display board
{{Short description|Display Board}}
File:Science fair exhibit butterflies.jpg
A display board, also known as poster board, is a board-shaped material that is rigid and strong enough to stand on its own, and generally used paper or other materials affixed to it. Along with quad charts, display boards were an early form of fast communication developed by the National Weather Service of the United States Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Government Accountability Office report to the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, [http://www.gao.gov/cbi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-927 Managing for results enhancing agency use of performance information for management decision making], pg. 28. GAO-05-927, September 2005.
Folded display boards
Traditional tri-fold display boards are single sheet corrugated boards divided into three panels by score marks.{{cite web|url=https://student.societyforscience.org/intel-isef-display-and-safety-regulations|title=Intel ISEF Display and Safety Regulations|date=6 March 2017|website=societyforscience.org}} Typically, the two outside panels are half the width of the center panel. Generally placed on a table, they are more stable and able to stand while still giving a theater-like view. Header boards can be added to the top display board and an easel stand can be attached to the back.
In North America, display boards are often used by students in the public school system for science,{{cite web|url=http://physics.usc.edu/ScienceFairs/|title=The World-Wide Web Virtual Library: Science Fairs|first=Christopher M.|last=Gould|date=10 December 1997|website=physics.usc.edu}} social studies,{{cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/weareteachers/social-studies-projects-and-lessons/|title=Social Studies Projects and Lessons|website=Pinterest}} and English projects.{{cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/explore/biography-project/|title=Best 25+ Biography project ideas on Pinterest - Biography, Biographies and Reading projects|website=Pinterest}} Outside the classroom, students use display boards to promote clubs, recognize athletics and display art projects. The purpose of the display board in that context is to catch the viewer's attention and explain what was performed and what was learned.
Outside school, display boards are used for business trade shows, marketing, genealogy, life celebrations, arts and crafts, and memorials.
Science fair display boards are required to follow published guidelines. Board contents include Project Title, Abstract, Question, Hypothesis, Background, Research, Materials, Procedure, Results, Conclusion and Future Directions.{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/2012/03/perfecting-the-project-display-board.php |title=Perfecting the Project Display Board |website=Science Buddies}}{{cite book |last1=Barry |first1=Dana M. |author2=Walter Kelly |year=2005 |title=Science Fair Projects: Helping Your Child Create a Super Science Fair Project: Ages 8-12 |location=Westminster, Calif. |publisher=Teacher Created Resource, Inc. |isbn=1576906000}} Such display boards usually contain images and figures in addition to text.