KWASU SIWES Logbook: How to Fill It Properly (With Examples)

Your logbook is the first thing your supervisors will ask for, and it's the raw material for your SIWES report. Most students leave it until the last week and then try to remember months of work. That never ends well.

Here's how to fill it properly, with examples. Your department may have extra rules, so check with your SIWES coordinator.

What the logbook is for

Your logbook is a daily record of what you did during your training. It does three jobs:

1. It proves you actually attended the training.
2. It gives your supervisors something to assess and sign.
3. It becomes your source of facts when you write your KWASU SIWES report.

Your Chapter Three (work done) and Chapter Four (equipment used) will come straight from it. A good logbook makes the report easy. A bad logbook makes the report painful.

Things to get before you start

• Your official logbook from the KWASU SIWES unit
• A black or blue pen, no colourful ink
• Your ITF Form 8 and acceptance letter in a safe file. See our guide on how to fill ITF Form 8.
• The name and phone number of your industry-based supervisor

How the logbook is arranged

Most SIWES logbooks have the same parts:

• Personal details page: your name, matric number, department, level and the company
• Daily entries: one entry per working day
• Weekly summary: a short summary at the end of each week
• Supervisor comments and signatures: from the industry-based supervisor and later the school supervisor

Fill the personal details first. Do not leave blanks.

How to write a daily entry

Each daily entry should answer three simple questions:

1. What did I do today?
2. What tools or equipment did I use?
3. What did I learn?

Keep it short. Three to six lines is enough. Write in the first person and past tense.

A weak entry

Today I went to the office and learned about computers.

This tells your supervisor nothing.

A strong entry

Today I assisted the network technician in setting up a new office. I helped to run and label LAN cables, crimp RJ45 connectors with a crimping tool, and test each cable with a cable tester. I learned that the wiring order must be followed exactly or the connection will fail.

Notice what is different. It says what you did, what tool you used and what you learned. That is all supervisors want.

How to write the weekly summary

At the end of the week, look back at the five days and write one short paragraph. It should join the daily tasks together.

This week I was attached to the network unit. I learned cable laying and termination, how to configure a switch, and how to troubleshoot basic connection problems. I also observed how the team handles user complaints.

Who checks and signs your logbook

At KWASU, the SIWES unit processes the logbooks, and each logbook is examined, vetted and signed by three parties: your industry-based supervisor, your university supervisor, and ITF staff. That is why neat, honest and complete entries matter. Several people will read them.

How to get your supervisor to sign

• Show your industry-based supervisor the entries every week, not every month
• If they are busy, leave the logbook with them and ask when to pick it up
• Do not sign for them or copy their signature. This can get your logbook rejected.
• When your KWASU school supervisor visits, have the logbook ready, filled and signed up to the current week

What to write when the week was slow

Some weeks are slow. There may be no electricity, your supervisor may be away, or there may be little to do. You still have to write something true. Describe what you observed, what you read about, and any small tasks you did. See our guide on what to write in your SIWES logbook when no work was done.

Sample entries by course

Different courses write different kinds of entries. Here are guides with examples:

• Computer Science logbook
• Business Administration logbook
• Accounting and Finance logbook
• Mass Communication logbook
• Microbiology logbook
• Engineering logbook
• Agriculture logbook
• Public Administration logbook

Mistakes that make supervisors reject a logbook

• Writing everything in one day. Supervisors can tell from the handwriting and the ink.
• Copying the same entry every day. "Attended to customers" for 60 days looks lazy.
• Vague entries. Always name the task, the tool and what you learned.
• Missing signatures. An unsigned week may not count.
• Starting late. If you started in the middle of a week, see how to fill your logbook if you started mid-week.

For more, read common mistakes students make in the SIWES logbook.

If you're behind

Behind on entries, or stuck on how to word your tasks? The MonoEd SIWES Logbook takes your course, company and tasks and drafts weekly entries in the right style. You still copy them into your logbook by hand and take them to your supervisor to sign.

When training ends, you can connect the logbook to the SIWES Report Generator so your real weeks feed the first draft of your report. It switches to the KWASU five-chapter layout when you type "Kwara State University".

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the logbook compulsory?

Yes, for students in SIWES programmes. Your industry-based supervisor, your university supervisor and ITF staff check and sign it, and without it your SIWES result can be delayed.

How many entries should I write a day?

One per working day. Three to six lines that say what you did, the tool you used and what you learned is enough.

Should I write daily or weekly?

Daily is best because you remember the details. If you can't, write at least weekly and get it signed. Waiting until the end is where most students get into trouble.

Who signs it?

Your industry-based supervisor signs, usually weekly. Your KWASU supervisor signs when they visit.

Can I use a pencil?

No. Use a pen, because pencil can be erased and supervisors don't accept it.

What if I make a mistake?

Draw one neat line through it and write the correct entry beside it. Don't use correction fluid or tear out pages.

What if my supervisor isn't around to sign?

Ask a colleague they trust to sign for them and write that person's name and position. Tell your school supervisor when they visit.

Where can I get a logbook template?

Use the official logbook from the KWASU SIWES unit. For layout ideas, see our SIWES logbook template.