Student perception of use and level of implementation of logbooks in individual final year projects

Introduction: At Aston University the CDIO pedagogical framework (Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate) is primarily implemented in four major team projects over the first two years of the mechanical engineering BEng degrees. Logbook keeping is emphasised and assessed during each team project as an essential professional skill in engineering through the process of active learning. Methods: The final year cohort for 2015-16 were given a questionnaire at the start (week 3) and end of the project (week 25) to gauge project planning, use of logbooks, ownership of work, use of resources and confidence in their skillsets that they will require as engineers. Focus groups will also be conducted to explore actual use of logbooks and level of engagement in logbook keeping. Results: The first questionnaire, completed by 80 % (n=64) of the cohort, found more than 60 % of students took ownership of work including research, ideas, development and implementation aspects of the project with few students suggesting it was solely the advisors role for aspects of the project. The second questionnaire, completed by 41 % (n=33) of the cohort, found more student than planned made use of the CDIO framework (79 %). Ninety-two percent (59/64) of students planned to use logbooks as some form of recording their work and retrospectively 91 % (31/33) of students had actually used a logbook during their project. Discussion: There is a good perception and application of the CDIO framework in engineering projects by the majority of the cohort. There is also strong evidence to suggest the active learning exercises during year 1 and 2 in logbook keeping is being retained and carried forward by students to their final year projects. Conclusion: The study shows good retention of logbook keeping skills and use of the CDIO framework to engineering projects. This study is on-going to improve training of good logbook keeping skills for the workplace.