📝 Notebook · All Roles · Beginner

Notebook Chronology Guide

🗺️ Flowchart — Notebook audit — checking entries against rubric

A periodic audit catches gaps before judges do. Every category in the rubric needs evidence — find the gaps now while they're still fixable.

flowchart TD
    Start([Audit time
pre-event week]) --> ForEach{For each
rubric category}
    ForEach --> Search[Search notebook
for evidence]
    Search --> Q1{Evidence found?}
    Q1 -->|"Yes, strong"| Mark[Mark category
as covered]
    Q1 -->|"Yes, but weak"| Improve[Note: strengthen
this entry]
    Q1 -->|"No"| Gap[GAP — flag for
backfill entry]
    Mark --> NextCat[Next category]
    Improve --> NextCat
    Gap --> NextCat
    NextCat --> Q2{More categories?}
    Q2 -->|"Yes"| ForEach
    Q2 -->|"No"| Summary[Compile gap list
assign owners + deadlines]
    Summary --> Fix[Team fixes gaps
before event]
    Fix --> Done([Audit complete])

    style Start fill:#1e293b,stroke:#22d3ee,stroke-width:2px,color:#e2e8f0
    style Done fill:#1e293b,stroke:#22c55e,stroke-width:2px,color:#e2e8f0
    style Q1 fill:#fbbf24,color:#0f172a,stroke:#fbbf24
    style Q2 fill:#fbbf24,color:#0f172a,stroke:#fbbf24
    style Gap fill:#7f1d1d,color:#fecaca,stroke:#ef4444

A self-check reference for notebook chronology. RECF judges look at date order, gaps, and EDP coverage first — this guide shows what they expect and how to audit your own notebook before submission.

📋 Why Chronology Matters

The RECF rubric explicitly requires notebooks to be maintained chronologically. Judges look at dates on the first pass — out-of-order entries, long gaps, or missing EDP steps are the fastest way to drop from Proficient to Developing before they read a single entry.

⚠️

The three most common chronology failures: entries added out of date order, gaps longer than 2 weeks during the build season, and an EDP step (especially "Identify the Problem") that only appears once in the whole notebook.

✅

Expert notebooks have: entries dated in order with no gaps, every EDP step appearing in each design cycle, and "Written By" and "Witnessed By" on every page.

📖 What Judges Check in 30 Seconds

Before reading a single entry, judges skim: Are dates in order? Are there big gaps? Does the notebook show multiple EDP cycles? Does every entry have an author and witness? These take 30 seconds to check and are the fastest filter for Design Award candidates.

EXPERT SIGNALS

Every entry has date, Written By, Witnessed By
No gaps longer than 2 weeks during build season
Multiple complete EDP cycles visible
Second cycle starts after first event
Test entries link back to criteria

RED FLAGS

Out-of-order dates or backfilled entries
3+ week gap with no entries
EDP step 1 appears only at the start
No Witnessed By on any entry
Notebook ends before last competition

Notebook Tools

✦ Mission Control → 📝 Notebook Guide → 🗺 Pathway → 🎤 Interview Prep →