Should presentation skills affect grades in engineering courses?
Presentation skills may reasonably count toward an engineering grade, but they should not be included automatically in every engineering course. If explaining technical content to others is part of the course outcomes, presentation can be assessed separately from technical accuracy using clear criteria. In courses where presenting is not a main objective, grading should avoid unfairly lowering marks for technical work, and alternative ways to demonstrate learning may be considered when needed.
Key points
- The key question is whether communication and explanation are part of the course learning outcomes.
- Separating technical accuracy from delivery and organization can make assessment fairer.
- When presenting is not a main objective, assessment should not disproportionately disadvantage students whose technical work is strong.
Things to check
- Assessment methods and weighting vary by university, faculty, and course, so students should check the syllabus or official course information.