“More Than Science Fair Fun: Poster Session As An Experiential Learning Activity In The Classroom”

Abstract

Poster sessions are a common activity at technical conferences, offering authors an opportunity to present their work in this medium and easily establish a dialogue with their colleagues. Students entering college often have a perception that 'posters' were an activity they left behind at the junior-high or high school science fair. This experiential learning activity re-introduces posters and the poster session as an important and effective way to communicate technical information. A 'simulated' technical conference poster session has been developed and implemented as a required class activity within the one-semester, basic Materials Science course. In order to maximize the benefit to the students and achieve the environment necessary for this learning activity, the logistics for the poster session will be outlined. Assessment of the 'poster session' will be presented from both the instructor and student's point of view. To date, the qualitative assessment results show students have a positive opinion on this activity and a better 'understanding' of this presentation medium for technical communication. Assessment by the instructor is highlighted by observations of 'students-teaching-students' and the student's ability to use the 'language of materials science' in both the written information on their posters and in the oral dialogue with their peers about their selected applications or topics.

Organizing a Student Poster Session in an ASEE Section Conference

“…Technical poster presentations are a common communication mode in which effective delivery depends heavily on succinct expression, audience analysis, and visual design. Much of the literature related to poster presentations deals with course-level poster presentations [2][3][4][5][6], campus research event organization [7,8], and professional communication instruction. The importance of expectations and visual design is noted [2,3].…”

Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Learning Graphical Communications through an Introductory Hands-on Design-Build-Test Project in a Hybrid Learning Environment

“…Technical communication skills can be incorporated by including a design presentation and/or report to ensure that students can communicate their design intent and understand the impact of their decisions in the design-build-test process [1]. Poster presentations are a form of technical communication that benefits students by allowing them to prepare exhibits (i.e., posters), participate in a dynamic learning environment that simulates a technical conference and "provides an alternative assessment method for students who may not excel on written quizzes and exams" [10].…”