CAS Interviews

First CAS interview

There is a minimum of three scheduled CAS interviews during a student’s DP. Ideally, the first interview is scheduled during the very early stages of the DP. Prior to this interview, be certain that students have attended a CAS orientation and have access to relevant information. Students may also have attended one or more group sessions that review key elements of CAS, so they have an established understanding and look forward to their CAS programme.

Be sure to review some of the “Teaching strategies” chapters in the TSM for suggestions of diverse ways to introduce CAS in engaging and dynamic ways that inspire students. When these are done prior to the first interview, students may come to the first interview prepared, for example, by knowing their interests, being familiar with the learning outcomes or having several ideas that show they are approaching their CAS programme with meaning and purpose.

The purpose of the first interview is to:

• gauge the student’s understanding of CAS

• find out the interests of the student

• discuss the student’s plans for CAS experiences

• review the learning outcomes of CAS, ensuring his or her understanding and seeing how the student might achieve these outcomes

• ensure the student is aware of ways to gather evidence of CAS.

Second CAS interview

The second CAS interview offers an opportunity to find out whether students perceive CAS as enjoyable and as an opportunity to grow, expand and participate in a variety of worthwhile experiences. Further, it may be used to verify that the students understand CAS requirements, such as having a balanced commitment to the three strands of creativity, activity and service, and have carefully considered how they will achieve the CAS learning outcomes. The students can confirm progress with the CAS project, whether it is under way or will soon be started, and describe their personal involvement, roles and responsibilities in this project.

This interview is also a good time to review evidence of the students’ CAS programme as recorded in their portfolios. The CAS coordinator/adviser also provides general feedback on selected reflections and how the students' experiences relate to the learning outcomes, which can lead to revisiting diverse ways to approach meaningful reflection that, in turn, leads to depth of understanding.

The purpose of the second interview is to:

• discuss advancements in the student’s engagement with CAS

• provide oversight regarding the student’s progress towards fulfilling CAS requirements

• discuss collection of CAS evidence

• provide the opportunity for the student to reflect verbally on his or her CAS involvement.

Third CAS interview

The summative interview for CAS is best scheduled near the end of the DP. The emphasis for this interview is for students to outline how they have achieved the CAS learning outcomes in addition to discussing their overall CAS programme. Moreover, the students can be guided to reflect on personal growth from multiple perspectives including enjoyment, personal awareness and development, achievements and challenges, larger understandings about the world around them, and how this experience might impact future choices and actions. This can lead to self-evaluation regarding what has been beneficial that may truly lead to lifelong integration of creativity, activity and service.