Expanding Knowledge in Health Expanding Knowledge in Health EducationEducation

Preparing a Scientific Poster

Kathryn M. Kuntz

BS, RDMS, RVT

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director,

Mayo Clinic,

Rochester, Minnesota

How Can Student Posters How Can Student Posters Enhance The Educational Enhance The Educational

Experience?Experience?

Using the Cognitive LadderUsing the Cognitive Ladder Scientific poster preparation challenges students

to use all levels of the cognitive ladder– knowledge– comprehension– application– analysis– synthesis– evaluation

The student will.....The student will.....

take responsibility for their own learning enhance their appreciation for scientific

literature / research in the field build on the foundation gained during

didactic courses go beyond the basic objectives of the course

material

The student will.....The student will.....

further develop critical thinking skills learn to collaborate with mentors in

preparation for postgraduate clinical practice

develop creative/artistic qualities receive constructive critique from their

peers

Getting Students’ Engaged in Getting Students’ Engaged in Preparing a PosterPreparing a Poster

“The poster should be a labor of love...

not just another assignment”

Getting Students’ Engaged in Getting Students’ Engaged in Preparing a PosterPreparing a Poster

Let me rephrase that...

“The poster should be a labor of love for the student ...

not an assignment for the teacher!”

Getting Students’ Engaged in Getting Students’ Engaged in Preparing a PosterPreparing a Poster

Competition – it can be healthy– can be in the form of grades– possible financial reward for “contests”

Peer Recognition – from faculty or classmates

more visual than a “paper” or test scores

– presents the student and their program in a positive light

Getting StartedGetting Started

Before you start you must know the specifications for your

poster if you are submitting for grading or competition.

Making a Terrible PosterMaking a Terrible Poster

Some posters are badly designed– confusing illustrations/ graphics– disturbing color combinations– messy

The majority of posters that are bad are because of too much material– huge amount of text in tiny font

This Title Too Small and Hard to SeeThis Title Too Small and Hard to See

This font is hard to

read and the color is

disturbing

Using FontsUsing Fonts Some General Rules of Thumb

– Block Style is better than type style– Bold vs non-bold

– Sentence case capitalizes the first word and proper nouns

– Title Case Capitalizes All Words– ALL CAPS IS NOT RECOMMENDED– Black or white text preferred over colored text– Italics for emphasis only

Rules, cont’d.Rules, cont’d.

Text should be readable from a distance of 1-3 meters

Use short, concise text and film captions– viewers spend less than 1 minute at a poster!

Info should be readable from top to bottom or bottom to top

A good picture is worth a thousand words

Rules, cont’d.Rules, cont’d.

Unusual Fonts,

ShadowShadow,, underlining, and and background fills are are not recommended

Use Bulleted textWith Caution

Making an Award Winning PosterMaking an Award Winning Poster

Three Key Steps

Choose the Content Research the Topic Prepare the Poster

Key Steps in Preparing a PosterKey Steps in Preparing a Poster

Step 1 Choosing the Content– Topic

is the most difficult and most important step must have overall interest and value to your

profession must have originality of thought OR well-researched review of known material

Key Steps in Preparing a PosterKey Steps in Preparing a Poster Step 2 Researching the Topic

– Collect data using current resources literature search, journals, textbooks, etc.

– Use the Internet with care peer-reviewed or reputable sources only

– Locate related photographs, tables/graphs, etc. access sponsoring college/program’s resources understand opportunities at your college/program work with a mentor

– beware of physician mentors! • They often have different budget guidelines

Key Steps in Preparing a PosterKey Steps in Preparing a Poster

Step 3 Poster Layout– keep it simple

minimal use of text / maximum use of illustrations highlight key points

– size consideration know your limit use a sketch or mock-up for placement

– be creative! color, illustrations, cartoons, etc.

A Catchy Title and A Good GraphicA Catchy Title and A Good Graphic

Extending Your Knowledge of

Neck Ultrasound

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

Use the art or graphics departments at your college/program for:– ideas and suggestions

they may have posters and graphics on display

– supplies poster board, etc.

– check on billing policies for your college/program

Putting It All Together, cont’d. Putting It All Together, cont’d.

Use digital photographs of images Use your college/program Visual Information

Dept. for:– special needs photographs you could not get

Use Your Own Computer for:– typing your text and captions– graphics at your own comfort level

Typical CostTypical Cost

Art Department– average cost of supplies $100.00

Visual Information– average cost of photographs $ 50.00

TOTAL $150.00

Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...

Top 10 things that will surprise you

while

preparing a scientific poster

Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...Surprise...

1. The time it takes 6. The time it takes

2. The time it takes 7. The time it takes

3. The time it takes 8. The time it takes

4. The time it takes 9. The time it takes

5. The time it takes 10. The time it takes

“It takes intelligence, even brilliance, to condense and focus information into a clear, simple presentation that will be read and remembered. Ignorance and

arrogance are shown in a crowded, complicated, hard to read poster.

-Mary Helen Briscoe

Getting Started TodayGetting Started Today Pass out evaluation/grading criteria Set the ground rules

– you will work in pairs form your own twosome

– due date November 12th

– poster size of your own choosing no larger than a standard poster board

Today, cont’dToday, cont’d

Meet with your partner to choose a topic– only faculty selected topics may be chosen

Agree on a plan – when you will meet– dividing up the work

computer text graphics obtaining the images etc.

TopicsTopics

Infant Hip Dysplasia Neonatal Brain Hypertrophic Pyloric

Stenosis Appendicitis TIPS Parenchymal Liver

Disease

Portal Hypertension Renal Transplant Calf Veins / DVT Venous Incompetence Arcuate Ligament

Syndrome Prostate Ultrasound Shoulder/Rotator Cuff

Topics, cont’d.Topics, cont’d.

Tissue Harmonics Ovarian Mass Doppler Umbilical Artery

Doppler PUBS Ectopic Pregnancy Scrotum/Testicles

Upper Extremity DVT Temporal Arteritis Perforator Veins

At Your Next ClassAt Your Next Class

We’ll tour the Poster Lab You should have:

– met with your partner and chosen your topic – done some preliminary research on your topic

you must submit your topic by the next class you must submit your group’s NEATLY TYPED action

plan – your schedule to meet

– division of work

– etc.

At Subsequent ClassesAt Subsequent Classes

You should plan to:– work on your poster – work should be done in our classroom

Siebens 1128 please clean the room and the end of your class

sessions– any “off campus” work during our regular class-time

should be pre-approved