CreativityCreativityActionActionServiceService

The Heart of the The Heart of the IB ProgrammeIB Programmee

Scott SchonebergDMPSIB CAS COORDINATOR

DP Curriculum Framework

Center of the Hexagon• Extended Essay (EE)• 4000 word essay, on a topic of student interest• Provides excellent preparation for independent study

at university level• Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)• A framework for experiential learning, involving

students in new and active roles• Develops awareness and a sense of responsibility

towards the community• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)• Critical reflection on how we know and what we know• Develops awareness of cultural perspectives and

biases• Allows for connections to be established between

disciplines

What is the purpose of CAS?What is the purpose of CAS?• Involve students in new rolesInvolve students in new roles• Develop a spirit of open-mindedness Develop a spirit of open-mindedness

and an appreciation for lifelong and an appreciation for lifelong learninglearning

• Challenge students to enhance their Challenge students to enhance their personal growthpersonal growth

• Educate the whole person, not just the Educate the whole person, not just the mindmind

CAS Aims• Create students who are…• Reflective thinkers who understand their

own strengths, limitations, goals and strategies for personal growth

• Willing to accept new challenges and new roles

• Aware of social responsibilities• Active participants in sustained,

collaborative projects• Balanced, involved in activities that are

intellectual, physical, creative and emotional learning

• Averaging about 3 hrs/wk over 18 months (150 hrs)

New CAS• New guide for candidates who will

complete the Diploma from 2010.• Aims have been re-written to highlight

connections with the learner profile• Emphasis on CAS as experiential learning• New learning outcomes – shifting the

focus from “hour counting” to the purpose and quality of activities

• Reflection but less form filling• Need for a team approach

New CAS Requirements First ExamsMay 2010• Several key differences from “old” rules• CAS Team• Monitoring• Acceptable Reflection• Not counting hours, so how do we know if

a student is doing enough?• Learning outcomes are key• Reinforces existing best practice

Cont.• Connects to Learner Profile & CAS aims• Shorter than current guide tighter focus,

less repetition• Aims to reduce form-filling and

mechanical administration• Emphasis on experiential learning• Importance of reflection as part of process• Need for team approach• Focus on

CreativityCreativity• Artistic activities Artistic activities

including music, dance, including music, dance, theatre, visual artstheatre, visual arts

• Designing and Designing and implementing service implementing service projectsprojects

• Examples:Examples:– Addressing world hunger Addressing world hunger

or global health issuesor global health issues– Organizing a peer tutoring Organizing a peer tutoring

group in a neighborhoodgroup in a neighborhood– Planning and implementing Planning and implementing

an activity to help middle an activity to help middle schoolers prepare for high schoolers prepare for high schoolschool

ActionAction• Participation in Participation in

expeditionsexpeditions• Individual sportsIndividual sports• Team sportsTeam sports• Physical activity Physical activity

involved in involved in carrying out carrying out service projectsservice projects

ServiceService• Building links with Building links with

individuals or groups in individuals or groups in the school, community, the school, community, national, and national, and international levelinternational level

• Doing things Doing things forfor others others withwith others  others 

• Examples:Examples:– Tutoring or mentoringTutoring or mentoring– Volunteering with Volunteering with

community organizations community organizations to help people in needto help people in need

– Working on a Working on a conservation projectconservation project

CAS should involve……..• Real, purposeful activities that student

initiates, with significant outcomes• Personal challenge: tasks must extend the

student and be achievable in scope• Repeated reference/connection to the• Learner Profile• A clear mindset that CAS is• • education of the whole person,• • framework for experiential learning,• • way for student to make a difference

What Makes an Activity a CAS What Makes an Activity a CAS Activity?Activity?

• You plan it in advance You plan it in advance and set a goal.and set a goal.

• You interact with others You interact with others to work toward the goal.to work toward the goal.

• You can reflect on your You can reflect on your progress during and after progress during and after the activity.the activity.

• You meet at least one of You meet at least one of the 8 learning outcomes.the 8 learning outcomes.

Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes• Increase awareness of strengths and areas for Increase awareness of strengths and areas for

growthgrowth• Undertake new challengesUndertake new challenges• Plan and initiate activitiesPlan and initiate activities• Work collaboratively with othersWork collaboratively with others• Show perseverance and commitment in Show perseverance and commitment in

activitiesactivities• Engage with issues of global importanceEngage with issues of global importance• Consider ethical implications of your actionsConsider ethical implications of your actions• Develop new skillsDevelop new skills

CAS is NOT:CAS is NOT:• IBDP courseworkIBDP coursework• Any activity for which the student receives Any activity for which the student receives

payment or similar benefitpayment or similar benefit• Tedious, repetitive workTedious, repetitive work• Family dutiesFamily duties• Religious devotionReligious devotion• Unsupervised by an adultUnsupervised by an adult• An activity that could cause division An activity that could cause division

among groups in the communityamong groups in the community• A passive pursuit A passive pursuit

CAS Guiding QuestionsCAS Guiding Questions

• Is the activity a new role for me?Is the activity a new role for me?• Does it have real consequences for other Does it have real consequences for other

people and myself?people and myself?• What do I hope to learn from getting What do I hope to learn from getting

involved?involved?• How can this activity benefit other How can this activity benefit other

people?people?• On what can I reflect during this activity?On what can I reflect during this activity?• What learning outcome will I achieve?What learning outcome will I achieve?

CAS TipsCAS Tips• Enhance your Action and Creativity by Enhance your Action and Creativity by

performing a related Service, such as performing a related Service, such as coaching younger students or volunteering to coaching younger students or volunteering to do an art project at a senior center.do an art project at a senior center.

• Enhance your Service by adding Creativity Enhance your Service by adding Creativity when you take on a role organizing a new when you take on a role organizing a new dimension of the service or creating a useful dimension of the service or creating a useful tool for the service experience.tool for the service experience.

• Enhance your Service by adding Action, such Enhance your Service by adding Action, such as clearing brush for hiking trails or picking as clearing brush for hiking trails or picking up trash from the shoreline.up trash from the shoreline.

CAS ExpectationsCAS Expectations• Approximately 150 hours Approximately 150 hours

over junior and senior yearsover junior and senior years• Concurrency of learning – Concurrency of learning –

sustained over 18 months; sustained over 18 months; beginning 1beginning 1stst day junior day junior yearyear

• 8 learning outcomes8 learning outcomes• Collaborative projectCollaborative project• Portfolio w/ minimum 10 Portfolio w/ minimum 10

pieces of documentation pieces of documentation (reflection & evidence)(reflection & evidence)

CAS PortfolioCAS Portfolio• Professional lookProfessional look

• Needs to include:Needs to include:– Summary of activities Summary of activities – Approximate hoursApproximate hours– ReflectionsReflections– Evidence of activitiesEvidence of activities

• Formal “presentation” in winter/spring Formal “presentation” in winter/spring senior yearsenior year

Build a CAS PortfolioBuild a CAS Portfolio• Possible formats:Possible formats:

Scrap bookScrap book PowerPointPowerPointPhotoStoryPhotoStory Display boardDisplay boardVideoVideo OtherOther

• Arrange by:Arrange by:ActivityActivity Learning OutcomeLearning OutcomeCreativity/Action/ServiceCreativity/Action/ServiceChronologicalChronological OtherOther

Reflection ExamplesReflection Examples• A paragraph about one of the learning outcomesA paragraph about one of the learning outcomes• What you hope to accomplishWhat you hope to accomplish• Difficulties you encountered and overcame Difficulties you encountered and overcame

(or why you did not overcome the difficulty yet)(or why you did not overcome the difficulty yet)• What you learned about yourself and/or othersWhat you learned about yourself and/or others• Abilities, attitudes, or values you developedAbilities, attitudes, or values you developed• How someone helped you think about your How someone helped you think about your

learninglearning• How the activity benefited othersHow the activity benefited others• How you would improve next timeHow you would improve next time• How you can apply what you learned to other How you can apply what you learned to other

situationssituations

Evidence ExamplesEvidence Examples•PicturesPictures•Program with your name Program with your name •Registration or jersey from a race Registration or jersey from a race •Postage receipt from donations sent oversees Postage receipt from donations sent oversees •Emails sent to organization or supervisor Emails sent to organization or supervisor •Flier you developed or usedFlier you developed or used•Sport scheduleSport schedule•Audio of music you played or directedAudio of music you played or directed•Copy of slides from PowerPointCopy of slides from PowerPoint

CAS MANAGER•Possible future use•May test drive in spring•Details later

What needs to be done?What needs to be done?Before Activity begins:Before Activity begins: • Submit CAS Pre-Approval Form (pink)Submit CAS Pre-Approval Form (pink)

During Activity:During Activity: • Write reflections.Write reflections.• Gather evidence.Gather evidence.• Submit copies of reflections and evidence:Submit copies of reflections and evidence:

– Attach CAS coversheet indicating learning Attach CAS coversheet indicating learning outcomeoutcome

– Junior year: November, February, MayJunior year: November, February, May– Senior year: August, December, MarchSenior year: August, December, March

• Constantly update CAS Portfolio.Constantly update CAS Portfolio.

Due Dates for Next YearDue Dates for Next Year• Reflection and EvidenceReflection and Evidence

– November junior yearNovember junior year– February junior yearFebruary junior year– May junior yearMay junior year

• Portfolio MeetingPortfolio Meeting– SpringSpring– Portfolio complete with junior year activitiesPortfolio complete with junior year activities– Individual student meeting with CAS Individual student meeting with CAS

coordinatorcoordinator

CAS CoordinatorCAS Coordinator

• Mr Schoneberg is usually in room 2023 or Mr Schoneberg is usually in room 2023 or copyroom.copyroom.

• Forms are available online at Forms are available online at http://dmcacas.wikispaces.com/

• You are invited to visit CAS CoordinatorYou are invited to visit CAS Coordinator– Before or after school and by appointmentBefore or after school and by appointment– For a For a quickquick chat between classes chat between classes