Oral Briefing at Tektronix

The oral communication needs of contemporary engineers show a definite desire for training in technical speaking. Project reports, professional meetings, and oral briefings are integral to the engineer's work. Since most colleges and universities do not offer the specialized training that engineers need in this area, industry itself is called upon to implement such courses. Tektronix, Inc., of Beaverton, Ore., has taken this course of action. In the "oral briefing" course we attempted to do several things: 1) discuss the principles underlying effective oral communication; 2) conduct in-class oral briefing practices; 3) critique the oral efforts of the class members. As a result of this first course, additional classes are now being taught and others are being planned for the future.