IdEas@Work in Nanyang

Contributed by LENA LIM YUXIA and SITI SUYATI BINTE SAMRI Current situation: Battery tester got two pointed probes. When testing battery, especially for the 'button battery' the contact is very minimal and takes a while to stabilize. Much time is wasted and is very frustrating.Occasionally some usable battery may be thrown away Improvement: The pointed probes were replaced with a flat base.Now when testing batteries, the time taken to take the reading is minimized as the contact is increased . The reading is also stabilized.Much time is saved as we have many batteries to test.It is more time efficient and cost saving as accidental wastage is reduced.

Contributed by SITI SUYATI BINTE SAMRI and LENA LIM YUXIA Current situation: cobalt chloride paper is purchase from supplier yearly or when stock runs out Improvement: The sec 4 used cobalt chloride solution for their practical. The used cobalt chloride solution is then used to prepared our own cobalt chloride paper. By recycling the cobalt chloride solution, the school saved on the cost of disposal as cobalt chloride is toxic to environment and also on purchase.The cost of 1 box of cobalt chloride paper is $78

Contributed by NG SAN SAN Current situation: Our students spend a great deal of time in their classrooms having lessons and taking tests and they tend to experience varying levels of stress throughout the week. We can make our classrooms more relaxing and comfortable places to be in simply by greening them with the addition of some plants. 211 has a "money plant" as a class plant (which they name Bob). Recently, we have started to try to grow vegetables (xiao bai cai). The vegetable seeds have since sprouted and we try to keep the soil moist during the weekends with the aid of a simple self-watering system. We are currently thinking of ways to expose the vegetables to more sunlight to promote photosynthesis. Improvement: Greening a place up is a simple way of making it a relaxing place to be in. Interested students may volunteer to each nurture a pot of vegetable in semester 2.

Contributed by ANG JOO LIAK Current situation: During exams, students may have 1. calculator covers - potential for cheating 2. water bottles on their desks - potential for cheating or accidental toppling or spilling of water. Improvement: Invigilators may give instructions for 1. Students to place their calculator covers on the floor below their desks 2. Students to place their water bottles on the floor below their desks to prevent possible use for cheating and accidental toppling/spilling (by student or anyone walking past). Pih Tai (Exam Comm) has responded to my suggestions with email on 1 May: "we will be mindful to add these points in the yellow form for the prelim exams in Aug and certainly the EOYs later this year. "

Contributed by Priscillia SEOW PEI SHAN Current situation: CCA teachers will check with the instructors. Improvement: Beside of getting the CCA teachers to check with their instructors, will send out invitation letter with google form attached for the instructors to indicate their attendance.

Contributed by Priscillia SEOW PEI SHAN and Toh Lin Sin Current situation: Consolidate ALL Sec 1 students CCA 5 choices into a spreadsheet before HOD could do process the allocation. Improvement: Created google forms to get students to key in their 5 choices. This helps to shorten the process. Will discuss further to improve further.

Contributed by CHEE YIN YEN OLIVIA and TANG TAI LENG Current situation: Staff making claims with Nanyang Flexi package are not sure what items can be claimed under which categories (care for you, care for family, health etc) of Nanyang flexi package, especially staff new to school. They will either have to call Accounts to check if xx can be claimed, or adopt a hit-and-miss method of claiming first and being rejected by accounts staff if the item was not accepted or claimed under wrong category. Improvement: Perhaps a scanned copy with a list of examples of what items could be claimed under which category of Nanyang flexi package could be uploaded as a link at the HRIS portal, under the claims page. Intangible benefits include: 1) Accounts staff waste less time taking enquiries or rejecting claims / asking staff to resubmit claims under correct category 2) Staff using Nanyang flexi are able to assess quickly what items are appropriate for claiming and which category to park it un

Contributed by ANGELINE SEET SIEW PENG Current situation: Some parents are waiting for their child in the basement car park and they leave the engine idling. According to NEA, it is an offence to do so. In addition, the basement car park is a somewhat enclosed space and it is not healthy to have car engines left idling for a period of time. Improvement: Put up signs in the basement car park to remind parents to not leave their engines idling. Remind them that the environment is hurting.

Contributed by CHIA MUI LENG MELINDA Current situation: Birthday present will be given out to staff on the day of their birthday. Improvement: To coincide with the birthday celebration (singing of birthday song) at Staff Contact Time. As most staff will be present at the meeting, this would reduce the amount of time spent on giving out the present to individual staff on their birthday.