Celebrate Experiential Learning: End-of-Year Student Showcase

5 Presentation Slides (Virtual and In-Person sessions)

A concise, visual presentation using 3-5 slides to guide your audience through your experiential learning journey. Presentation talking points should also follow the What? So What? Now What? framework.

Format Requirements for Slides

• 3-5 slides total following this structure:
  • Slide 1: Introduction
    • Name, program, project title, organization/partner, timeframe, etc.
  • Slide 2: What?
    • Project or program description
  • Slide 3: So What?
    • Learning and insights
  • Slide 4: Now What?
    • Career readiness and future applications
  • Slide 5: Conclusion
    • Next steps for the project and/or you as a student
  • Optional:
    • Contact slide with email, LinkedIn, or portfolio link

• How this format supports career development
  • Communicating complex ideas/experiences into a brief yet impactful slide deck that highlights core concepts.
  • Structure of these slides can be applied when/if asked to prepare a presentation for an interview or similar sort of setting.

Research Poster (In-Person session only)

A visual, academic-style 3-panel poster presentation to communicate your experiential learning project. Presentation talking points should also follow the What? So What? Now What? framework.

Note: All sudents have the option to leverage an existing project poster, as long as the verbal presentation must follows the above framework. UC Center Sacramento students are welcome to present their research internship posters at the showcase.

Format Requirements for Posters

• Research Poster sections following the What? So What? Now What? framework 
  • What? 
    • Potential subsections
      • Abstract, Campus/Organization, Project Objectives, Competencies
  • So What? 
    • Potential subsections
      • Methods, Outcomes, Impacts
  • Now What?
    • Potential subsections
      • Sustainability, Conclusion, Call to Action

• Poster Dimensions
  • Standard size: 36" x 48" (landscape or portrait)
  • Resolution: Minimum 150 dpi for printing
  • Request printing via email to Dr. Smarr at rsmarr@ucsd.edu with your file format in PDF (high quality) by Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM.

• How this format supports career development
  
  • Develops skill of creating and determining engaging layout for a research poster.
  • Provides practice for presenting a research poster at conferences.

Donate your poster to the new Commons EL space in TritonCenter. If you no longer need your poster after presenting, consider leaving it with the EL team to post in our new central campus office.

Digital Portfolio (Virtual and In-Person sessions)

A comprehensive, web-based portfolio showcasing your entire experiential learning journey at UCSD, including multiple EL experiences both curricular (course-based) and co-curricular. Presentation talking points should also follow the What? So What? Now What? framework.

Format Requirements for Digitial Portfolios

• Platform Options (Send URL to elt@ucsd.edu before session)
  • Google Sites (template site)
  • Notion (template site)
  • weebly
  • Wix
  • Personal website

• Portfolio Sections (different pages or content blocks)
  • What?
    • Provide a comprehensive review of your EL journey at UCSD 
    • Describe your program experiences and/or roles
  • So What?
    
    • Describe the connection between your curricular experiences (courses, capstones) and co-curricular experiences (internships, research, leadership roles, community engagement, etc.)
    • Include the methods, outcomes and impacts of your program and/or role
  • Now What?
    • Describe the next steps of your program, project or role
    • How will progress be sustained? What is your call to action?
  • Skills and Competencies Inventory
    • What competencies did you develop through your work?
    • How do those relate to your career goals?
  • Multimedia Elements
    • Artifacts, photos, videos, work samples, etc.
  • Resume
    • Downloadable PDF

• How this format supports career development
  
  • Can share on LinkedIn, personal website or as additional link if application allows supplemental documents for career or graduate school.
  • Great for storytelling and providing a dynamic view of experiences via both narrative and multimedia elements that may be difficult to describe in traditional  application materials.

Frequently Asked Questions about the EL Showcase

• For students participating to receive CCR Validation: What if I already presented my project this academic year (between September 2025 - June 2026)?
  • If you already presented or are scheduled to present at another conference, poster or showcase event, please email us at elt@ucsd.edu, so we can confirm with the organizers of that event. These additional opportunities include but are not limited to:
    • Undergraduate Research Conference
    • MURALS
    • CRASSH
    • Summer Research COnference
    • RMTL Fellowship Presentation
    • SYNPosium
    • ASRS - School of Biological Sciences 
• What if I can't attend the scheduled date?
  • There are three different sessions to join (2 virtual and 1-in person), so hopefully there is one that fits your availability. If not, please emai elt@ucsd.edu to discuss possible alternatives.
• Can I request feedback or support on my presentation before the event?
  • Yes! The EL Team would be happy to offer guidance or feedback on your presentation materials or talking points before the showcase. Please request a meeting here.
• Can I present with a partner?
  • Yes, if you were part of a collaborative project. Reach out to elt@ucsd.edu if you are unsure.
• How formal should my presentation be?
  • Semi-formal to ensure the presentation serves to practice and demonstrate your professional communication skills. Prepare for an audience that may include professionals and/or faculty members as well as peers.
• What if my project isn't "finished"?
  • You can present a project that is in-progress and note on the "Now What" section when it will be completed.
• Who will be in my audience?
  • The presentation and roundtable audiences could include EL students (peers), EL Champions (Staff, Faculty, Administrators), and invited Family/Friends. 
• Can I invite family/friends?
  • Yes, but space will be limited at the in-person session on May 21st. They’ll need to RSVP regardless of which session they plan to join.
• Will presentations be recorded?
  • No, but we will take a few photos to create promo images for the next Showcase.
• What if I no longer need my poster after presenting?
  • You can donate it to be displayed at the new Experiential Learning Office in Triton Center. Just grab an EL Team staff member at the end of the showcase event.