A project log is a dated list of real decisions, changes and problems, written close to when they happen. It is the plain record that lets you describe the process truthfully later. This lesson uses an invented team and a practice project.
What belongs in a log entry?
Use four short parts: date, what was decided or changed, the reason, and who was involved. Add any evidence item it refers to, such as a file name.
Write it the same day if you can. Do not tidy it afterwards; a changed plan is a useful fact, not an embarrassment.
Worked example
The invented team keeps this log.
| Date | Decision or change | Reason | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Aim agreed: weekly share of canteen food thrown away | Earlier aim too wide | All |
| Wed | Weigh waste only at lunch, not break | Break stalls closed for repairs | Aina, Kumar |
| Thu | Replace Source B with a school newsletter piece | Author of B could not be identified | Wei Jie |
| Fri | Stop weighing at 1 pm | Canteen closes early on Fridays | Aina |
Each row can be read on its own. Together they explain why the final dataset covers lunch only and four and a half days, which a reader or marker would otherwise question.
A plausible mistake
A student rewrites the log the night before handing in. The Wednesday and Thursday entries become a single line: “Team worked well and followed the plan.” The log now says nothing a reader can check, and the changes are gone.
The correction is to keep the original dated entries as they were. If you want to add a comment on what you learned, add it as a separate note labelled with the later date.
Self-check
1. Which of these is a better log entry: “Had a meeting” or “Wed: agreed to weigh at lunch only because break stalls closed”?
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The second one. It states the decision, the date and the reason, so it can be used as evidence.2. Why record a change to the plan that seemed minor?
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Small changes can explain differences in the data or the final product, and they show how the team responded to a problem.3. You forgot to log Tuesday’s meeting. What should you do?
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Write the entry now, but label it as written late, with today's date and the date of the meeting. Do not present it as written at the time.Where does this lead next?
A good log gives you material to choose from, which is the subject of identifying which evidence could support a later reflection. Before this, you may want to revisit allocating roles.
A teacher can review a practice log with you and point out where an entry is too vague to use, without writing it for you. This is part of our online one-to-one Global Perspectives tuition.