So What Is CAS?

International Baccalaureate - Creativity, Action, Service

Aside from the six academic areas there are three essential elements in every IB student’s Diploma Programme.

1. The Extended Essay

2. Theory of Knowledge

3. CAS

So what is CAS?

CAS involves three strands.

1. Creativity

2. Action

3. Service.

Creativity – arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking e.g

· A music student writing a new piece

· An art student experimenting with a new artistic style

· A geography student designing a sustainable home

Action – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing work elsewhere in the Diploma Programme e.g

· Rock climbing

· Training for and then running the Moscow Fun Run

· Participating in a school sport club

Service – an unpaid voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student

· A visit to a local orphanage

· Cleaning up rubbish in a park

· Volunteering at a local NGO

CAS is all about the EXPERIENCE and experiential learning involves more than just the activity itself:

· Planning

· Acting

· Observing

and

· Reflecting

“[Experiential] learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.” Kolb (1984)

Recording and Reporting CAS

As a student you need to document your CAS activities, noting in particular your reflections upon your experiences. To meet this end you will create a weblog. Things you may choose to talk about in your weblogs after each CAS activity may include:

· how you felt

· what you perceived

· what you thought about the activity

· what the activity meant to you

· what the value of the activity was

· what you learned from the activity and how this learning (for example, a change of perspective) might apply more widely

Assessing CAS

Their must be evidence of eight outcomes contained within your weblog for you to complete the CAS requirement. Below is an example of the student completion form which I use at the end of your CAS Programme which allows meet to evaluate whether or not you have successfully completed the CAS Programme.

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CAS Individual Student Completion Form

There is evidence that the student has:

Learning Outcome	Achieved? (yes/no)	Nature/Location of Evidence e.g Weblog (date)
Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth.
Undertaken New Challenges
Planned and Initiated New Activities
Worked Collaboratively With Others
Shown perserverance and commitment in their activities
Engaged with issues of global importance
Considered the ethical implications of their actions
Developed New Skills

Name of Cas adviser: ______________

CAS adviser’s signature: ____________ Date: _____________

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