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International Baccalaureate

CAS Guide

AC Flora High School 1 Falcon Drive

Columbia, SC 29204

IB Coordinator: Virginia Tate Virginia.tate@richlandone.org

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IB Diploma Class of 2017 What is CAS?

Creativity: This aspect of CAS is interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of arts and other activities outside the normal curriculum that includes creative thinking in the design and carrying out of service projects or structured, personal improvement. This could involve doing dance, theater, music, art, or supervised tutoring, for example. You should be engaged in group activities, and especially in new roles, wherever possible. Nevertheless, individual commitment to learning an art form is allowed, where it respects the requirements for all CAS activities: that you set goals, reflect on your progress, and in some way benefit others through this activity.

Action: This aspect of CAS can include participation in expeditions, individual and team sports, and physical activities outside the normal curriculum; it also includes physical activity involved in carrying out creative and service projects. Action may involve participation in sport or other activities requiring physical exertion – such as hiking expeditions and camping trips. Try to get involved in group and team activities and in undertaking new roles, but an individual commitment is acceptable where the general requirements of CAS are met: you set goals, you reflect on your progress, and you benefit others. Creativity and action can be enhanced by incorporating the service component. If you are involved in arts and in physical activities, you might consider coaching young children, seniors in residential homes, etc.

Service: Service projects and activities are often the most transforming element of the Diploma Program. They have the potential to nurture and mold the global citizen. Service involves interaction, such as the building of links with individuals or groups in the community. The community may be the school, the local district, or it may exist on national and international levels (such as undertaking projects of assistance in a developing country). Service activities should not only involve doing things for others but also doing things with others and developing a real commitment with them. The relationship should show respect for the dignity and self-respect of others.

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WHAT IS NOT CAS?

It is important to consider the spirit of CAS! The purpose is lost if this becomes an hour counting exercise, rather than a rewarding experience.

Here are some examples of what would not count as CAS:

Any class, activity or project that is already part of your Diploma Program

An activity for which you are personally rewarded (financially or some other benefit like receiving a grade or credit) unless the benefit is passed on to a worthy cause

All forms of duty within a family

Religious devotion and any activity that can be interpreted as proselytizing

Work experience that only benefits the student

Fund-raising with no clearly defined end in sight

An activity where there is no leader or responsible adult on site to evaluate and confirm student performance. This adult cannot be a member of your family.

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Examples of CAS Activities

The International Baccalaureate has designed the CAS – the Creativity / Action / Service requirement – to ensure that all IB Diploma students are involved in extra-curricular activities as well as in academic pursuits. At AC Flora High School we encourage each candidate to design a CAS proposal that meets personal needs and interests, supports all CAS guidelines, provides challenge, and includes a balance of group and individual activities. In general, there is a lot of freedom in what you do, and the more creative you are in coming up with a good combination of activities, the more you will get out of the time you invest. Although many CAS opportunities will come along during your 11th and 12th grade years, you will be asked to have an overall plan prepared and approved early in your junior year. Among other expectations, this plan must also include one experience designated as a CAS Project. The following activities are intended to give you some ideas:

CREATIVITY = Personal Enrichment

Participation in Band / Chorus / Orchestra / Theatre performances* Private lessons in Music,* Art,* Dance, Theatre,* Photography,* etc.

(competitions, performances, shows, parades, recitals, and lessons associated with above ) Special classes taken outside of school that benefit others as well as yourself (Examples: a sign

language course, computer camp, etc.) Planning events and projects for school, community or other organizations to which you belong

*These activities may not be part of any class for which you will receive a certificate or diploma, or receive credit/grade.

*These activities count for the extra-curricular aspects of these activities (not for what you complete in class)

ACTION = Physical Fitness Sports teams Recreational teams that are coached by an adult Club activities which involve physically active participation Scouting activities Taking an aerobics/pilates/yoga class; supervised ‘working out’ at a health club (personal trainer) Dance classes and recitals

SERVICE = Reaching out to Others Locally and Globally Volunteering at a hospital, nursing home, public library, museum, animal shelter, etc. Participating in a summer or weekend community work project Working with Habitat for Humanity or other similar projects Participation in school service club projects

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Church or youth group service projects of an outreach nature (that do not proselytize) Representing AC Flora in athletic and academic competitions

o All Supervised by an advisor (who is not a family member)

Some things do NOT count toward CAS … When in doubt about whether a given activity qualifies as a CAS activity, it is always a good idea to check with the IB Coordinator. The International Baccalaureate does not recognize activities such as the following:

Unsupervised tutoring or helping a friend with his/her homework Activities in which you proselytize your religious beliefs to others or do work affiliated with a political party Volunteer work with a business or other “ for-profit” organization Self-taught skills, projects, or activities without a supervising adult instructor Special classes that focus on self-benefit, like SAT preparation or Driver’s Education

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Sample CAS Activities

The letters C, A and S correspond to “creativity,” “action” and “service.” Depending on the details of the activity, not all categories will apply.

Physical assistance to the elderly (S)

A structured series of visits to a home for orphans (S)

Helping with rehabilitation at the local hospital (S)

Teaching basic literacy (C,S)

Establishing and coaching a sports team for disadvantaged youngsters (C,A,S)

Establishing and leading a musical ensemble for visually impaired people (C,,S)

Involvement in a theatrical production to which refugee children are invited (C,,S)

Teaching the use of computers (C,S)

Environmental restoration and protection (A,S)

Teaching children who have a disability to swim (A,S)

Coaching a softball team (A,S)

Teaching guitar to children (C,S)

Writing for the school newspaper (C,S)

Working with abandoned children to paint murals in their institution (C,S)

Teaching English to newly arrived immigrant children (C,S)

Inter-generational learning and friendship (C,S)

Leading a mountain expedition (A,S)

Clearing a beach of oil pollution or litter (A,S)

Organizing a walk-a-thon to raise money for guide dogs (C,A,S)

Organizing student participation in and raising funds for the Model United Nations (C,S)

Raising money for Amnesty International/Greenpeace/World Wide Fund for Nature (C,S)

Creating and maintaining a service-oriented website (C,S)

Assisting victims of a natural disaster (C,A,S)

Learning to paint landscapes ( C )

Learning to scuba dive (A)

Gymnastics (classes, team practice, competition) (A)

Joining a running club (A)

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What to Do

Planning

CAS this summer

Beginning in your junior year, you will submit CAS proposals through Managebac. Over the summer, record work you do on the chart at the end of this document. You will enter that information into Managebac when you are given access.

Doing CAS

CAS Online Documentation As you complete each activity, you will submit documentation online in a CAS management system-ManageBac. The documentation consists of an activity description and uploading evidence in varying formats. In addition, there is a “CAS Completion Form” that is electronically sent to your supervisor. It is important to get a good email contact for all supervisors of your work. Let them know that they will receive an email to verify the work that you have done.

Documentation Deadlines:

CAS is a requirement of the IB, and failing to complete CAS is a failing condition for the Diploma. Therefore, any student who does not complete CAS hours during the junior year will not be permitted to continue to the senior year. Twenty five hours of CAS will be due at the end of each quarter. Your first 25 hours will be due one week before the end of first quarter of the junior year.

Guiding Questions for CAS Activities

Is the activity a new role for me?

Is it a real task that I am going to undertake?

Does it have real consequences for other people and for me?

What do I hope to learn from getting involved?

How can this activity benefit other people?

What can I reflect on during this activity? Your CAS activities should involve:

Deep involvement (rather than a passive role)

Real value (for the student and other people)

Real reflection (you can find meaning in what you accomplished)

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Evaluation of CAS

CAS Hours

The focus is the experience and reflection upon the experience, not the mere logging of hours. Hours recommended support depth in an experience that enhances successful documentation: You need approximately150 CAS hours documented with CAS evidence and supervisor’s evaluation. The 150 hours is approximately the equivalent of half a day per school week (3-4 hours per week), with a reasonable balance between creativity, action and service. To provide a meaningful experience and opportunity for reflection, an activity should occur for at least 15 hours: ≈50 hrs. Creativity ≈50 hrs. Action ≈50 hrs. Service These hours are submitted online through ManageBac when an activity is completed.

CAS Evidence

A minimum of ten pieces of evidence in varying formats must be submitted. This evidence, submitted through CAS ManageBac, may be journal entries, photos, uploaded documents, videos, blogs, and websites.

CAS Activities

Guidelines require that candidates engage in at least two different type activities per category C/A/S. For example, for action, a student may use AC Flora soccer one year and Marching Band another. Therefore, 6 activities would fulfill at least 6 pieces of evidence of the 10 required.

A student must engage in at least one activity that integrates two or more of the categories C/A/S.

A student must assume a leadership role in at least one activity.

A student must engage in at least one collaborative activity.

A student must provide evidence that the eight learning outcomes were addressed.

One activity must be designated as a CAS Project.

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CAS Project The CAS Project is one activity of the minimum six that addresses the following expectations. Each student must designate a CAS project:

Must take place over an extended period of time: junior year, senior year or both.

Must incorporate at least two of the three categories C/A/S

Must be collaborative with others.

Must involve some planning and initiating of activities during the project.

Must, in some way, challenge toward a new role.

Must include some global and/or ethical implications.

CAS Learner Outcomes

Through any or all activities, a diploma candidate must provide evidence of meeting these 8 outcomes:

Increased your awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth

You are able to see yourself as an individual with various skills and abilities,

some more developed than others, and understand that you can make choices

about how you wish to move forward.

Undertaken new challenges

A new challenge may be an unfamiliar activity, or an extension to an existing one.

Planned and initiated activities Planning and initiation will often be in collaboration with others. However, you yourself must be in a leadership role.

Worked collaboratively with others Collaboration can be shown in many different activities, such as team sports, playing music in a band, or helping in an after school elementary program. At least one project or activity must involve collaborative experiences.

Shown perseverance and commitment in activities At a minimum, this implies attending regularly and accepting a share of the responsibility for dealing with problems that arise in the course of activities.

Engaged with issues of global importance

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You may be involved in international projects, but there are many global issues that can be acted upon locally or nationally (for example, environmental concerns, hunger, caring for elderly).

Considered the ethical implications of one’s actions Ethical decisions arise in almost any CAS activity of dedicated time engagement. Examples are in unique club experiences such as YIG, leadership roles, and in relationships with others, particularly children. Evidence of thinking about ethical issues can be shown in various ways which should include reflective writing.

Developed new skills As with new challenges, new skills may be shown in activities that you have NOT previously undertaken, or in increased expertise in an established area.

All eight outcomes must be present for you to complete the CAS requirement. Some may

be demonstrated many times, in a variety of activities, but completion requires only that

there is some evidence for every outcome. The focus on learning outcomes emphasizes

that it is the quality of a CAS activity (its contribution to your development) that is of

most importance.

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TIPS FOR POSTING EVIDENCE ON ManageBac

JOURNALS:

Entries should be in real time, not completed months later. The dates of entry are recorded on the website. Entries should be timely to be acceptable.

The number of entries directly relates to the duration of the activity. For example, one extended entry would be appropriate for a one week event. For activities of longer duration, 3+ is more appropriate, representing the beginning, mid-point, and end of the activity. If you are not sure what might be appropriate, ask the CAS Coordinator for a decision in the matter.

PHOTOS:

If the activity is with a team or group, then the photo should include you interacting with that team or group. A posed team or group photo that represents the activity is also acceptable. You should be clearly recognizable in the photo.

If the activity represents individual participation, the photo should present you engaged in a real time activity. Avoid individual posed photos NOT in real time, for example posing at home in a team logo tee shirt or studying at home for an enrichment course. You should be clearly recognizable and engaged in the real time activity.

Two type photos are acceptable evidence: individual and team/club. FILES:

All uploaded files should be easy to access, download, and WORK.

If you scan a document as evidence (like a certificate of completion), it must be legible and clearly provide evidence of your participation using appropriate attribution (your name, dates, official organization).

WEBSITES:

Websites can be used to verify the purpose or goals of the organization in which you are involved.

A website alone, however, does not provide clear evidence of your participation unless there is a photo of you or attributed credit to you that is easily identifiable and accessible.

YOUTUBE and videos:

YouTube is excellent to provide evidence and documentation for individual or group performances. You must be clearly visible in action in this video.

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Any video used as documentation must present you in a real time event representing the activity. You must be clearly visible in any video.

BLOGS:

Blogging is an easy way to complete real time journaling, reflecting, and photo captioning in a timely manner.

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CAS TIME LOG FORM

This is NOT a required documentation piece. Use as a tool to log hours over the summer so

that you can easily enter them when you return to school in August.

Date

No. of Hours

C

A

S

Type of activity

completed

Supervising Adult’s

Name/Contact Info

(Use this log to record hours in one activity.)