The CAS Guide defines Creativity as "exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance*."
This strand of CAS emphasizes original thinking and expression, and the exploration of a student's talents, interests, passions, emotional responses, and imagination. The form of expression is limitless. It encompasses the visual and performing arts, of course, but also includes any area of creation and expression. Digital design, culinary arts, crafts, designing and building things can also fall into this strand. When demonstrating creative expression, students may showcase their product or performance in a variety of ways, for example, through a recording, an exhibition, a presentation, social media or shared discussion.
Creativity in CAS is not met by the appreciation of the creative efforts of others, such as attending a concert, play or art exhibition. Creativity in CAS must be distinct from, and may not be included or used in, the student's Diploma course requirements.
Approaches to Creativity
Creative experiences may take any of the following forms:
Ongoing creativity: Students continue with creative experiences they have had in the past, but are encouraged to further extend and develop their participation.
School-based creativity: Students may take part in school-sponsored activities such as musical groups, drama performances, elective classes or clubs.
Community-based creativity: This can include participation in local musical, theater or dance groups as well as lessons and classes.
Individual creativity: You may decide to pursue a creative endeavor in solitude, such as composing music, writing short stories, creating arts and crafts or developing a website. These kinds of experiences must include a plan (including risk assessment if necessary), personal goals and a method for sharing the product or performance. They should take place over an extended duration of time.
Examples of Creativity at ISP
Drama productions
After-school music activities
Clubs such as Speech & Debate and Robotics
Art and technology electives (not IB Diploma courses)
Private art, dance, music, cooking lessons or classes
*All of the information and quotes on this page are from the CAS Guide, 2015, published by IB. Some of the information has been paraphrased in the interest of brevity and clarity, and some has been taken verbatim.