How do judges assess teams' presentations at FTC competitions?

Judges assess teams' presentations at FTC competitions by focusing on several key aspects that reveal the teams' understanding and application of the engineering process. Important criteria include clarity, which ensures that the team's ideas and explanations are communicated effectively; depth of understanding, which shows how well the team grasps the principles behind their project; innovation, highlighting creativity and uniqueness in their approach to problem-solving; and the ability to articulate the engineering process, allowing the judges to gauge how well the team can describe their design, development, and decision-making steps.

This comprehensive assessment approach is essential because it evaluates not just what the team has done, but how they think and communicate their ideas, embodying the core values of the competition beyond mere technical achievement. The judges aim to understand the team's journey, the challenges they faced, and the thought processes behind their solutions, making the presentation a vital component in the overall evaluation.