The descriptions allow your coordinators and supervisors to clearly understand the 5Ws:
with whom you are working,
what you are doing,
where this experience will take place,
when you are doing it,
and perhaps even why this experience is important to you or the community.
Take some time to brainstorm at least one experience that will fulfill one of the three strands below and come up with a description of at least 3-5 sentences AND create specific goals that connect to at least 1-2 of the Learning Outcomes listed below. You will find an exemplar below. The worksheet at the bottom of this page can also help.
Many candidates see all of the boxes and just start clicking, like the top image to the right. They click most if not all of the Learning Outcomes for all experiences. You will have to write at least 1 reflection for every Learning Outcome goal you create, so limit your work a bit. Work smarter and not harder.
Instead, focus on 2-3 Learning Outcomes instead of more. Focus your attention a bit. Take some time to revise and focus on what you are clicking and writing.
In the middle image, the student identified the creative strand for Tae Kwon Do. I get that choice. The routines that martial arts students have to memorize, the mental discipline involved, etc. means that the candidate will certainly use her mind. Now, will she reflect on that part of the experience? She must if she wants to supervisor or me to approve the experience.
The lower image is just a problem. The candidate did not explain how he would sweat or be active during his involvement in the Advanced Leadership Program. Again, don't get click happy.
See the examples below as to how to offer a bit more detail in your description and set goals for each of the Learning Outcomes (LOs) you have designated. Skip a line after the description and add the specific Learning Outcome, along with a bullet point from IB's explanation of each Learning Outcome under the dropdown menu on this page. Then, add your specific goal, making them as specific and measurable as possible. Read more about goals here. I cannot approve an experience unless you tie goals to your chosen Learning Outcomes (and add hours and choose a strand).
This example fails to address the bullet points from IB's explanation of each Learning Outcome under the dropdown menu on this page. However, the candidate does identify specific goals, so I would most likely approve the experience. The only issue could be that this candidate may have some trouble writing a strong reflection that clearly demonstrates that the candidate achieved the Learning Outcome.
Don't forget the key elements:
Title: What is the name of this experience?
Strands: Circle the one that you will deal with: Creativity Activity Service
Dates: Start = _________________ End = _________________
Hours: estimate the total number of hours that you will spend on this experience
Description: What is a 3-5 sentence description of this experience?