The CAS Portfolio

You are expected to maintain and complete a CAS portfolio on Managebac as evidence of your engagement with CAS.

The CAS portfolio is meant to be a collection of evidence that showcases your overall experience and will be a source of pride for years to come!

You should include reflections in your CAS portfolio that give evidence to achieving each of the seven CAS learning outcomes. The CAS portfolio can also reveal how you have met the learner profile traits. The CAS portfolio is for your private use; it is not formally assessed, however it may be requested by IB to moderate the CAS programme at ISB. Your Tutor, CAS Coordinator and Diploma Coordinator will access your CAS portfolio throughout the CAS Programme.

You are expected to update your CAS portfolio regularly.

Types of CAS portfolios

Your CAS portfolio can be presented in any way that you want to - a scrapbook, video log, blog, files, website, wall displays....however it must be linked back to Managebac via a URL, photographs or scans.

You do not need to use the same format for all your CAS experiences. Points of consideration when choosing a method include the ease of access for CAS advisers or coordinators, ease of monitoring, public versus private sharing, costs for you and uploading functions. Be creative!

Sample format

Your portfolio should contain 3 essential aspects - “Profile”, “Experiences” and “Evidence”.

These sections are intended to assist you to better understand your engagement with CAS, reflect on your experiences and provide evidence of your experiences and personal CAS journey.

Note: These three sections are offered only as an example of one way to organise a portfolio and the process that you should be considering throughout your CAS journey. They do not have to be articulated as explicitly as this.

Profile

This is where you would include your goals, interests, skills and talents and plans for your CAS programme. At the start of CAS, you should map your interests against the three strands of CAS to identify possible CAS experiences, creating a personal profile.

Consider how your own personal value systems align with the values expressed by the IB, with a particular focus on the IB learner profile, could help you to develop your personal profile.

In addition, developing an awareness of yourself in relation to the CAS learning outcomes is a significant part of the profile. Through an understanding of the CAS aims and outcomes, you will be able to identify both short-term and long-term goals in your CAS programme. instead of simply 'doing' CAS.

Throughout CAS, you should add reflections regarding your ongoing personal development and self-awareness.

Experiences

This section would chronicle your CAS journey, incorporating a variety of:

• reflections,
• learning moments,
• personal achievements,
• significant opportunities
• how you have utilised the CAS stages.

This section would demonstrate that the you have actively engaged in your individual CAS experiences to create a personal, continuous and balanced CAS programme.

Evidence

This section is the collected evidence of your involvement in the CAS cycle and your achievements. Evidence could include, but is not limited to:

• planning documents,
• letters,
• emails,
• certificates,
• acknowledgments of participation and achievements,
• photographs,
• videos etc.

You could correlate your involvement with the learning outcomes and may extend your thoughts to future ambitions within and outside of the CAS programme.

CAS interviews

During the three scheduled CAS interviews, your CAS portfolio will be discussed and appropriate encouragement and advice are given.

Notes and recommendations from these consultations should be briefly documented and included in your CAS portfolio on Managebac - your CAS Advisor/CAS Coordinator may add a note, but you should always take responsibility for documenting feedback and what actions you are going to take as a result of a discussion. Remember that this could be a sound recording of the conversation or typed/handwritten and scanned notes.

If any concerns arise, especially about whether a you will successfully complete the CAS requirements, these will be noted in the CAS portfolio and appropriate action will be taken at the earliest opportunity. For this reason, the CAS coordinator or adviser will be checking the CAS portfolio regularly - no evidence = a problem!

The CAS portfolio demonstrates ability, engagement and evidence of your CAS experiences. You must ensure that your CAS portfolio is up to date, relevant, reflective and comprehensive. It could be a valuable addition to your application to a prospective employer or educational institution so see it as an investment in your future!