DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC LOGBOOKS FOR STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC LOGBOOKS FOR STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

Scientists and engineers have long kept paper logbooks of their experiments and innovations. The need for a logbook cannot be overstated. Scientists must keep a record of their actions in order to recall and report what has been done. The logbook also allows you to retrace previous experiments and evaluate its accountability. Searching through logbooks might also reveal who was the first to make a new discovery or development. In most parts of the world, the first to invent rule applies to patents, and a well-kept logbook is essential for proving an idea is your own. Student and professional bodies use logbooks at regular intervals. Altini et al (2010).

In fewer than twenty years, logbook usage habits have evolved dramatically. Although some scientists continue to use traditional paper logbooks, many significant scientific collaborations now employ electronic logbooks, according to wavetracks (2010).

1.1 Background of the Study

1.1.1 The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (S.I.W.E.S.) is an industrial training program for undergraduate students at Nigerian universities and other higher education institutions. It is a six-month training program in which students are assigned to industries related to their topic of study. The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) oversees and funds the program.

1.1.2 Objectives of S.I.W.E.S.

The basic objectives of the students’ industrial training work experience scheme (S.E.W.I.S) include the following:

1. To give opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, thereby simplifying college work.

2. To allow students to apply theory learnt in school and provide access to production equipment not available in the classroom.

3. To provide practical experience to all students in schools of technology, polytechnics, and universities.

4. Inspire pupils about their careers.

5. Provide more manpower to industries.

Every student is asked to keep a record of her experiences throughout the training period and submit it to her department upon resumption of study. An industrial supervisor is also expected to oversee the student’s weekly work progress and sign off on completed tasks.

To ensure that the goal of SIWES is met, a school-based supervisor is expected to monitor the student’s progress by visiting his primary assignment at regular intervals, and at the end of the exercise, a report is usually sent to the ITF office for verification, necessary documentation, and payment of those who participated. Each student keeps a journal to document his or her experiences.

A logbook is traditionally used to document an event or series of occurrences, such as ship navigation, air flight, innovations, classroom events, and so on. Logbooks have existed since ships were invented and the requirement for navigation arose.

Today’s logbooks serve a variety of purposes because all sectors of human endeavour require some type of reference or storing material.

However, with the introduction of ICT and the internet, the way of doing things has shifted. An electronic logbook is a computer-based software for documenting (logging) states, events, or simply circumstances in complicated equipment such as aircraft, nuclear plants, particle accelerators, and various regions on board ships, which replaces paper-based logbooks, among other things.

An electronic alternative for recording important navigation, engine watch, port calls, and other operational actions on ships of various sizes.