Creativity Action Service

C.A.S.

GUIDE

2011-12

Current IB Mission StatementThe International Baccalaureate Organisation

aims to develop

INQUIRING, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CARING

young people who help to create a

BETTER and MORE PEACEFUL WORLD

through

INTERCULTURALUNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT.

To this end the IBO works with schools,

governments and international organisations 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.

FROM THE IB MISSION STATEMENT

“The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people”.

CAS is a personal development programme designed for you:Have fun and become MORE / A BETTER…

BALANCED

REFLECTIVE

INQUIRER

THINKER

CARING

KNOWLEDGEABLE

OPEN MINDED

PRINCIPLED

RISK TAKER

COMMUNICATOR

IBLEARNERPROFILE

AAS Mission

AAS empowers each student to• Respect self and others

• Love learning• Contribute as a globally aware citizen

in order to achieve individual academic and holistic

excellence.

C.A.S. Learning Outcomes

1. Raising awareness of strengths and limitations2. Undertaking new challenges3. Planning and initiating activities4. Working collaboratively with others5. Building capacity for perseverance and commitment6. Engaging with global issues7. Developing clearer, more coherent ethics8. Cultivating new skills * Reference: Skyline HS, August 2010 with slight modifications from IBO.org

Creativity, Action, ServiceCreativity, action, service (CAS) is a framework for experiential learning and reflection about that learning. This process of application and reflection provides an opportunity to extend what is learned in the classroom and, in turn, for the CAS experience to have an impact on classroom learning.CAS is intended to provide experiences for students to develop self-confidence and empathy, and a willingness to help others.They may directly confront or indirectly engage in work on global problems, or work directly with other people at a local level, developing their capacity to function collaboratively and effectively with others.The IBO’s aim of educating the whole person comes alive in a practical, demonstrable way through CAS, when students are involved in the community, whether at a local, national, or international level.The three elements of CAS are mutually reinforcing. Together, they enable students to recognize that there are many opportunities to learn about life, self and others, and to inspire confidence, determination and commitment. Creative and physical activities are particularly important for adolescents and they offer many favourable situations for involvement and enjoyment at a time that is for many young people stressful and uncertain. The service element of CAS is perhaps the most significant of the three, in terms of the development of respect for others, and of responsibility and empathy.

CREATIVITY

*personal challenge

*real tasks

*real consequences

ACTION

*physical exertion

*contribute to a healthy lifestyle

SERVICE

*must involve the development of an exchange relationship with a learning benefit

SERVICEACTIONCREATIVITY

ALL C.A.S. Activities

• must have a definite goal or outcome, and a

• personal challenge: tasks must extend the students and be

achievable in scope

• appropriate CAS activities CANNOT be just MORE OF THE SAME

• must be supervised

• Must not replicate other parts of the Diploma Programme

• Should be both challenging and enjoyable

Reference: Susanna Agostini

CAS HOURS & IB Requirements

* Concurrency of learning

* CAS activities should continue on a regular basis for as long as possible through the Diploma Programme.

* HOUR COUNTING is discouraged

* In order for students to receive their I.B. Diploma, they must complete the minimum amount of C.A.S. hours which is 3 - 4 hours per school week or 150 hours with a balance between Creativity, Action and Service.

C.A.S. HOURS at A.A.S.

* A minimum of 10 hours per month in any category. With a longterm individual goal to balance Creativity, Action and Service hours through the Diploma Programme.

* Reoccurring activities with clear goals

* Plan a Long Term C.A.S. Project

*All activities must be planned and meet the C.A.S. Learning Outcomes.

Build Your Own CAS Programme - remember this is about YOU!

Start with a these Guiding Questions1. What activity are you most proud of and how did it change you?2. What are you really good at? What qualities do you most admire

about yourself?3. What trait/quality/skill do you want to improve?

4. Identify one activity you’ve wanted to attempt but haven’t done yet? Why does it appeal toyou?

5. Identify an individual you admire. What is it about his/her character that makes him/heradmirable?

6. How have your values changed in the past three-five years?7. How do you see your place in the: immediate community, broader community, world

community? How has that perception changed over the past three-five years? How can you make a change?

What specific Activities can you do to fulfill your C.A.S. requirements?

* Too many to list. * Virtually any kind of activity for/with a school athletic team, a non-profit organization, or

an academic club would qualify. * Let your imagination soar: Organize and execute a fundraiser where students make

bracelets and then sell them to raise money for the Angola Project, compose an operetta, train for and participate in a mixed martial arts tournament, spend two hours putting together a video/slideshow of your Discovery Week trip for future participants.

Reference: Skyline HS, August 2010 with slight modifications by P.Assimakopoulos

Liguria

Cinque Terre

La Spezia

Imperia

Monaco

Genova

Milano

C

A

S

Now, can you think of realistic ways to design worthwhile, meaningful CAS activities, (simple but well structured, involving more people, producing some

good result, event, effect…) based on the following hobbies:

HOBBY ACTIVITY

Singing

Running

Playing an instrument

Reading

Cooking

Acting

Can you think of an activity which combines Creativity, Action and Service? Your CAS Project should focus on Service and aim to include the other two

elements of CAS.

Reference: Susanna Agostini

Therefore,

A GOOD CAS ACTIVITY

• Is new role for the student• Engages the student in a real task…• …which has real consequences• Provides the structure and means for reflection• Turns the student into a more active, aware,

responsible and compassionate citizen than he/she was before and than he/she would have been otherwise.

A GOOD LONG TERM CAS PROJECT

• Integrates the three elements of C.A.S.• Reaches out to the community;• Meets needs expressed by the people receiving help;• Does NOT generate expectations that can be disappointed in the future;• Thoroughly respects all those involved;• Sets up an exchange relationship with learning benefits for the students;• Is self sustainable and eco-sensitive;• Is replicable;• Involves the students in planning, carrying out and evaluating all aspects involved,

and in communicating the results;• Is open to new partners and actively involves people from different backgrounds,

age-groups, with different skills and needs;• Promotes use of different means and ways for reflection and result communication;• Sets an example for other IB schools.

Reference: Susanna Agostini

CAS is

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

i.e. LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE

which is only possible THROUGH

ONGOINGGUIDED (CRITICAL) REFLECTION

Reflections can be:• private or public

• written or oral

• can be expressed in different forms:

• forms• diary• song• poem• video• photo exhibition• drama• speech...

Reference: Susanna Agostini

PLAN your activities: CAS activities shouldn’t be executed

“on the fly.”

When planning, think: MORE hours at FEWER organizations.

The learning outcomes must be at the forefront of your mind as you plan your activities.

Your activities MUST address these outcomes to insure that you’re not just lackadaisically selecting different activities. For instance, several of our students have volunteered in service programs abroad where they were asked to (among other things) build a house. This most certainly…

i) Cultivated new skillsii) Engaged them with global issuesiii) Had them working collaboratively andiv) Helped them develop their ethics (among others)

PLEASE choose activities that will help you make decisions about life goals as well. Students considering a career in medicine might consider public health work, or volunteering in a biology lab doing research. When applying to Universities, you will be required to write a personal statement. Being involved in meaningful CAS activities can help you write a highly reflective personal statement.

At least some of the activities you do should be something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. I am afraid of sick people (not that I’ll get sick, I just can’t stand to see people suffering); an appropriate CAS activity for me might be to come play piano for an Alzheimer’s center.

Some—or even most—of your activities must have an international component. But this does not necessarily mean you must go build homes in Columbia for Habitat for Humanity. If you have any questions, I can help you find organizations which have an international component.

CAS cannot include…

More than 25 hours with a single activity as a junior or senior. This will ensure that you have “undertaken new challenges” as outlined in the learning objectives. It would be too easy for a member of a sport team to log 150 hours and never really stretch herself in the way that CAS wants. HOWEVER, a student could log >25 hours at a single organization, just as long as she was doing different activities.

Any work you do for pay.

Any work for which you receive class credit.

Any proselytizing (attempting to convert followers to your faith). However, non-proselytizing hours associated with a religious group may be included. Teaching a Sunday school lesson on “Sermon on the Mount,” doesn’t count because you’re proselytizing; teaching arts and crafts to a Sunday school class does count.

Any work that you do for family, immediate or extended (e.g., babysitting for aunt Sally for free.)

Passive activities. You must be doing something that requires active effort on your part. Visiting an art museum or attending a lecture doesn’t count.

Playing Halo/Hanging with your friends doesn’t count, unless it’s part of another organized activity. BUT organizing and playing in a Halo tournament to raise money for breast cancer DOES count.

Reference: Skyline HS, August 2010 with slight modifications by P.Assimakopoulos

LESS IS MORE More hours at fewer organizations

rather than fewer hours at more organizations. Why? Colleges like to see that you have stuck with an organization. Such a regimen also allows students to try out different duties within an organization. This not only facilitates personal growth, but by doing more hours within one organization, the volunteer coordinator at that organization can also write you a stronger recommendation. By “moving up the ladder” at the organization in question, you can demonstrate competence (to colleges and to yourself) by taking on duties with more responsibility. That’s good for both personal growth and your college application.

Reference: Skyline HS, August 2010

Instructions

Receiving the email:Once you have received the email, please click on the link provided to set your password and sign-in information. Please use your school email as a sign-in.

Web Access:After you have set up your password, you can access your account at aas.managebac.com

Initial Set Up:During the initial set-up you will be asked to complete some important information.

IB Diploma:Whether you are an IB Diploma student or not, please select IB Diploma.

Photo requirements:1. A current picture2. FACE (head & shoulders) pictures ONLY. Do not use full body shots.

Email Address:Only use the email address you provided the school. If you have changed email addresses, please see Mr.Assimakopoulos before you start setting up your account.

IB Exam/Plan Worksheet:Please ensure ‘Accepted Candidate’ under the Grade 11 tab is chosen.

Please select ‘SKIP this Step’ and proceed to the next page.

Access your ManageBac anytime. Login using your email address and password.

If you forget your password, there is an ‘I forgot my password’ option. The system will send you an email to reset your password.

After you log in, ManageBac will direct you to the OVERVIEW page.

Upcoming Events are displayed on top. Any activities/deadlines which have been recently modified will be displayed on the bottom.

C.A.S. GUIDE 2011-12

Adding a New Activity

Step One:Select the IB Manager tab. Select CAS from the drop-down menu.

Step Two:View the ‘What is CAS?’ video.

Step Three:Click ‘Add CAS Activity.

Make sure you have:1. the amount of hours you are PLANNING to

commit for the activity - do not worry, you can change this later

2. name and email address of the activity’s supervisor

CAS Project:There can only be ONE CAS Project. The CAS Project is the major service project you plan on completing during your 2 years.

Step Four:Dates can be approximate. But please try and be as accurate as possible.

Step Five:Please enter a VALID email address.

Unless this is an Out-of-School activity, please enter the following contact number: 111-222-33-44

If this is an Out-Of-School activity, you must receive approval from Mr.A before entering the activity on ManageBac.

Proposing a New Activity

Step Six:In your Description and Goals, provide as much detail about your activity as possible. This will help you in the future when you are reflecting on your goals and outcomes.

Also, address EVERY Learning Outcome in your description. How will this activity increase you awareness of your strengths and weaknesses, what new challenges will you undertake, etc, etc.

Failure to address the learning outcomes in your proposal will result in a rejected activity.

Step Seven:Once you have completed the form, click ‘Add CAS activity’ on the bottom right corner. Your proposal will be sent to the CAS Coordinator for Approval.

** You do not have to receive approval to EDIT or REFLECT UPON your activity. In other words, start compiling and recording information for your CAS worksheet

immediately. **

Reflections & CAS Questions

Reflections:Must be completed as often as possible. Reflections compare ‘What you currently achieved’ versus ‘What you expected to achieve’. Reflections are continual snapshots of an activity. Marking every learning experience; one step at a time.

** Always provide relevant examples when writing reflections.**

** Reflections are NOT limited to Journal Writing.**

CAS Questions should only be answered at the END of an activity. It is a detailed summary of your activity and learning outcomes.

** Always provide relevant examples when answering the CAS questions.**

CAS questions should provide examples of learning from experience. It should NOT be a recount of the activity. Remember, passive activities are not CAS. Be active in both your body and mind when you sign-up for a CAS activity.

Ask yourself: “What can I learn from this activity?” If you struggle with the answer before you start, you may need to reconsider the activity.