CAS Orientation

Marvin Ridge IB Diploma Programme

September

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Core of the Model

• TOK
• EE
• CAS

​

Three Aims of the Core

• Support, and be supported by academic disciplines
• Foster international mindedness
• Develop self-awareness and a sense of identity

International Mindedness

• “An internationally minded person is open-minded about the common humanity of all people and accepts and respects other cultures and beliefs. The internationally minded person takes action through discussion and collaboration to help build a better and peaceful world.”
• Example: A volunteer at a local homeless shelter.
• In your experience reflection, you discuss that homelessness is a worldwide problem. Your local action can pave the way to global awareness.
• Think Globally; Act Locally!

CAS is...

A major component of your IB Diploma

WHY CAS?

Balance! --- An opportunity to try new things --- Learn through experience --- Provides opportunity for personal growth --- Provides chances for you to give back & make a difference in your school and community --- Interact with different cultures --- Engage in global issues --- Problem solve --- Reflect on importance of these experiences --- Develop new skills

​

CAS STAGES

1. Investigation: Students identify their interests, skills and talents to be used in considering opportunities for CAS experiences, as well as areas for personal growth and development. Students investigate what they want to do and determine the purpose for their CAS experience. In the case of service, students identify a need they want to address.

2. Preparation: Students clarify roles and responsibilities, develop a plan of actions to be taken, identify specified resources and timelines, and acquire any skills as needed to engage in the CAS experience.

3. Action: Students implement their idea or plan. This often requires decision-making and problem solving. Students may work individually, with partners, or in groups.

4. Reflection: Students describe what happened, express feelings, generate ideas, and raise questions. Reflection can occur at any time during CAS to further understanding, to assist with revising plans, to learn from the experience, and to make explicit connections between their growth, accomplishments, and the learning outcomes for personal awareness. Reflection may lead to new action.

5. Demonstration: Students make explicit what and how they learned and what they have accomplished, for example, by sharing their CAS experience through their CAS portfolio or with others in an informal or formal manner. Through demonstration and communication, students solidify their understanding and evoke response from others.

How do I earn CAS?

• Participate in one experience per week - recorded in EXPERIENCE LOG - balance of C, A, S.
• Achieve all seven CAS Learning Outcomes
• Maintain a CAS Portfolio (Folder in Google)
• Complete a CAS Project
• Complete 3 interviews with our CAS coordinator

​

FINDING BALANCE in CAS - Record one per week in EXPERIENCE LOG

• IB Learner Profile includes BALANCE!
• Each 6 weeks, Find Balance in CAS
• Balance at least 1 experience in each strand (CAS)
• Ongoing Experiences may be counted only twice (i.e. football practice, dance, or ongoing activity
• CAS logs and reflection are due on the 5 days before each marking period ends.

CAS EXPERIENCES at Marvin Ridge

What Counts as CAS?

• Any experience in a non-IB diploma class
• Any experience aimed at a specific and willing community

What doesn’t Count?

• Paid experience, IB Requirements, Proselytizing, For-Profit Organizations, or Any activity that promotes divisiveness or conflict

How do keep track? EVERYTHING GOES INTO YOUR CAS PORTFOLIO FOLDER IN GOOGLE

• WEEKLY LOG: Record experience in CAS EXPERIENCE LOG
• ONE REFLECTION Per 6-Week Term: Complete the CAS EXPERIENCE REFLECTION FORM and hyperlink it to your Log in the Title.

Let’s brainstorm some possible activities…

photographer

literary magazine

theatre involvement

preparing for an art show

academic decathlon

newspaper or yearbook

music/drama/dance program

Youth Symphony

Tech and web design

academic or arts competitions through clubs

​

all sports competitions (25hrs)

walkathons

clearing trails for parks

run for the hungry

gardener at a local park

Habitat for Humanity

tree planting

clean up creek beds

playing rec sports

hospital, library, museum volunteer

Recycling programs

day care volunteer

animal shelter volunteer

Salvation Army/ Crisis Assistance

coaching

peer tutoring (unpaid)

Girl Scouts; Eagle Scout project

​

CREATIVITY

ACTIVITY

SERVICE

REFLECTION on CAS EXPERIENCES

Understanding Reflections

REFLECTIONS: may use the form in Google, or any of the following: MUST WRITE ONE PER TERM AND FOR PROJECT for TOTAL of 12

CAS 7 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Completion of CAS is based on student achievement of the seven CAS learning outcomes. Through their CAS portfolio, students provide the school with evidence demonstrating achievement of each learning outcome.

LO 1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth.

LO 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

LO 3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a C.A.S. experiences.

LO 4: Show commitment to and perseverance in C.A.S. experiences.

LO 5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

LO 6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

LO 7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

CAS PROJECT

• The C.A.S. project is a collaborative month long project that a student undertakes
• Does not have to be collaborative with IB. Can be collaborative with other members of the community
• You must complete 4 CAS Project Planning Form and have your first Interview before you may begin your CAS Project
• ​

GUIDELINES for a CAS Project:

••Must be student initiated

•Must be collaborative with others (group)

•The project must integrate one or more of the three CAS strands.

•The duration of the project must be a month or more from planning to completion.

•The project you undertake must challenge you to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and develop skills such as those of collaboration, problem solving, and decision making.

​

• Complete 4 CAS Project Planning Form
• Schedule three 15 minute INTERVIEWS with the CAS Coordinator
• If a project is not approved, students may modify or change project
• Once a project is approved, students must use the CAS Project Process Journal to track all project work. Individuals will have one, and a team may collaborate on one form in project google drive
• Upon completion of the C.A.S. Project, each student will fill out a CAS Project Reflection Form.

CAS INTERVIEWS

The initial interview

This interview is conducted at the beginning of DP. The CAS coordinator/adviser ensures the student understands the requirements for CAS, explains the CAS learning outcomes and how the student might achieve these outcomes, discusses the student’s interests and ideas for CAS experiences, and reviews the CAS stages. If students are already aware of CAS, the CAS interview can be an opportunity to confirm their understanding and assist with any plans and ideas.

• What is your plan to complete C.A.S?
• What are you already doing that is C.A.S?
• What do you anticipate struggling with?

​

CAS INTERVIEWS

The second interview

Held at the end of Junior Year. The main purpose of the interview is to assess the progress. Confirming students have committed to a range of CAS experiences and they are achieving the CAS learning outcomes. Students at this stage may have completed or are planning to carry out a CAS project.

• End of junior year / beginning of senior year
• Everything on track? If not, how can we correct?
• Portfolio is reviewed

​

CAS INTERVIEWS

The third interview

Student outlines how they have achieved the learning outcomes for CAS. In addition, they discuss and evaluate their overall CAS programme and reflect on personal growth. This third interview may provide the opportunity for discussion on development of the CAS programme for future CAS students based on this student’s personal experience.

• Reflect about your C.A.S. experience and how it affected you.
• The student’s CAS portfolio is used as reference in this interview.

​

REVIEW

Completion of CAS is based the seven CAS learning outcomes.

EXPERIENCE: Students engage in CAS experiences involving one or more of the three CAS strands. A CAS experience can be a single event or may be an extended series of events.

PROJECT: Students undertake a CAS project of at least one month’s duration that challenges students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and develop skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making. Students use the CAS stages (investigation, preparation, action, reflection and demonstration) as a framework for CAS experiences and the CAS project.

INTERVIEWS: Three formal documented interviews students must have with their CAS coordinator/adviser. The first interview is at the beginning of the CAS programme, the second at the end of the first year, and the third interview is at the end of the CAS programme.

PORTFOLIO: Through their CAS portfolio, students provide the school with evidence demonstrating achievement of each learning outcome. Keep all CAS updated and your portfolio is complete!

TO DO:

• Join IB CAS Canvas Page (Accept invitation)
• Create CAS Google Drive Folder titled CAS Portfolio and your LAST NAME, First Initial
• Copy all forms to folder
• Begin Initial Reflection
• Begin logging any CAS you’ve completed this month