Learning at Luther Showcase

• 9–10:15 a.m. Session I
• 10:15–10:45 a.m. Community Gathering with Refreshments (Preus Library)
• 10:45 a.m.–12 p.m. Session II & Poster Session A
• Lunch Break
• 1–2:15 p.m. Session III
• 2:30–3:45 p.m. Session IV & Poster Session B

Sessions I, II, III, and IV will be distributed throughout campus classrooms.

May 8, 2026

May 7, 2027 (tentative)

May 5, 2028 (tentative)

Scholarship takes many forms and occurs in every academic discipline. Therefore, the Learning at Luther Showcase welcomes any work that presents an academic product of your field.

Examples of the kinds of work you can present that will be considered for inclusion in the showcase include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Original research focused on an issue or problem in your field, either completed on your own or as a part of a faculty research project.
• A scholarly project you developed individually or as part of a small group.
• A creative work that you will share as part of the showcase and/or describe your process for creating the work.
• An experiential-learning project that involved an evidence-based exploration of a question.
• A mentored or internship experience that resulted in new knowledge, a product, or a unique learning experience.

To present your work, you will need to provide information about your work. The submission form will ask you for:

• Basic information about the presenter(s). Only one application needs to be submitted for each presentation. Multiple presenters can be added to one presentation.
• A title for your presentation. Make sure your title clearly and concisely indicates the nature of your work. Use keywords, but do not use abbreviations or acronyms.
• Details about your presentation including an abstract or description of the project (see details below).
• The name of the Luther College faculty or staff member who supervised this project. Please consult with your mentor before submitting your application.
• Presentation media for the online program. Each presentation entry in the online program must have an associated PDF or video. When you apply, upload a characteristic image of your presentation. If you do not have an image, you can upload a blank document then update it later, but you are not able to submit the form without media.

An abstract should include the following key pieces of information:

1. Introduction of the topic
2. Purpose for the work or research goals
3. The approach or methods employed
4. Outcomes of your work

An abstract should be concise and precise (200 words or less). Keep in mind that you will be presenting to a general audience and therefore need to broadly describe the topic. There is no need to be overly technical in your abstract. Depending on where you are in the process of your work, you may or may not have outcomes to include. If you do not have outcomes, instead include what you expect to produce or learn from your work.

Before writing your abstract, it can be helpful to look at some exemplary student abstracts from previous years. You might also consult your faculty mentor for feedback on your abstract.

You may also find it helpful to ask a writing tutor at the Barry Writing Center for feedback on your abstract. You may schedule an in-person appointment, an online appointment, or participate in eTutoring, where you can share your abstract draft and ask a specific question.

• Prepare for an audience of your peers, faculty and staff who may be outside of your discipline. Remember that many people who visit your poster/exhibit will not be familiar with your field of study so be sure to fully explain your work to this target audience.
• Prepare and practice talking through the presentation of your work. You should spend no more than 3-5 minutes discussing your work with any given individual. Please practice your presentation with your faculty sponsor and your friends.
• You must display your poster/exhibit for the entire session. We encourage at least one presenter to be at the poster/exhibit at all times.
• When designing a poster, please consult this guide.
• Prepare posters/exhibits that can fit approximately a 3 foot x 4 foot poster space or a 6×3-ft table. Prior to the session, your poster/exhibit will be assigned a number and location. Plan to arrive early to the session to locate your spot.

• When the sessions are scheduled, you will be assigned the exact length of your presentation based on the number of presenters in the session. Plan the timing of your presentation to include ~5 minutes for questions after you finished your planned presentation.
• Each presenter in a session is expected to be at the entire session. If there is time at the end of the session, the group may engage in a collaborative discussion about the session theme.
• Prepare your presentation for an audience of your peers, faculty and staff who may be outside of your discipline. To be an effective presenter, be sure to prepare for this target audience.
• Practice your presentation several times with your faculty mentor, friends, your peers, and on your own. Your presentation will be better the more you practice. If there are multiple presenters, clearly establish the roles of each presenter. Aim to practice enough that you can get away from prepared text and notes.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your session’s start time. Introduce yourself to the moderator assigned to your session and clarify how to pronounce your name. Tell the moderator if there is any specific information you would like included in your introduction. Discuss your presentation format with the moderator and other presenters (i.e., slides presented from podium computer or own laptop) to clarify how transitions between presentations will take place.
• Remember that technology is not foolproof. If you are planning to use slides, make sure you have a back-up copy and test the technology you plan to use before the beginning of the session.
• The moderator will introduce each presenter, is responsible for keeping the panel on time, and will mediate questions and discussions after presentations. Moderators will not allow talks to run over the scheduled time so pay close attention to the moderator for timing cues.

• You will have up to 5 minutes for your presentation.
• If you plan to use slides for your presentation, there is a 7-slide maximum: 1 title slide, up to 5 content slides, and 1 references/acknowledgements slide. Do not exceed this limit.
• Prepare your presentation for an audience audience of your peers, faculty and staff who may be outside of your discipline. To be an effective presenter, be sure to prepare for this target audience.
• Practice your talk several times. Your presentation will be better the more you practice. Aim to practice enough that you can get away from prepared text and notes.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your session’s start time. Introduce yourself to the moderator assigned to your session and clarify how to pronounce your name. Tell the moderator if there is any specific information you would like included in your introduction.
• If you use slides, you will need to present from the podium computer to facilitate quick, smooth transitions between presenters. Load your presentation onto the podium computer before the session begins.
• Remember that technology is not foolproof. If you are planning to use slides, make sure you have a back-up copy and test the technology you plan to use before the beginning of the session.
• The moderator will introduce each presenter, is responsible for keeping the panel on time, and will mediate the discussion after presentations. Moderators will not allow talks to run over the scheduled time so pay close attention to the moderator for timing cues.
• There will be a panel discussion involving all presenters at the end of the session. Every presenter is expected to participate in the entire session.

Who can participate at the Showcase?
Any currently-enrolled Luther College student.

Can I present ongoing research?
Yes. Posters, data stories, and talks can be presented at almost any stage of a research project. Presenting your work is an excellent way to get feedback on work “in-progress.” You are encouraged to discuss your research progress with your faculty mentor(s).

How will my information be displayed in the online program?
You can explore various examples here on the Symposium platform.

How can I change the information and/or media in my presentation submission after submitting the form?
You can log-in through the Symposium website to view the status of your submission and made changes. Instructions for that process can be found here.

How can I participate in the poster competition?
Any student/group of students presenting a poster may choose to participate in the optional poster competition. Please opt-in on the submission form if you would like to participate in this competition. Poster judging will include elements outlined in our poster guide.

Can I present a project that I did last year?
Certainly, as long as it was work that was completed while you were enrolled as a Luther student.

Is the Showcase competitive?
The Showcase is inclusive. A submission may be declined if the project is not an appropriate fit for the Showcase, but we aim to accept as many presentations as possible to provide each student the opportunity to share their work. The event offers an opportunity for students to come together to share and discuss their research with others in a supportive and respectful environment.

May I present a project with other students?
Yes, up to three people may present a project. If you are or have been working together on a class project or share an academic interest with others with whom you can prepare a presentation. In the case of student organizations, it is likely that a group of students will together participate in a presentation.

Can I participate in multiple presentations?
Yes, you may submit multiple applications but each must be for a unique project. The same project cannot be presented multiple times. An effort will be made to arrange the schedule so that you can make more than one presentation.

How will I know if my presentation was accepted, and I qualify to present at the Learning @ Luther Showcase?
You can login through Symposium to view the status of your presentation at any time. Your application will be read by the committee and you will be contacted directly if there are questions or edits to your submission are necessary.

How do I print a poster to display at the poster session?
You will be asked within the Presentation Submission Form to indicate if you intend to print your own poster or have the Learning at Luther Showcase team print for you.
If you choose to print your own poster, consult your project mentor about the process to print either in Valders 377 or at the Document Center.
If you chose to have the Learning at Luther Showcase team print your poster, we ask that you upload a finalized PDF of your poster through the Symposium website the week before the event. Details will be emailed to all registered poster presenters.

Who can attend the showcase?
The Showcase is open to the public. Feel free to invite family and mentors to attend the showcase.