Description:
You need to get a three ring binder and some lined paper to bring to lab each session. This binder is only for this lab and is to be used for no other purposes. In this binder you will an instructions, track of all of your actions, all data, and all thoughts and conclusions. In additions, all typed versions of your lab reports will be added to this lab notebook.
Let me describe what I mean:
Instruction:
As I describe each exercise you need take notes and these notes are part of your permanent record in your lab notebook. These are notes and I do not expect whole sentences or completely accurate spelling. I want to see the notes that you take in the class. Evaluation: completeness and accuracy.
Actions:
As you execute the lab, keep track of what you do in the lab in a step-by-step fashion. If you deviate from the instructions you should note this and note why. Also, any observations about the lab that come to mind as you go through should be entered here. By observations I mean unusual or interesting or difficult happenings not "This sucks." Evaluation: completeness
Data:
An organized representation and interpretation of your data other relevant observations should be here. If you make a figure or table on the computer, hole punch the page and add it here. It should be clear to another person what is going on in the data. Evaluation: clarity and presentation
Conclusions:
Write what you think happened and why. Related it to class or other sources (cited) where possible. This needs to be thoughtful. Evaluation: Thoughtfulness and connection to other material from course
Once a page is added to the notebook it is a permanent part of the record and cannot be removed.
Purpose:
It is the responsibility of all scientists to keep accurate records of their work. If others want to examine your study beyond what is published or presented you have to make these types of records available. Thus this is training in ethical science.
Often we get our best ideas from quirky observations of strange goings on in a study. If we do not record these observations we can lose them and lose some of our best and most original thinking. That is a pain not worth bearing. Great thoughts or even very good thoughts are few and far between. Don't lose them.
Good record keeping is a part not just of science but also of a democracy where we have to be accountable for our actions.
How to hand it in:
I will collect these a few times over the semester. See the syllabus for dates. If a lab does not require a formal write up then a handwritten, in pen, but legible entries, even for the conclusions is fine. If you want to use a printer for the data and conclusions that is fine and even encouraged. If a formal lab report is required, that report is to be added to the back of the informal portion of the notebook for the same laboratory with the pages hole punched so they fit into the notebook.
For all pages, the top of the page must have the date and your name.