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05/18/2010 10:03 PM
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As the historical roots of Lean mindset are from the manufacturing sector, the concern that Lean might not be appropriate for schools is worthwhile to explore.
Is it possible to use Lean thinking and its applications successfully in schools?
If Lean is a philosophy centered in culture of good habits, best practices and based in simplicity, why not start it as a regular course/discipline since kindergarten generation?
Can we invest/create/influence them today for a better future?
I would like to hear your contributions for this theme.
Thanks in advance, Guilherme
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05/20/2010 09:58 PM
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Guilherme,
I agree with you that there is a big opporunity here. To me the basics of lean are constant learning and problem solving. In school, we were exposed to a lot of "knowledge" with the hope that it stuck, but we never were taught how to be more efficient and effective learners and problem solvers. Even in engineering school we were told that specific knowledge wasn't as important as learning how to solve technical problems, yet not one of my courses covered effective problem solving.
Maybe education is different today, but I still don't meet very many young adults who are very adept at this much less systems thinking.
Brent
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05/20/2010 10:00 PM
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In an academic environment, "lean" is nothing more than teaching students to carefully observe the relationships and interactions of things; predict the effect of changes; and test their assumptions.
At more advanced levels, you can skills to gain understanding of something vs. an ideal or target condition, understanding the problems that must be solved to get there, and working *as a team* to solve those problems.
At the core, these things are all that "lean" really is. Everything else are tools to help you do it in a specific context.
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05/24/2010 01:41 PM
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Being a teacher in a previous career, I think Lean can be taugh from a very early age. You could start as early as grade school and teaching students to 5S their desks. Many teachers of young children are not far off from this concept in their classroom management.
As students get older, more of the conceptual skills can be taught. The basic math required for Lean is well within most state cirriculum standards. For example, students can use the formulas to determine the reorder points and run quanities for Kanban. There is more than enough stats as well. Language arts could even teach tools such as A3 for presentations. Most importantly, students can be taught in science class about PDCA.
Definitely the tools of Lean can be taught in our schools. If I ever returned to the classroom, it would be a part of my cirriculum.
As a reality check, here in Michigan, the public schools are highly unionized and remarkably resistant to change. The biggest hurdle would be getting the teachers to embrace Lean thinking. If a school district could get all its teachers to embrace Lean/CI, they would be suprised at the outcome.
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08/10/2010 02:46 PM
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Guilherme
We at ELSE Inc. are looking into teaching lean to students, we have run some very small tests, and found the younger ones take it more seriously. We are looking into doing more, but in our area the process we have to go through can take years to get anything done, but we will keeping working toward the goal.
We feel that there is a huge opportunity and need for this in our society, but the process will be slow, Good Luck.
Feel free to contact me if you are interested in Lean Education development Robert.
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08/11/2010 09:13 AM
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The idea of lean is not very difficult, most children will accept it easily. How to change a process is easy for children (just do it) and sometimes very difficult for adults. The most important is the example: if you teach "lean" at school, children will immediately see if you are lean in your way of organizing working. You cannot teach to children what you are not doing yourself. So leaning your own lane, school is mandatory.
The tools of lean are of secondary importance. When the concept is accepted, one can gradually introduce the tools, depending of age, interest and nature of the school. You can NEVER teach beyond what you are applying yourself. No matter how well you master the subject: the example is 80 % of the lesson.
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08/11/2010 04:35 PM
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Guilherne:
I'm a strong advocate of teaching students Critical Thinking first. I believe Critical Thinking should come before learning about Lean tools and techniques. There are many definitions of Critical Thinking but the one I lean toward is this one:
Critical Thinking: The rigorous use of information, observation, experience and logical reasoning - to evaluate and analyze any situation needing clarification or resolution - for the purpose of guiding one's beliefs, decisions and actions.
An interesting web site on critical thinking education is: http://www.criticalthinking.org/
Once individuals learn how to think critically, applying Lean tools and techniques to solve problems becomes routine.
Edited: 08/11/2010 at 04:34 PM by Lean Moderator
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08/20/2010 08:58 AM
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Hi Guilherne
you started with this
"As the historical roots of Lean mindset are from the manufacturing sector, the concern that Lean might not be appropriate for schools is worthwhile to explore."
I come from an industry background teaching apprentices for years and then moving into teaching in college and school leavers also to industry groups for the last ten years.
Everyone learns by doing so its finding activities that engage the students at what ever age that can encourage problem solving skills and understanding of principles.
Examples:
getting groups to line up in order of height without talking, then by birthdays in order again without talking.
giving a group ten minutes to build a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows getting groups to compete for the tallest tower (competitive at any age)
then givng them time to talk about why it fell over, then brainstorm alternatives fishbones etc can all be used in these types of activities and there FUN (any age)
likewise straw bridges and tape supporting bags of sugar over gaps between tables.
there are always your sport analogies or use the Kirate kid video (standard work)
Then there is lego from cars, stike fighters even red trolleys, all types of simulators I have been taught with, developed or used in the classroom or workplace.
Through your own understanding of lean use "learning to see"
to guide you to build your own model factory simualtion its a great way to learn and better understand
Try "road runner cartoons' for failing to plan and fireengines for the reverse
paper airplanes for flow, takt time, CI, visual displays etc
We learn by our mistakes but remember to have fun doing
Draw a LONGBOW and shoot for the stars.
regards
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09/08/2010 09:45 AM
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Hi
All what you have said is true, but without a clear carriculum it cannot work in schools.
Lemmy
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09/27/2010 08:59 AM
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Teach the student how to think first ,I believe somebody with good logical thinking,macr thinking ,reverse thinking will help him to understand and carry-out the lean thinking.
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10/15/2010 09:05 AM
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Take a look at this link from TED it runs for 17 minutes it should provoke your thoughts for future lean training.
http://www.ted...driven_education.html
No wonder small groups can be so powerful
Edited: 09/06/2011 at 02:38 PM by Lean Moderator
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07/05/2011 09:13 AM
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Hi, I agree completely that it could (and should) be taught in schools.
Lean will teach kids self-discipline (5S), problem-solving, waste reduction and rules of leadership.
I'm convinced that Lean methodology (if applied in real life) can make us more effective!
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07/06/2011 09:52 AM
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Hi Kate
I agree that Lean concepts applied to life will make us more effective, but more importantly it will allow us to enjoy our lives better as well. Removing the waste from our lives will allow us to do more with what we have, and to actually enjoy it.
In today's modern world we all spend to much and do to much that in reality provides us no vaklue what so ever. As my family has returned to the common sense basics that Lean is built upon, we have started asking ourselves what we really want, and if we really need certain things. The result is that we have dropped dozens of activities, and cut dozens of expenses without ever actually missing anything. In fact we now have more time and resources for what we truly enjoy, instead of waste all the time and resources on what marketers tells we should be doing or have.
Lean can help all of us gain added freedom in our lives and businesses.
Robert Drescher
EKLSE Inc.
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07/08/2011 10:35 AM
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Hi Robert,
sounds very reasonable! It's a problem though that many people just lose common sense and stop thinking about their lives...
Like Stephen Covey said, there is a difference betwen being very busy and very efficient vs being truly effective. Doing less things, but doing them much better and not losing time to waste
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07/14/2011 01:08 PM
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Hi Kate
I see you understand common misconceptions. Covey and Deming among many other true thinkers point out the difference between being efficient and effective.
If a Person is not effective, being efficient will make things worse instead of better.
There are some other dangerous misconceptions like today's all time favorite "I am a greater multi-tasker" yet all the true testing of the the concept of multi-tasking proves multi-tasking does not work.
Another is that "they can not live without me" or "i am irreplacable" the reality is that the higher you get in an organization the easier it is to do without you. The fact is the people under you know what they have to do, and often bosses are more interference than value. To many bosses interupt their workers for minor questions that if they looked they could get the answer themselves, every interruption cost a company 15 to 30 minutes of real work.
Kate life is to short, we often forget that we work to live not live to work. Even if you enjoy your work it should not be your central focus, if it is than you will pay a price far higher in the rest of your life.
Robert Drescher
ELSE Inc.
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08/08/2011 05:07 PM
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Hi Robert, thanks for you insights.
I do agree with you in most of the concepts, although I can't agree with neither "work to live" or "live to work" concepts. Work takes 8 hours every day (even more) and it's better to make sure you're doing something worth your time and effort. It's part of our lives anyways, so it's better "live during work" concept:)
Kate
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09/06/2011 02:37 PM
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Guilherme;
It's certainly worthwhile to implement lean concepts at all levels of the education sector. Lean has proven value add impact from manufacturing to healthcare and, imlemented systemically in education, it would benefit instruction in the classroom as well as the back office functions and maintenance, etc. of school districts.
Many school districts are currently exploring concepts related to lean in curriculum through "power standards" as districts attempt to focus more on what matters most for client success. The result is identification of standards that are considered critical to student success and les focus or elimination of standards that are no longer relevant.
However, similar to lean theory in any other sector, power standards (like 5S), visual management, etc. are tools and are truly part of a much larger philosophy and way of thinking and seeing systemically.
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