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Challenge & Skills is one of the seven CAS learning outcomes which are chosen when starting a new CAS experience/project. Challenge & Skills involves developing new skill sets and facing new challenges that are unfamiliar to the student.
Selecting the challenge and skills learning outcome for your CAS project/experience will add challenge and skills-related questions to your CAS Questions reflection form on ManageBac that are obligatory to answer.
Examples of Challange & Skills projects/experiences are those which encourage students to develop new skill sets and persevere in the face of difficulties. Examples of Challenge & Skills experiences are found below:
Learning to code: A student might challenge themselves to learn how to code. They could start by learning basic programming languages and gradually work their way up to more complex programs. Through this project, the student would develop their problem-solving skills, technical skills, and creativity.
Starting a business: A student might challenge themselves to start their own business. They could identify a need in their community and develop a product or service to meet that need. Through this project, the student would develop their entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and business acumen.
Participating in a debate club: A student might challenge themselves to participate in a debate club, where they would learn how to argue effectively and present persuasive arguments. Through this project, the student would develop their communication skills, critical thinking skills, and confidence.
Learning a new instrument: A student might challenge themselves to learn how to play a new musical instrument. They could take lessons, practice regularly, and perform in front of others. Through this project, the student would develop their musical skills, creativity, and discipline.
Training for a triathlon: A student might challenge themselves to train for a triathlon, which involves swimming, cycling, and running. They would need to develop their physical fitness, endurance, and time-management skills. Through this project, the student would develop their physical fitness, perseverance, and goal-setting skills.
Overall, a Challenge and Skills project should be designed to help the student develop new skills, take on new challenges, and become more resilient in the face of adversity. The project should be challenging enough to stretch the student's abilities, but also provide opportunities for personal growth and development.
The International Baccalaureate CAS programme has several learning outcomes, one of which is "Challenge and Skills." In order to fulfill this learning outcome, students must meet the following requirements:
Undertake new challenges: Students should engage in new and unfamiliar activities that challenge them to develop new skills and knowledge. This could include learning a new language, trying a new sport, or participating in an activity they have never tried before.
Demonstrate perseverance: Students should demonstrate persistence and resilience when faced with challenges. They should not give up easily, but rather find ways to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
Develop new skills: Students should develop new skills that are relevant to the activities they are undertaking. This could include communication skills, leadership skills, or technical skills.
Reflect on their experiences: Students should reflect on their experiences and consider how they have developed new skills and overcome challenges. They should identify areas where they have shown growth and set goals for future development.
Overall, the "Challenge and Skills" learning outcome is designed to encourage students to take on new challenges, develop new skills, and become more resilient in the face of adversity.
NOTE
This list may not constitute the full list of requirements for this strand as observed by your CAS advisor. This means that your CAS advisor may have specialized requirements which you must achieve in order to use this learning outcome. If you are unsure if your project meets these requirements, consult your advisor.
The Challenge & Skills learning outcome received a difficulty rating of 1.8 according to Diploma Programme students at the International School of Breda placing this learning outcome as the second least difficult to complete outcome or 6th in difficulty (Out of 7).
The Difficulty Rating
The difficulty rating is a spectrum created to measure how much students struggle with CAS learning outcomes. A group of CAS students is asked to rate each learning outcome on a scale of 1-5 on its difficulty level and the average rating is the difficulty rating. All the averages are then laid out and ranked from highest (Hardest difficulty) to lowest (Easiest difficulty).
Assessment of Difficulty Rating for Challenge & Skills
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: 1.8/5
Ranking: 6th in difficulty (Out of 7)