How to Use Your Engineering Notebook
How to Use Your Engineering Notebook
You must bring your engineering notebook to every robotics lesson.
Your engineering notebook will be used during lessons, checked by the teacher, and used later as part of your assessment evidence.
Your engineering notebook is a live record of what you do as you work.
It shows what you built, what went wrong, what you tested, what you changed, and what you learned from that process.
It is not something you write up later from memory.
It is not one notebook shared by a whole group.
It is not copied from another student after the lesson.
You write in your engineering notebook during the lesson, as things happen.
Write when you start a build, reach an important step, test something, find a problem, or make a change.
Small entries during the lesson are much better than one vague entry at the end.
You may do the robotics work in a group, but the engineering notebook is still individual.
That means every student keeps their own record, even if the task itself is completed with partners or in a group.
You can discuss the work together. You can help each other remember steps. But each person must write their own entry and not simply copy it from the person next to you.
Group work can be shared. Notebook evidence cannot.
Sketch, labelled diagram or results
Date: 24 April
Lesson: Lesson 2 - Build day
Group: Sam, Indi, Alex
What we did:
Built the BaseBot from the start to Step 18. Finished the main frame and started the wheel section.
Problem / test:
When we tested the wheels, the right wheel spun properly but the left wheel rubbed against the frame and did not turn freely.
What we noticed and thought:
At first we thought the wheel piece was the problem. After comparing both sides, we noticed the axle on the left side was not sitting in the same position as the right side. That made us think the axle placement was causing the rubbing.
What we changed:
Removed the left wheel, adjusted the axle so it matched the other side, then reattached the wheel and tested it again.
Result:
The wheel turned properly after the axle was moved. We still need to finish the claw section next lesson.
Evidence: labelled sketch of the wheel and axle, with an arrow showing where the axle had to be moved.
This entry is strong because it does more than say what happened.
It shows:
- what was built
- what problem appeared
- what you noticed
- what you thought the cause might be
- what you changed
- what happened after the fix
Build lesson
- built robot
- it was hard
- fixed it
This entry does not explain:
- what part of the robot was built
- what the actual problem was
- what you noticed
- what you thought caused the problem
- what you changed to fix it
- what evidence you recorded
At the end of each lesson where the engineering notebook is used, I will sign off on your notebook.
This sign-off shows that your entry was checked in class.
Your notebook will be checked later for assessment purposes, so the sign-off matters.
It is your responsibility to make sure I have signed off on your notebook before you leave the lesson.
No sign-off means the lesson record is not complete.
Check that you have:
☐ written today’s entry
☐ included what you did, a problem or test, and evidence
☐ kept the entry as your own work
☐ had the notebook signed off by the teacher