This article explains the various project templates available on ProjectBoard and how to use them to create well-structured, engaging projects.

Understanding Templates

When creating a new project on ProjectBoard, you'll be prompted to select a template. Templates provide a pre-designed structure with specific sections relevant to different types of projects. These templates serve as:

• Starting points for organizing your project content
• Guides for what information to include
• Frameworks that can be customized to fit your needs

Available Templates

ProjectBoard offers several specialized templates to help showcase your work effectively:

1. Science Fair Project

Ideal for traditional science fair entries, this template follows the classic scientific method format:

• Hypothesis: State what you're testing and your predicted outcome
• Materials: List all equipment and supplies used
• Experiment: Describe your experimental methodology
• Observations & Data: Present what you recorded during the experiment
• Results: Analyze and explain your findings
• Conclusion: Summarize what you learned and implications
• Questions & Research: Share your initial research and questions
• Video: Add a demonstration or presentation video
• Headshot: Include a photo of yourself or team members

2. Engineering Design Process

Perfect for engineering and design-focused projects that involve creating solutions to problems:

• Project Video: Showcase your design in action
• Team Headshot: Introduce yourself or your team
• Results: Share the outcomes of your design
• Research: Detail background information and existing solutions
• Specify Requirements: List design specifications and constraints
• Brainstorm Solutions: Show different approaches considered
• Prototype & Test: Document your development and testing process
• Define the Problem: Clearly explain the problem you're solving
• Additional Info: Include any other relevant information

3. Basic Scientific Method

A streamlined version of the scientific process, organized to emphasize the inquiry process:

• Ask a Question: State the problem or question being investigated
• Background Research: Provide context from existing knowledge
• Construct Hypothesis: Present your testable prediction
• Procedure & Materials: Outline your experimental approach
• Test & Experiment: Document your experimental process
• Analyze Data: Present and interpret your findings
• Draw Conclusion: Summarize what you learned
• Video & Headshot: Include media to personalize your project
• Additional Info: Add supplementary materials

4. Thesis or Research Project

Designed for academic research projects or portfolios with multiple components:

• Headshot: Introduce yourself visually
• Resume & Social Links: Share professional information
• Project One through Six: Dedicated sections for different project components
• Additional Info: Include supplementary materials

5. Product Design Brief

Tailored for product development and design projects:

• Market Opportunity: Identify the gap your product addresses
• Problem Description: Explain the issue you're solving
• Brainstorm: Show your ideation process
• Product Objectives: List what your product aims to achieve
• Target Audience: Describe your intended users
• Timeline: Show your development schedule
• Prototype: Present early versions and iterations
• Final Product: Showcase the completed design
• Marketing Strategy: Explain how you'd promote the product

6. Instructional Step-by-Step

Perfect for how-to projects, DIY guides, and tutorials:

• Project Video: Show the completed project
• Supplies: List required materials
• Step One through Six: Detailed instruction sections
• Additional Info: Include supplementary tips or variations

7. Basic Hackathon Experience

Streamlined for rapid development projects and hackathon entries:

• Establish Team: Introduce team members and roles
• Problem: Identify the challenge you addressed
• Solution: Explain your approach
• Prototype: Show your working model
• Pitch: Present your project's value proposition

8. Regeneron ISEF Criteria

Specifically structured for International Science and Engineering Fair submissions:

• Video: Present your project overview
• Project Presentation: Detailed explanation of your work
• Quad Chart: Visual summary of your project
• Headshot: Personal introduction

9. Create Your Own Template

Start with a blank slate and build your project structure from scratch:

• Begin with an empty project
• Add only the sections you need
• Design a completely custom layout

Customizing Templates

All templates are fully customizable to fit your specific project needs:

Modifying Sections

To edit template sections:

1. Select a template when creating your project
2. Navigate to the template editing screen
3. Click on any section to open the editing modal
4. You can:
   • Rename the section to better reflect your content
   • Delete sections that aren't relevant to your project
   • Add new sections for additional content
   • Reorder sections by clicking the "Reorder" button and dragging them to a new position

Adding New Sections

To add sections beyond what's included in the template:

1. In the template editing screen, locate the "Add Section" button
2. Click to create a new section
3. Name your section appropriately
4. Position it where you want it to appear in your project

Section Content Options

Within each section, you can add various types of content:

• Text descriptions and explanations
• Images and photo galleries
• Videos (uploaded or embedded from platforms like YouTube)
• Document attachments (PDFs, spreadsheets, etc.)
• Links to external resources
• Code snippets

Tips for Choosing the Right Template

Consider these factors when selecting a template:

• Project Purpose: Match the template to your project's goals
• Audience Expectations: Consider what viewers will be looking for
• Content Type: Choose a template that showcases your primary content (visual, data, process, etc.)
• Required Elements: If submitting to a showcase, check if specific templates are recommended

Remember that templates are starting points that can be customized to fit your unique project.