What do you see?

Being reflective is one of the IB Learner Profile attributes. It is defined in the following way: "We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development." (IB Learner Profile).

In CAS we specifically focus on affective reflection. Affective reflection looks at what students feel as a result of their experience. How has this experience changed their attitudes or opinions or sensitivities? The intention of reflection in CAS is to:

• deepen learning

• consider relevance of experience

• explore personal and group values

• recognise the applicaion of knowledge, skills and attributes

• identify strengths and areas for development

• gain a greater understanding of self and others

• place experience in a larger context

• generate relevant ideas and questions

• consider improvements in individual and collective choices and actions

• transfer prior learning to new situations

• generate and receive constructive feedback

• develop the ongoing habit of thoughtful, reflective practice

Students are not expected to reflect on every CAS experience - it is the quality not the quantity of reflection that is important. They should choose significant moments to reflect upon. Students may use any media they wish in which to reflect (videos, photographs, blogs etc.). Don't forget is is primarily through the quality of their reflection that CAS coordinators can determine whether students are meeting the learning outcomes for CAS.

From InThinking CAS

CAS Reflections can and should be individual and personal, but to help you get started, below some pointers.

TIP 1: Use the CAS Learning Outcomes to reflect:

1. Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.

What it REALLY means: When you leave your comfort zone, you learn things about yourself. For example, when you organized the fundraiser, were you patient with other people? If not, why not? Maybe you could try to improve this area of personal growth. When you saw those homeless people in town, were you shocked? If yes, why? Could this help you improve your perception of the world and help you become a more open-minded individual?

2. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

What it REALLY means: What have you done to push yourself? What was unfamiliar about it? What skills do you think you developed? For example, have you run a marathon? Set yourself a goal before embarking and develop new skills to achieve your goal.

3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.

What it REALLY means: This one’s easy! When you are organizing your CAS events or activities, just make sure you keep notes on how you organized them, who you contacted and what the organizational process was like.

4. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

What it REALLY means: All IB diploma students are thinking the same thing – why do we have to do this when we have so much to do already? You are not alone. We know this sounds unbelievable now, but you will benefit from it so much in the future. Whatever happens, keep going! Take one step at a time and you will reach your end goal. Talk about your struggles and how you overcame them!

5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

What it REALLY means: Participate in team activities. Simple. One of the best and most fun parts of CAS Trips is the team work. This can range from learning a new collaborative activity such as photography as part of your Creative strand to being involved in a volunteer group. You are stronger when you work in a team. Think of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lebron James – they are sports stars, but without their teammates they wouldn’t have accomplished what they have today.

6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

What it REALLY means: There are so many global issues right now it’s hard to know which one to support most. Global warming, the refugee crisis, homelessness, cancer research? Pick one per year and think what you can do to help that cause from where you are. Plan it. Initiate it. Do it. That’s CAS, folks! You can also have a look at the UN Sustainable Development goals and see which issue you are interested in and can tackle.

7. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

What it REALLY means: Your parents have been telling you this for as long as you can remember and your teachers joined in a little later: The things you do and the choices you make have consequences. Think about the CAS activities you are doing and how they affect others. Is what you are doing right or wrong? How?

Put the 7 Learning Outcomes into practice

Now that you've read about the 7 Learning Outcomes, there is no better way to bring them to life than by getting involved! Every CAS experience will incorporate some or all of these learning outcomes and help you achieve the goals expected and make you see that CAS can be fun.

TIP 2: Use the 'CAS Questions' on ManageBac to help formulate your thoughts and then create a full reflection form these.

TIP 3: Reflect on on-going experiences in the early phase, mid-point and at the end.