the project (i.e. judges) Provides organized overview of the projectProvides organized overview of the project Visual aid when describing a projectVisual aid when describing a project Helps students organize their thoughts when describing their project to judgesHelps students organize their thoughts when describing their project to judges A picture is worth a thousand wordsA picture is worth a thousand words

Target Your Audience Decide who is the target audienceDecide who is the target audience –Judges, teachers, parents, students Design presentation to use terms familiar to the target audienceDesign presentation to use terms familiar to the target audience Explain unfamiliar terms or proceduresExplain unfamiliar terms or procedures Use drawings and explanations that target the audience’s level of understandingUse drawings and explanations that target the audience’s level of understanding

Presentation Tells A Story The board should speak for itselfThe board should speak for itself Photos and drawings should enhance the story, not the way the presentation looksPhotos and drawings should enhance the story, not the way the presentation looks The sequence of the story should be obviousThe sequence of the story should be obvious

What needs to be included on the board TitleTitle ProblemProblem HypothesisHypothesis MaterialsMaterials MethodsMethods DataData AnalysisAnalysis ConclusionConclusion Abstract (may be free standing)Abstract (may be free standing) Recommended items Recommended items Benefits Benefits Optional items Optional items Future plans Future plans Photograph acknowledgements Photograph acknowledgements Photograph taken by …

What NOT to include on the board Your nameYour name Name or logo of school or affiliationName or logo of school or affiliation SponsorsSponsors Photos of identifiable peoplePhotos of identifiable people –Remember, it is the experiment that is important –Caveat: photos relevant to the experiment can be included

More on Photos Photos of researcher can be included only if they are showing something relevant to the research that could not be shown otherwisePhotos of researcher can be included only if they are showing something relevant to the research that could not be shown otherwise No photos showing identifiable peopleNo photos showing identifiable people Any photographs showing identifiable people, other than the student investigator(s), must have a signed release formAny photographs showing identifiable people, other than the student investigator(s), must have a signed release form No photographs of body parts or tissue, except those allowed by ISEF rulesNo photographs of body parts or tissue, except those allowed by ISEF rules

Laying out the board Model it first. It’s easier Project Title Problem Hypothesis Materials Methods Analysis Conclusion DataPhotos

Where The Eye Goes Decide what, when and where a viewer should look Project Title Problem Hypothesis Materials Methods Analysis Conclusion DataPhoto Title 1st Problem 2nd Data 3rd Analysis 4th

Choosing fonts and figures

Font Tips I Use as few fonts as necessaryUse as few fonts as necessary San serif fonts like Arial work best on presentationsSan serif fonts like Arial work best on presentations Use serif fonts in research paperUse serif fonts in research paper Use fonts like Cooper for titlesUse fonts like Cooper for titles Look for free fonts on Internet ( for free fonts on Internet ( NEVER USE ALL CAPSNEVER USE ALL CAPS –It is hard to read –Use Bold, Italic or Color instead

Font Tips II Use same font and color for similar uses such as explanations of the Problem or ConclusionUse same font and color for similar uses such as explanations of the Problem or Conclusion Choosing font sizeChoosing font size –Must be readable from at least 3 feet away –Size should be related to surrounding text –Size should indicate the text’s importance –Titles should not giant while explanations are microscopic

Figures and Photos Should be viewable from at least 3 feet awayShould be viewable from at least 3 feet away Figures should be as simple as possibleFigures should be as simple as possible –Use thick, not thin lines –Use colors judiciously –Use legends when necessary Scan and print photosScan and print photos –Allows captions and acknowledgements to be included on same piece of paper –Annotations like arrows can be added

Take lots of photos of the same thingTake lots of photos of the same thing –Choose the best –Different angles can eliminate glare and highlight aspects of the project –Try close ups, multiple items in photo –Where does the photo fit in the story Scan and edit photosScan and edit photos –Crop: allows larger images, eliminates extraneous details –Print and try adjustments: a printed image looks different from it viewed on a display Digital cameras: Always use highest resolutionDigital cameras: Always use highest resolution Taking Photos

Constructing A Page KISS – use a single page of paper for each item if possibleKISS – use a single page of paper for each item if possible Generate pages using a word processor, presentation or drawing programGenerate pages using a word processor, presentation or drawing program Use color printer to add borders and backgroundUse color printer to add borders and background Don’t forget to try landscape page orientationDon’t forget to try landscape page orientation

Simplify, simplify, simplify KISS – Less is better. Clutter is bad.KISS – Less is better. Clutter is bad. Eliminate redundant or unimportant informationEliminate redundant or unimportant information Keep titles and sentences short and conciseKeep titles and sentences short and concise Only show figures or photos that help explain key pointsOnly show figures or photos that help explain key points Leaves more space for other informationLeaves more space for other information

Construction Tips I KISSKISS Double sided tape for mounting paper/photosDouble sided tape for mounting paper/photos Always use a paper cutterAlways use a paper cutter BordersBorders –Print borders on paper –Use a matte or colored paper to back paper Colored board backgroundColored board background –Highlights items placed on board –Buy colored background –Spray paint

Construction Tips II Maximize white background on paperMaximize white background on paper –Minimizes print time and cost –Simplifies combining multiple pages Use photo matte or glossy paperUse photo matte or glossy paper –Thicker paper, nothing shows through –Works well with double sided tape –Best for photos and figures Use same type of paper throughout presentation. Differences stand out.Use same type of paper throughout presentation. Differences stand out.

Gotch ya’s Always use a spell checkerAlways use a spell checker Use a grammar checkerUse a grammar checker Read the rules !!!Read the rules !!! Catch errors early: get multiple critiques from the initial layout design to the final productCatch errors early: get multiple critiques from the initial layout design to the final product Remember the ISEF abstractRemember the ISEF abstract

Video Presentations The board should not require the video presentationThe board should not require the video presentation Do not duplicate board contents in presentationDo not duplicate board contents in presentation Video presentation should show something that is more easily explained using a movie or animation versus a figure or photoVideo presentation should show something that is more easily explained using a movie or animation versus a figure or photo Do not include video presentation if it is unnecessaryDo not include video presentation if it is unnecessary Keep video presentation simple and shortKeep video presentation simple and short Video presentation should run automaticallyVideo presentation should run automatically

More Suggestions Peer reviewPeer review –Have students critique boards for extra credit –Rate boards on how well they explain a project –Use simplified judging forms Involve other teachersInvolve other teachers –Make them aware of the projects and goals for improving the student’s presentation skills –English: effective text descriptions –Math and science: methods of presenting data –Computer: use of tools to create complex pages

Summary Good research means good artifacts (results)Good research means good artifacts (results) Presentation is important because it is selling your project and its resultsPresentation is important because it is selling your project and its results Include all relevant informationInclude all relevant information Board layout catches the eye and explains the detailsBoard layout catches the eye and explains the details Text and figures must be readable from a distanceText and figures must be readable from a distance Remember KISS but complexity is relativeRemember KISS but complexity is relative