GTC Student Showcase

Tips on presenting at the Showcase:

1. Prepare a 3 – 5 minute “elevator speech” describing your entry.
2. When someone walks up to your entry, ask if they would like a description of your work. Be ready to give your 3 – 5 minute speech.
3. Ask if they have questions.

How to dress for your presentation:

Unless you are in costume for your presentation, we suggest you wear clothes that are considered business casual. Business casual would be slacks or khakis, dress shirt or blouse, open-collar or polo shirt, optional tie or seasonal sport coat, a dress or skirt at knee-length or below, a tailored blazer, knit shirt or sweater, and loafers or dress shoes that cover all or most of the foot. 

If you are considering a poster for your submission, consult the Poster Preparation Instructions (pdf) for specific requirements.

Necessary Elements for Poster Submission:

1. Title – ensure your title is clear and conveys the topic succinctly.
2. Student name
3. Class or organization in which work was completed.

Helpful hints:

1. Elements of the poster should be visible and easy to read from a distance of 3 to 4 feet.
2. Use charts, graphs, photographs, quotations from primary sources, maps, and other graphics to break up the text.
3. Leave space around the edges so that when printed, the text will not extend to the very edge of the poster.
4. Proofread your poster before submitting it. Noticing misspellings as others read your poster can be embarrassing.
5. Use fonts that are easy to read, like Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, or Trebuchet MS.
6. Text sizes:
   • Title: >80 pt.
   • Headings: 30 – 60 pt.
   • Text: 18 – 24 pt.
7. Choose colors carefully. When in doubt, use dark print on light background.

If you are considering uploading a video for your submission, consult the Steps to Uploading Videos to YouTube (pdf) for specific instructions.

Helpful Tips for Recording Polished, Professional Videos

Videos are a great way to deliver a presentation.  Mastering several basic video tips will help you create polished, professional videos.

1. Use Plenty of Light – Lighting makes a huge difference in the quality of a video, so make it one of your top priorities during filming. If you do not use enough light, your video may not look as professional as you had hoped to achieve.
   
   If you are filming in natural light, do your best to get your footage in the morning or evening, when the light is softer.  Midday light coming from straight overhead can cast harsh shadows on your subjects, while morning and evening light is more flattering.

2. Use a Clean Background – Be aware of the background you use for recording. Try to create a setting where your background is not messy or distracting.
   
   Consider using a solid background, such as a wall.  This will ensure that there are no distractions from the background.  Make sure that your subject stands several feet away from the backdrop to avoid casting shadows on it. 
   
   Be careful not to film with a window or another reflective surface in the background.  You do not want to inadvertently catch the camera in a reflection.  Moreover, having a light source like a window behind your subject can make the subject look dark and shadowy.  

3. Avoid Background Noise – Record your videos with limited background noise. This will enhance the sound quality of your video while recording.   
4. Record in Landscape Mode – Turning your phone horizontally is the best way to record videos. It is much easier to hold your phone horizontally and this will give you footage that looks better on larger devices.  For example, you will not see black sidebars when watching your video on a large screen if you turn your phone horizontally.
5. Avoid Shaky Footage – This will make your video appear to be a home movie. Because it's hard to hold a phone or camera steady, try not to hold your camera at all.  Consider using a tripod or set your camera on a sturdy surface.    
6. Avoid Unnecessary Zooms and Pans – Try not to hit the zoom button on every shot while recording your video. The result can leave viewers seasick. 
7. Turn your phone to Airplane Mode – This will ensure that there are no distractions with texts or phone calls coming through while you are recording a video.
8. Record with a Full Battery – Make sure to have a fully charged phone or camera before recording. You may want to consider plugging your device into an outlet to ensure you have a full battery during recording.
9. Produce Creative Shots – Consider which type of angle you would like to be when recording a video. A beginner tends to shoot everything from the corner of a room or away from the action.  By putting yourself in the middle of what is happening, you will be able to get images that are not possible from a distance.  Experiment with recording different angles by shooting above and below your subjects.  
10. Editing – You may prefer to do some minor edits to enhance the overall quality of your video. There are plenty of options for you to edit your videos using a smartphone.  Everything from basic trimming to adding transitions, titles, and effects is simple on both the Apple and Android phones.  There are also many free video editor apps that can help edit your videos.