We encourage them to think carefully about prioritisation, and to plan the amount of effort they should put in. Oral presentation is given a high priority. Each team is given several sessions in which to make presentations to their customer base. A final, assessed, presentation requires each team to present what they have learned from the course. For many of the students, this course is their first experience of giving technical presentation, and we noticed a dramatic improvement in presentation skills as the course progressed.
More emphasis is placed on reporting the process than the product.
Each submitted report includes a process evaluation. Teams are awarded good grades if they identify weaknesses in their processes, and can suggest process improvements that address any difficulties they experienced. These presentations act as a prelude to the final course debriefing plenary, in which the students compile a list of lessons learned. We deliberately fostered an atmosphere in which students could be freely critical about what they are being taught. They are encouraged to voice criticism of the course structure and content, and of all aspects of the practical work.