Creating a presentation site

for the

Sigma Xi

Student Research Showcase

Content

I. Procedures and Timeline for Student Research Showcase

II. Creating a Presentation Site

III. Sharing your Presentation

IV. Student – Judge Discussion Period

V. Awards

Procedures and Timeline1. Preliminary Approval: submit project

description meetings@sigmaxi.org 2. Presentation Creation: after you have been

approved to participate, create a presentation site

3. Presentation Finalized: submit the URL of your presentation to Sigma Xi by March 8

4. The Showcase (March 18 – 23): Discussion Period via blog (Monday – Friday)Final Judge evaluations (Saturday morning)Awards announced (Saturday evening)

Creating a Presentation SiteThe following description explains how to create a presentation site using the free blogging software provided at www.tumblr.com

You may choose to use other blogging software such as WordPress or host your own html webpage.

Regardless of the software you choose, your presentation site MUST have the following:

1. An abstract that describes your research project (200 words maximum)2. A technical slide presentation3. A brief (2-3 minute) informal video introduction of you and your research aimed at

a general (non-technical) audience4. A discussion widget similar to DISQUS (described further below)

How to use Tumblr for your site

• Create a free account at www.tumblr.com

• Don’t forget to verify your email address

• From the Dashboard go to your Tumblr Page (blank workspace you can now customize)

• Click on

On the Customize page you may create the look and basic features of your page

• The default Theme is fine or you may select another

• Title should be brief statement of the focus of your research (not formal research title)

• Description should tell who you are and list your institution

Adding a Discussion WidgetAdd DISQUIS (recommended) or other discussion widget to your site.

• Register (free) at www.disquis.com

• Verify your email address as requested

• On the DISQUIS installation page, select the tumblr platform

• Follow the 3 easy installation steps

• Default settings on DISQUIS are adequate

Content Placement

Remember – blog software (like Tumblr) will place the most recently added item at the top.

If you want your page to appear (from top to bottom) as Abstract > Presentation > Video, then you need to post in reverse order: Video > Presentation > Abstract.

We do not require a specific order – just that all three elements (plus a Discussion widget) appear on your page.

Adding an Abstract onTumblr

• From Dashboard select Text

• Under “Title” enter “Abstract”

• In the “Post” field enter your formal project title followed by your abstract contents (~200 words)

• Select “Publish Now” if you are satisfied with the placement order of the abstract (see previous slide). You may return to edit abstract contents later.

Text Content Editing• Blog software often has limited text formatting capabilities• If you need special characters, you may cut and paste from

a word processing software• Many special characters will work

– such as ≤, Σ, Δ, Ʊ• Subscripts and Superscripts often will not display• Example: C6H12O6 may appear as C6H12O6

• You may wish to say “Glucose” rather than C6H12O6

• You may also insert an image of a complex formula or concept

• You may edit using the HTML feature if you have that expertise

Adding a Slide Presentation using Tumblr

• Upload the technical slide presentation to a hosting site such as SlideShare or Google Docs

• Generate embed code from the slide hosting site

• Add a “Text” post on Tumblr

• Click on the .HTML Code Button

• Insert the embed code and save

Hint: Adding the slide presentation to the same post as the abstract is an easy way to maintain the positioning. Usig Tumblr, you may accomplish this by doing the following:

• Open the “Abstract” post by clicking edit• Click on the .HTML button and scroll to the bottom• Insert the embed code and save

Otherwise, you may add the presentation as a separate post (see previous slide).

Adding a Personal Video using Tumblr

• From the Dashboard, select Video

• You my embed the video from a hosting site (YouTube, Vimeo) by adding the URL or you may upload the video directly

• Adding a caption is optional but often a nice touch

Sharing your Presentation Site

• Submit the URL of your presentation site by email to meetings@sigmaxi.org

• Your site will be linked at the Student Research Showcase hub hosted at www.sigmaxi.org

• You may view student presentations and other content at the Showcase hub

Student – Judge Discussion Period

• During the week of the Showcase (Monday-Friday), judges will pose questions to you on your site (via DISQUIS)

• Once a judge (or anyone) has posted a comment, you will receive an email notice from DISQUIS

• Log into your DISQUIS account to reply to the comment as well as to "Delete", "Approve", or "Spam“ as appropriate

Recognizing Outstanding Presentations

• After the discussion period ends, judges will provide evaluations and rank the best presentations

• Awards will be announced on the Saturday evening of the Showcase

• Award winning presentations will be featured on the Sigma Xi website

• All student presenters will receive feedback from judges

For more information visit www.sigmaxi.org

Or email meetings@sigmaxi.org