Creativity, activity, service

Creativity, activity, service (CAS) is one of the three essential elements that every student must complete as part of the Diploma Programme (DP).

Studied throughout the Diploma Programme, CAS involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies.

It is not formally assessed. However, students reflect on their CAS experiences as part of the DP, and provide evidence of achieving the seven learning outcomes for CAS.

Educators at IB World Schools can read about the seven learning outcomes in the CAS guide, which is available in the IB store and the Programme Resource Centre (PRC).

How is CAS structured? 

The three strands of CAS, which are often interwoven with particular activities, are characterized as follows:

• Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

• Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the DP.

• Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected.

In order to demonstrate these concepts, students are required to undertake a CAS Project. The project challenges students to:

• show initiative

• demonstrate perseverance

• develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving and decision making.

What is the significance of CAS?

CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development by learning through experience.

It provides opportunities for self-determination and collaboration with others, fostering a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from their work.

At the same time, CAS is an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the DP.

IB guidance on CAS

A good CAS programme should be both challenging and enjoyable – a personal journey of self‑discovery.

Each student has a different starting point, and therefore different goals and needs, but for many their CAS activities include experiences that are profound and life‑changing.

CAS is a component of the DP core.

A few things to remember:

1.CAS covers 18 months - (count your months on the timeline in Managebac) - CAS starts the first day of school your junior year and ends April 15th.

2. You need a reasonably balanced number of hours in each category - Creativity (your own creativity), Activity (physical exertion = you moving)  and Service (benefit to others). 150 total

3. CAS Project - includes at least one strand (C,A,S), one month duration and includes collaboration, you initiating and planning. The CAS project is part of the 18 month/hours requirement. Use the icon in Managebac to note your CAS project.

4. For each activity in Managebac you are required to have on the REFLECTION and EVIDENCE TAB, your reflection typed into Managebac and your evidence, both appearing on that tab. Your proof cannot be from family members or students.

5. You need to obtain all 7 learning outcomes over the 18 month commitment. Check your graph in Managebac to make sure you have achieved all 7.

6. Activities cannot earn a grade, money, or fulfill an IB diploma requirement (IA, Group 4, etc.).

7. Green check marks by your activities indicate completed (activity is approved, reflection, and proof attached).

8. Remember do not assume that Mrs. Ellis or the person from IB will know what your activity is. In your reflection the reader should be able to tell what happened, why it happened, who benefited, what did you learn, etc.

I look forward to seeing all the interesting activities you have chosen for this requirement of the IB Diploma.