After the recently concluded graduation of CI Masters, DepEd Dasma CI Team rolls out a 4-day basic training last August 29-September 1, 2017 at Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park. The CI Masters—Ms. Leylanie Adao, Dr. Rita Diloy, Mr. Antonio Faustino Jr., and Dr. John Nepomuceno—served as training facilitators in the two simultaneous sessions.

The training facilitators introduced the Continuous Improvement Methodology: Assess-Analyze-Act as the ground concept of the entire process. The process workshop focused on the Paper Plane Game Activity. Preliminary instructions were given by the facilitator. The team performed the first step which is to get organized by forming the team and project title and conceptualizing the project background. Next step was to talk with the customer by identifying the requirements for the paper planes. The crucial part of assessing is walking the process where team members launched the paper planes to the target landing area and recorded the information needed. This is also where the teams created a process flowchart and named the storm clouds. From there, teams identified priority improvement areas.

“Analyze” focuses on doing root cause analysis, developing solutions, and finalizing improvement plans. These steps are critical as well since Value Adding and Non Value Adding activities must be specified to simplify the scheme and appropriate solutions can be applied. The groups varied in the determination of their root causes. Some say it was with the plane design. Others suggested the projectile in throwing the paper planes. Physical setting was also considered a factor.

Pilot test is the first step in fulfilling the “Act” stage. Results of the pilot test were counted as baseline data for improvement in the next step which is the actual roll out. Differing outcomes were observed. Some groups were able to ace the pilot but failed in the roll out while other teams fell short in the pilot but were successful in the roll out. The last step is checking the progress of the project which is the very core of continuous improvement.

Eighteen public elementary and secondary schools and two teams from the City Schools Division of Dasmariñas composed of five CI team members each participated in the first batch of basic training. Bautista Elementary School, Dasmariñas East National High School, Dasmariñas National High School, Francisco E. Barzaga Memorial School, New Era National High School, Paliparan III Elementary School, Pintong Gubat Elementary School, Salawag Elementary School, and San Miguel Elementary School were part of Team A while Congressional National High School, Dasmariñas North National High School, Dasmariñas II Central School, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Elementary School, Paliparan II National High School, Paliparan National High School, San Nicolas Elementary School, Sta. Cruz Elementary School, and Sta. Cristina Elementary School were Team B.

Participants are expected to complete their respective school-based and division-based CI Projects by March 2018.