The Presenting Research lesson will allow learners to take their research and data and learn to present it to an academic and non-academic audience.
Grade Level: 6-8
Objective: The goal of this lesson is to have learners design a poster that will summarize and present their research to archaeologists and non-archaeologists at a final capstone event.
Learning Outcomes: Youth will learn how to assemble components of their research, such as questions, methods of data collection, analysis, and results in poster format for presentation to an audience.
STEM: Scientific presentation
Materials: PowerPoint program or Google Slides
Time: 60 minutes
Overview: Archaeologists, like all scientists, are ethically required to share their data and methods with others in their field and those that are not professionals. This is done by publishing articles and presenting papers and posters at regional and national conferences, and/or uploading research to a website. The paper or poster must take the audience from the initial research question to data collection and analytical methods to the final interpretations. There are often limits to these presentations. For example, a presented paper will have a time limit and a poster will have a size limit. For our presentations, learners will design posters that will present their research in an understandable manner and be visually appealing. Posters will contain brief text, tables, graphs, and/or illustrations (drawing, photos, etc.).
Procedure: Show learners examples of posters you or others have presented at conferences or public events (examples from previous sessions of this program can be found at: https://archaeolessons.com/lesson-plans/module-10-presenting-research/). Have learners open the program and find a template for the poster size you will be using (poster templates can be found online; a manageable size is 24 x 36 inches). Learners can add text, figures, and photos to their poster. Research conducted as part of previous modules can be inserted into the poster. At a minimum, posters should include the following sections: research question, data collection methods, materials, results, discussion, and conclusion. If necessary, learners can write a draft of their text in Word/Google Docs or on paper before inserting into the poster template. Encourage learners to have fun – use QR codes, add photos of themselves working on their project, etc.
Discuss with learners some tips for making a successful poster (ask if they can add to this; ask them again once their posters are completed):
Have a title that is short and interesting
Simple, clear, and concise text
Eye catching
Uncluttered
List all authors and their institution
Readable from at least 4 feet away
About 300 to 800 words
Clear text that is to the point
Use bullets, numbering, and headers for easier reading
Use graphics, color and different fonts
List any references used
Add acknowledgements
Wrap up: Learners will be asked to share their posters with the group before the final printing. Learners can ask questions and offer suggestions. Ask if they think their poster represents all aspects of the project in a clear and concise manner that someone not familiar with their project will understand.
Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns, graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data