Ideas in Action Presenter Information

Why Present?

The Ideas in Action conference is an opportunity for students to present their coursework external to the course in a peer-reviewed conference. By presenting here you can share your ideas with students and faculty from across the College. Presenting will allow you to get feedback from others, answer questions, and add this presentation to your resume. You can present work from current or already completed courses. Please speak to your course professor if you are unsure about presenting your work on this day. After the event is over, reviewers and presenters will see the event added to their transcript.  

Presentation Tracks

Teaching and Learning:
This track is for sharing educational innovations with students and faculty – teaching and learning strategies that worked or did not work but you learned from. This topic may cover student perspectives and experiences around curriculum design, teaching strategies, and assessments that enhance learning outcomes and student engagement.

Research:
Share your lessons learned from being involved in research projects or the results of projects.

Interprofessional Work:
This track focuses on interdisciplinary work where students and faculty have worked with other programs on a project.

Community Placement/Work:
Share how you or your work has made an impact on communities (or how it could in the future). This track is ideal for community service and placement projects, including projects aimed at addressing societal challenges, even if they are ideas that have not been implemented yet.

Presentation Types

Poster Presentations:
Showcase your project or research with a visual display in a friendly setting. You can use work already presented elsewhere (like in a class or at a conference). Posters will be set up in a large room, and people will circulate to ask you questions about your work. Since all poster presentations will occur at once, you can lead only one poster presentation.

3-Minute Talk:
Deliver a concise, dynamic presentation on your work, perfect for students looking for a quick and engaging format.

Traditional 5-10 Minute Talk:
Share your research or project in more depth with this standard presentation format.

Abstract Rubric

Abstracts will be evaluated based on the following criteria. The quality of the abstracts will determine which presentations are selected. The event schedule will be organized by grouping similar presentations together.

Submit your Abstract

We have prepared a Microsoft form for abstract submissions. Use the portal below. 

Call for Abstracts Giveaway

Win a $50 gift card for presenters who submit an accepted
abstract.

• Earn 2 entries into the draw if you submit before February 16^th at 11:59 PM.
• Earn 1 entry if you submit before March 2^nd at 11:59 PM.

Registration Information

Reminder: please register for the event!

Use the Ideas in Action Microsoft Form to register for the event.

Those who register and attend will have a chance at winning our amazing door prize!

Poster Printing Support at the College

You are not required to print your poster at Cambrian College. However, using the on-campus Print Shop is strongly recommended for ease of access and a professional final result. The guidance below outlines best practices for designing, preparing, and printing a conference poster that is clear, readable, and accessible.

Font, Hierarchy, and Layout

Font sizing

• Poster title: 85–100 pt (readable from 6–10 feet away)
• Section headings: 50–60 pt
• Body text: 24–36 pt (readable from 3–4 feet away)
• Captions and labels: 18–24 pt

Font style

• Use clean, readable fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, or Times.
• Avoid overly decorative fonts, as they reduce legibility.
• Use italics sparingly for emphasis.
• Avoid using ALL CAPS for large blocks of text.

Hierarchy and flow

• Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to create a clear visual hierarchy.
• Ensure content flows logically from left to right and top to bottom.
• Common sections include Title, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References (if applicable).

Margins and columns

• Maintain at least a 1-inch margin around the edges to prevent content from being cut off during printing.
• Organize content into 2, 3, or 4 columns for readability.

Colour, Contrast, and Accessibility

Contrast

• Use dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background.
• Avoid low-contrast combinations such as red on green or yellow on white.
• Use contrast-checking tools such as colourcontrast.cc or the TPGI Colour Contrast Checker.

Colour palette

• Limit your colour palette to 2–4 complementary colours.
• Avoid neon or overly bright colours, which can strain the eyes.

Accessibility considerations

• Aim for colour-blind-friendly palettes.
• Avoid relying solely on red and green contrasts.

Graphics and Image Quality

Image and graphic types

• Raster images should be high resolution (minimum 300 DPI) to avoid pixelation.
• Use vector-based graphics for charts and graphs whenever possible.

Size and placement

• Make visuals large enough to be interpreted from 3–4 feet away.
• Label charts and graphs clearly with descriptive titles and legends.

Content Density, Alignment, and Spacing

Content density

• Keep text concise and focused.
• Use bullet points and short paragraphs instead of large blocks of text.
• Aim for no more than 800 words total on the poster.

Alignment

• Align text left or justify it for consistency.
• Avoid centred alignment for body text.

Spacing

• Use line spacing between 1.2–1.5.
• Leave adequate space between sections to improve readability.

QR Codes and Proofing

QR codes

• Include a QR code linking to additional resources or a digital version of the poster.
• QR codes should be no smaller than 2 cm × 2 cm.

Proofing

• Proofread your poster carefully before printing.
• Microsoft Copilot is available to assist with spelling, grammar, and accessibility.

Printing at Cambrian College

Poster size and display

• Posters may be printed at any size, but display stands are available for posters up to 32” × 36”.
• Recommended sizes are 24” × 36” or 32” × 36”.

Materials and finish

• Coroplast (corrugated plastic) is recommended.
• Posters are printed on vinyl and mounted to coroplast.
• Optional lamination is available.
• 9-inch self-stick cardboard easel backs can be provided.

Ordering from the Print Shop

• Cambrian College has an on-site Print Shop.
• Print requests are submitted through the TeamDynamix Print Shop portal.
• Submit your poster as a PDF for best print quality.

Timing and cost

• Printing requires advance notice, especially during peak periods.
• Submit print requests no later than March 18^th.
• Posters typically cost $15–$30.

Preparing Your File for Printing

When preparing your poster for printing, include your poster title and your name in the PDF file name to help identify your submission.