| MAKING A POSTER |
| QUALITATIVE SAMPLES |
| QUANTITATIVE SAMPLES |
| ABSTRACT SAMPLE |
| MENC ABSTRACT SAMPLES |
| ASU LOGO |
| PRINTING SERVICE |
| GETTING STARTED |
Putting together a great looking research poster is a lot easier than you might think. On this page you'll find suggestions from grad students who have been through the process. Read the tips, check out some poster samples, and get started!
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| POSTER STYLES |
Some people make their research posters by hand, cutting and pasting text, charts, photographs and anything else that will explain and illustrate their research. These posters are often done on a three-panel display, just like back in your middle school science fair days. This style of poster is inexpensive, gives you a lot of space to work with, and can be very effective.
Another option is to make your poster on the computer, using PowerPoint. This method is more expensive (a 30" x 40" poster costs around $40 if printed on campus, and almost twice that at Kinkos) but it is also much quicker to put together, it's easier to manipulate the design until just right, and it looks very professional.
If you choose to go this route, first create a single slide in PowerPoint. Then, blow it up to poster size by changing the dimensions under File --> Page Setup. You'll need to tack your poster to some poster board to display it, and poster board is commonly available in 30" x 40" sheets, so this is a good size to select. Ultimately you can make your poster in whatever dimensions you choose, up to the maximum that ASU can print. This information is on the Learning Technologies Lab website, http://alti.asu.edu/node/28
If you start with a template (just like you’re making a presentation), it will give you things like a background and a color scheme and you can add other elements to that. If you start with a blank slide, you can pick whatever background you want and add all the graphics and text boxes and whatnot that you need.
| RESEARCH POSTERS | ||
POSTER ON POSTER BOARD - DAVID RICKELS (2006) |
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A research poster summarizes your research and presents findings. It's springboard for discussion, so make it simple and effective.
You want people to actually read your poster, so don't present them with too much information. Illustrate the salient points of your research and leave empty space to make these important points stand out. Once you've piqued their interest you can always elaborate in discussion.
Many posters include an abstract. A reasonable length might be 250 words or fewer.
Ensure that your text is large enough to read from a few feet away.
Make sure that you don't use unusual fonts that may not be available when you go to have your poster printed.
You will need to display the ASU logo somewhere on your poster. The top right or left corner, beside or underneath your name, at the bottom center of the poster . . . wherever you choose, make sure it looks sharp. The logo and word mark download library is here.
If you make your poster with PowerPoint you'll want to get it printed at least a few days in advance. The Learning Technologies Lab has a turn-around time of less than 48 hours, and as few as 2 hours when they're not busy. Leave lots of time just in case.
You can make an appointment to get your poster printed, and this will give you priority over others who might arrive at the same time.
The Learning Technologies Lab is in the Computing Commons, just east of the Memorial Union. Go up the stairs and you'll see the computer help desk, room 202. This is where you'll come to pick up your finished poster. Turn left, and go to the far end of the hall to the Learning Technologies Lab, room 213.
You'll need to bring your project to the lab on a flash drive or disc.
You may need to do some fine tuning once your project is transferred to the Learning Technologies Lab computer. Make sure you have a bit of extra time available to tinker so it comes out the way you want it.
A 30" x 40" poster will cost around $40, which is a steal. You'll pay when you pick up the poster, and they only accept Sun Dollars or a purchase order. To put Sun Dollars on your card, go to the computer store on the first floor and turn left immediately outside the door. There's a little kiosk there.
You'll want to display your poster effectively. If you made a three-panel poster this is easy. If you printed it out you'll have to affix it to some poster board, available at an office supply store. You should also purchase a small, collapsable easel on which to display your poster. There will be a table on which to set your display so it doesn't need to be tall; it just needs to prop up your poster board.
It is not a good idea to glue your poster to the poster board. You'll want to get a lot of mileage out of a single poster, and this might include submitting it to other state and national conventions. If you glue your poster to the board it will be impossible to travel with. A better solution is to tack your poster to the board.
It will probably be worth your while to invest in a good quality poster tube. Buy one that can telescope to accomodate large and small posters, and make sure it has a shoulder strap. These tubes are available at many art supply stores. Click here and here for two good examples.
Poster tubes are great for protecting your poster, particularly when traveling by air. You can put it in the overhead compartment, and just pick up a poster board and pins when you arrive. At some conventions (but not yet at AMEA) boards and pins are even provided, so check first.
THE POSTER SESSION
Get to the session a bit early to set up and to check out the research that others have done.
Print some abstracts of your research and have them available for people to take. Again, a good abstract is normally limited to 250 words. Don't forget to include your name and contact information on the page. For an example, click here or check the 2006 MENC poster session abstracts page.
It's a good idea to have a couple of copies of your research paper available as well. You don't have to have them out, but they're there if you need them.
Dress professionally.
Stand beside your poster. Even if chairs are available, don't sit.
Sometimes these sessions are well attended, sometimes not. Either way, smile, relax, and be prepared to tell those in attendance all about the work you've done.