Do you know how to write a field report properly? Well, not knowing the proper way of writing a field report is like driving your car at night without headlights on. You just cannot see clearly what is happening in front of you and if you are not a professional writer, then this is where you make errors. So, what does one need to know when he or she wants to write an effective and convincing report? Read on…
To write a good daily field report, the very first step is to scheme your writing. Yes, you heard me right. You should do the detailed planning in your thinking process; jot down all that you saw and learned in the field that day and attempt to categorize all the scattered information and figures spinning around in your head. This will help you come up with a concise yet organized report for your superiors or clients.
A typical daily field trip report may cover the events of one or two days. In a typical template, your report is broken down in several parts. There is the summary of the event (which could also be called the “main report” if there are more than one parts to it), the short-term and the long-term effects, and the precautions or recommendations that you have suggested to prevent future incidents. The short-term and long-term effects should be classified depending on their gravity. For instance, if there were casualties, serious injuries, damages to properties, loss of time and money, and so on, your report should provide these details.
As for your short-term and long-term observations, these are usually presented in the form of graphics. You could have an image or two of the area where the incident had taken place, a simple satellite picture, a still photograph (if necessary), and so on. These pictures will serve as visual aids for your superiors when they are making their decisions about what actions need to be taken in order to prevent incidents like this from happening again. This is very important especially if the incident is one that has been taking place for a long time.
Another part of your daily field trip report is the field study report. Similar to the summary, this part is broken down into several different categories: recommendations, data analysis, field research, observations, and final recommendations. In addition to this, the observation section includes additional data like pictures and sketches. This part is also used as a means of encouraging your superiors to make the necessary changes. If the case has indeed proven to be a big one, this would also serve as a chance for you to plead your case before your superiors.
In order for you to get a field trip report example, there are several resources that you can use. One of these resources is the Internet. You can access websites that offer downloadable files like clip art or screen shots in order for you to create your own file. By doing this, you will be able to take note of the things that you need to include in your own report since it is quite impossible to take note of everything that was observed by your team.
The other option that you have is to purchase software that will allow you to record your observations on your own computer. There are several programs that you can choose from, and all you have to do is search for a field report example that will help you follow the format that you should follow. There are many different types of software available, and most of them are available at a low price. This is also a great way for you to learn how to write a good daily field report app since you can learn the necessary steps while being able to use the best software available in the market.
Aside from a visual aid or a written description of what was observed, there are still many other important factors that you should consider when it comes to preparing and creating an effective activity log and a daily report. The main thing that you should remember is that you need to set notifications. With notification set notifications, you will be able to know if certain activities are worthy of alerts. If you want to make sure that your team members are informed about their actions, then you should consider getting these apps so you can easily notify them whenever they do something that is worth monitoring.
