CAS
Creativity - Activity - Service
Creativity - Activity - Service
IMPORTANT CAS DUE DATES
January 14, 2023: 7 CAS Experiences Submitted with Evidence & Reflections
June 1st, 2023: 12+ CAS Experiences & 2 CAS Interviews Completed
August 28, 2023: CAS Project Submitted
May 14, 2024: CAS Portfolio Completed
CAS is one of the three elements in the IB core Diploma Programme, along with TOK and the Extended Essay. It involves students in a range of enjoyable and significant experiences, as well as a CAS project.
The three strands of CAS, which are often interwoven with particular activities, are characterised 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.
CAS complements a challenging academic programme in a holistic way, providing opportunities for independent goal setting, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment.
Successful completion of CAS is a requirement for the award of the IB Diploma. Students reflect on their experiences and provide evidence of achieving the seven learning outcomes.
Length: 18 months and a balance between creativity, activity and service.
Three formal documented interviews throughout the two years.
Reflection is central to building a deep and rich experience in CAS.
A CAS portfolio serves as evidence of the student’s engagement with CAS.
A good CAS programme should be both challenging and enjoyable – a personal journey of self discovery.
What is not CAS?
If CAS becomes a points-scoring exercise, rather than an interesting variety of experiences that the student finds intrinsically worthwhile, then its purpose is lost. It is important that the spirit of CAS be considered at all times. Inappropriate activities for CAS are listed below:
Any class, activity or project, which is already part of the student’s Diploma Program
Any activity for which a student is personally rewarded either financially or with some other benefit (unless this benefit is passed on in full to a worthy cause)
Doing simple, tedious and repetitive work, like returning school library books to the shelves
Working in a retirement or children’s home when the student has no idea of how the home operates; has no contact at all with the people or children; actually does no service for other people
A passive pursuit, such as a visit to a museum, the theater, art exhibition, concert or sports event, unless it clearly inspires work in a related activity in which a student is already engaged
All form of duty within the family
Religious devotion and any activity, which can be interpreted as proselytizing
Work experience, which only benefits the student
Fundraising with no clearly defined end in sight
Activities, which cause division amongst different groups in the community
An activity where there is no leader or responsible adult on site to evaluate and confirm student performance
Getting Started
Step 1: Write you AIMS & Goals
Step 2: Identify the Learning Outcomes
Step 3: Write your Goals & Descriptions
Step 4: Reflections & Evidence
Step 5: CAS Project
Step 6: CAS Interviews
Types of Experiences -- There are 2 Types:
An Extended Experience: All activities involving 6 hours or more of work are considered Extended Activities. All Extended activities require a written reflection (a minimum of 10-15 sentences in a well-developed paragraph).
A Short Term Experience: All activities involving less than 6 hours of work are considered Short Term Activities. Short Term Activities also require a shorter written reflection (a minimum of 5-8 sentences in a well-developed paragraph).
Studies in Language and Literature
CAS experiences that could be derived from this subject group:
Creative Writing
Produce audio books for an organization servicing the blind
Write articles about IB or CAS for the school Flash or community paper
Raise awareness about issues in literature
Teach younger students how to debate
Write a movie/play script or make a movie/play
Language Acquisition
CAS experiences that could be derived from this subject group:
Develop a pen pal network
Provide language lessons for those in need
Develop language guides using technology
Creative writing in the language being studies
Write articles/blog on the culture of the language being studied
Produce materials explaining CAS in the language being studied
Mathematics
CAS experiences that could be derived from this subject group:
Maintain financial accounts for a local charity
Assist a sports club or team with pre and post fitness assessment statistical analysis
Host a math “event” for younger students and/or their parents
Learn how to file tax returns
Design and paint a mural celebrating math through the ages
Plan a math scavenger hunt at school to reveal all the place math is part of everyday life
The Arts
CAS experiences that could be derived from this subject group:
Create artworks to donate to hospitals, aged-care facilities, rfugeee centers
Create performances for local schools or aged-care facilities with an educational message, for example, how to better protect the environment
Compete in external theater competitions
Organize a flash mob
Create a mural for a children’s hospital or community center
Collaborate with NGOs to design posters for their causes or special events
Volunteer with a local theater group
Establish a virtual online exhibition to exchange student artwork with other chools around the world
Film theater and sports even ts
Organize a photo exhibition
Perform to raise funds for charities
Produce an infomercial for an NGO
Take dance lessons that lead to a performance
Individuals and Societies
CAS experiences that could be derived from this subject group:
Create displays and plan an assembly on history, particularly the area around he school
Record the oral histories of the old people living in the community nursing home.
Raise awareness of recycling at the school
Map resources in the local area, such as recycling centers, youth organizations or social enterprises, and initiate CAS experiences that extend and support these resources
Work with local initiatives that support the UN sustainable development goals
Arrange a simulation, a game or a school debate addressing local or global political issues for other students.
Investigate ways of contributing to strengthening peace and peaceful behaviors in and outside of school
Raise awareness of human rights through international and local organizations.
Support asylum seekers and migrants in integration in the culture and community.
Create a social enterprise addressing a community need.
Research the philosophy of CAS
Discuss and investigate ways of supporting the role of active citizenship in the local community.
Initiate a campaign that replaces bulling with respect for all within the school
Build a garden for those in need.
Sciences
CAS experiences that could be derived from this subject group:
Form an Astronomy Club and encourage elementary age study to join and become more aware of the universe
Raise awareness after testing local water quality
Raise awareness by monitoring air quality around the school
Create and maintain a nature reserve on campus
Help remove invasive species around campus and surrounding neighborhoods
Advocate healthy eating habits for younger students
Form a recycling club at school
Form a club to promote awareness of global environmental issues
Help measure fitness of athletes in school sports teams
Promote participation in physical exercise, for example, “walk to school” groups