Anxiety Could be a Good Sign: Understanding Challenges in Developing Engineering Graduates’ Technical Oral Presentation Competencies

Abstract

High levels of anxiety during oral presentation and public speaking, can take two forms: facilitating anxiety, which drives preparation efforts, and debilitating anxiety, which hinders performance. Proficiency in oral communication is recognized as vital for ESL learners in both academic and professional contexts, with extensive research on public speaking and strategies to manage speech-related anxiety. In engineering education, effective communication skills are essential, aligning with industry expectations and the demands of professional engineering work, making oral presentations a fundamental component of assessment and curriculum development. Oral presentations are a significant component of the assessment process in engineering education, with various forms of assessments and varying levels of emphasis on oral communication skills among universities. Limited training in oral presentation skills is provided to engineering students, leading to challenges in assessment and feedback, and time constraints often favor written assessments. Peer assessment can enhance students' critical skills and reduce speaking anxiety, but ensuring the reliability of peer assessments remains a concern in engineering education. Anxiety associated with oral presentations is a common challenge among students, and it can be categorized into different types, including state anxiety, trait anxiety, and situation-specific anxiety, which can impact performance in educational and professional settings. Educators can assist students in developing an awareness of employing communication techniques to enhance their competence and self-assurance when delivering technical oral presentations. A framework known as the Oral Presentation-Multimodal Competence (OP-MM Competence) Framework is introduced, providing a structured approach for understanding and evaluating the essential components contributing to successful oral presentations.