Learning by playing: 5S makes school a breeze
Devadharshini1, Priyanka2
1,2Executive – Business Excellence, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai
Correspondence: [email protected]
Executive Summary
Imagine a classroom where everything has its place, learning flows smoothly, and wasted time is outdated. That is the magic of 5S. Recently, 170 students embarked on a fun and educational adventure with 5S.
Background
When the idea of 5S Knowledge sharing was suggested, Ms Bhuvaneshwari (Corporate Admin) informed the business excellence team that Govt High School – Alwarpet was interested in the 5S Practices. After the initial proposal, the business excellence team met with the school principal to discuss the target audience. They decided to focus on students in the 8th and 9th grades (approximately 170 students in total). This age group is at a crucial stage where they are starting to think about their future careers. The principal also expressed concerns about student hand hygiene practices and a desire for awareness programs on breast cancer (due to a recent case among the student body) and nutrition.
Program Design and Development
Our team brainstormed using a traditional whiteboard session. We debated the best way to engage students with the 5S concepts. We decided to transform each concept into a game, highlighting how it could benefit their academic performance. To further incentivize participation, we planned an “exam kit” for each student, with prizes like dictionaries or geometry boxes for the winners. Following these principles, Ms. Devadharshini, with Mr. Dhanasekar’s support, reviewed existing pamphlets and tailored them to the specific needs of our school students. Additionally, they created a new poster to promote nutrition knowledge.
The Pre-works were the hardest part of this entire process.The time we had was about 5 Days including Sunday, when the list the of required inventories for the games as well as those towards student’s encouragement was bought . The exam kit consisted of a pouch of stationaries required for the exams. They arrived at a night before the event with the support of Ms Gomathi (Corporate Security). We the business excellence team sat along her besides in packing the Exam Kits, which we had in, separate boxes; almost 100 pouches were consolidated alongside the stationaries before the day is closing. The packing of gifts we’re pending. With the tremendous support of the housekeeping team Ms Sarala, Ms Jhanasi, and admin team Mr Ashok, Mr Sampath and Ms Divya we packed all the gifts and exam kit into the kauvery bag for almost 200 peoples right before the 1st day Event. L looking into presentation side, a clear simple presentation was made on 5S concepts with the examples fine-tuned as per the school practices.
1S – Sort through your desk drawers and remove old papers, broken pencils, and unused notebooks. Donate or recycle what is usable, and discard the rest.
2S – Label shelves, drawers, and cubbies in your desk or classroom. Use trays or containers to organize supplies like pens, markers, and glue.
3S – Develop a cleaning routine for your desk or classroom. This could include wiping down surfaces, sweeping the floor, and emptying trashcans.
4S – Create a system for labelling completed assignments. Perhaps use a color-coding system or a specific folder for each subject.
5S – Schedule a weekly “5S check-in” where you and your classmates take a few minutes to tidy up the classroom and ensure everything is in its designated spot.
Then we planned on to doing a research on the game related to each 5S practices. The plan was to begin with the LEAN Numbers game, sorting out the Inventories required for a maths game, Setting the Cups to build an easy foundation, Joining the Sheets of paper as per standard SOP and Subjects identification through team works
Program Implementation:
When the event day arrived, the students were initially given the LEAN Numbering Game
The lean numbering game brings the 5S method to life through a fun, interactive experience. It is quick to play, making it perfect for time schedules. Participants actively experience the benefits of organization first hand, seeing the impact of 5S on efficiency. This visual demonstration makes learning about 5S engaging and memorable. It encourages teamwork and allows for safe experimentation with the concepts. Then the 5S Session started! Mr Dhanasekar began the sessions; he clearly showed his experience in his presentation and his skills of keeping his presentation in an engaged way through World War Story and the 5S Tamil Culture and then getting into the 5S Concepts. Once the theoretical part was over the students were given a game on each S
Mr. Dhanasekar led the first day’s session. The following day focused on highlighting the team’s expertise in 5S. Mr. Kathir shared his experience and the benefits of 5S in key management, while Dr. Augustine Sylvester presented the advantages of 5S in clinical practices. Finally, Ms. Devadharshini concluded by demonstrating how 5S can be beneficial for nutrition management.
The 1S was linked with sorting and picking out the inventories required for the Maths exam
The 2nd S Set in order was clubbed along with the 3rd.
The 4th S was threaded along with setting up the paper through a standard idea
The 5th S settled with Team Game- how to sustain through team work
Once the games were over the students asked Q & A in regards to 5S practises. The students who answered best were given a gift of Geometry boxes and Dictionary
Sustainable Learning
To solidify 5S principles, students were assigned a project: implement 5S in a specific area at home during their vacation. Upon returning, they would apply the same principles to their classrooms.
Learnings
The 5S at School program proved to be a valuable learning experience for the Business Excellence team. We gained significant insights into planning and implementing events, particularly under tight budget constraints. Here are some key takeaways:
Budget Management: The program’s total cost was approximately Rs 54,000 (approx.). This experience honed our skills in resource allocation and cost-effective event execution.
Adaptability and Problem-solving: The program highlighted the importance of on-the-spot adjustments. We effectively addressed unforeseen issues with the games, fostering our critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This agility ensured a smooth program flow.
Collaborative Learning: Working with the school staff fostered a strong collaborative environment. We learned to adapt our approach to suit the specific needs of the student audience.
Overall, the 5S at School program provided valuable experience in event planning, budget management, and adapting to unforeseen circumstances. These learnings will undoubtedly benefit the Business Excellence team in future endeavours.
Opportunity for Improvement (OFI)
Expanding the support team to streamline workflow, developing a detailed timeline to minimize delays, and fostering stronger collaboration with corporate staff through clear roles and communication. These refinements will optimize future programs for a more impactful and successful delivery.
Outcomes and Conclusion
The program successfully introduced 5S principles and their benefits to students. The interactive learning format not only equipped them with organizational skills but also fostered hygiene and nutrition awareness. Assigning a project promotes long-term application of 5S in their personal and academic environments. This collaborative project demonstrates the effectiveness of gamified learning in promoting student organization and well-being.
Devadharshini
Executive – Business Excellence
Priyanka
Executive – Business Excellence
