CAS Information Session

Mira Loma High School

What is CAS?Learning by Doing and ReflectingExperiential LearningFinding BalancePurposeful

Creativity (50 hrs)Arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.Definite goal or outcomePERSONAL CHALLENGE

Action (50 hrs)Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the Diploma Program. Reflection on goal achievement

Service (50 hrs)An unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected.

What is a CAS Activity?For an activity to be considered CAS-worthy, it must fulfill ALL FOUR of these requirements: 1. real, purposeful activities, with significant

outcomes2. personal challenge – tasks must extend the student

and be achievable in scope3. thoughtful consideration, such as planning,

reviewing progress, reporting4. reflection on outcomes and personal learning

CAS ProjectsStudents should be involved in at least one project that:

involves teamwork integrates two or more of creativity, action and service, and is of significant duration

Projects are opportunities to engage “with issues of global importance” such as poverty, human rights, elderly, etc.

CAS IS…Teaching children with disabilities to swim (a,s)

Coaching the softball team (a,s)

Teaching the guitar to a younger class (c,s)

Designing and constructing message boards (c,s)

Writing for a school newspaper (c,s)

Working with children to paint murals (c,s)

Teaching a language to children (c,s)

Gymnastics (a)

Exchanging artistic or musical skills with other local schools (c,s)

Inter-generational learning and friendship (c,s)

CAS IS …Leading a mountain expedition (a,s)

Organizing a camp for children (a,s)

Clearing oil pollution, litter and jetsam (a,s)

Running an emergency service (a,s)

Organizing a beneficial "walkathon" (c,a,s)

Raising funds for AI/Greenpeace/WWF (c,s)

Assisting victims of natural disasters (c,a,s)

Learning to paint watercolor landscapes (c)

Performing Wieniawski's Violin Etude No 3 on a Fender Stratocaster (c)

Joining a running club (a)

Learning to scuba-dive (a)

Playing on a softball team (a)

Gymnastics (a)

CAS IS NOT..A class, activity or project which already part of the Diploma ProgramAn activity for which you are rewarded financially or with some other benefitDoing simple, tedious and repetitive workWorking with others when the student

…has no idea of how the project operates…is just making food or repetitive task…has no contact will participants…actually does no service for others

CAS IS NOTA passive pursuit, such as visiting a museum, theatre, art exhibit, concert or sporting eventAll forms of duty within the familyReligious devotion and any activity that may be interpreted as proselytizingWork experience which only benefits the studentFund-raising with no clearly defined end in sight

CAS IS NOT…An activity where there is no leader or responsible adult on site to evaluate and confirm student performanceActivities which cause division amongst different groups in the community

Integrity and IntentA good guideline in figuring out if a certain activity is CAS or not, ask yourself this question: “how is this activity going to serve the greater good of my community?” If it doesn’t, then it probably isn’t CAS ATTITUDE is what counts, not hours. CAS is about real commitment, be involved with others, and giving of your time and talents. It’s not about counting. It’s doing it because you want to, not because you have to.

I got it, so now what?1. Follow the CAS Blog

2. Get on ManageBac

3. Read the CAS Handbook4. Submit a proposal5. Do It 6. Prove It7. Reflect on It8. Get Evaluated

CAS Bloghttp://miralomacas.wordpress.com/

Handbooks and GuidesDatesResources and ContactsTwitter Facebook (coming soon)

ManageBacMiraloma.managebac.comDistrict student Account (Google)

lastf1234@student.sanjuan.eduMmddyyyy

Welcome email from MB to set password (coming soon)

CAS Handbooks/GuidesIB CAS GuideMLHS CAS HandbookBoth on MB and Blog

Submit a Proposal (MB)• Meets the requirements, has a supervisor

Evidence of Parental PermissionParent on MB (see MLHS IB website)Upload parent permission form to CAS Docs on MB

YOU MAY NOT BEGIN UNTIL YOU RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE CAS COORDINATOR!!

CAS DocumentationAll CAS documentation is done using the software ManageBac Documentation may take many forms:

Journals, videos, photos, websites, uploaded documents, blogs, etc.

Its extent should match the significance of the particular activity to the student.

ReflectionFor each activity, a set of outcomes, from the

eight CAS learning outcomes, should be identified.

The reflections should address the identified learning outcomes.◦ Descriptive reflections that do not address the

identified learning outcomes are not appropriate.

ReflectionEach reflection needs to specifically and

ultimately answer these questions:◦ What did I learn from the activity? ◦ Which of the 8 learning outcomes did

this activity help me to accomplish and how did it help to me reach this learning goal?

How often should I reflect?

At least every one-two weeks Depends on the activity and varies from one person to

another. Whenever there is something interesting going on, you should reflect.

Activities that require no more than one reflection per month: ◦ routine activities like the Gym. ◦ Learning a new instrument for beginners.

Sports: once every other week to reflect on development of skills. Also, before and after a tournament.

Evidence of ParticipationAs part of CAS documentation, the students should provide evidence of participation such as: a certificate of participation in a workshop, a membership in a Gym, pictures of the event, etc.Evidence of participation does not replace reflection and vice versa

CAS QuestionsAt the end of a CAS project/activity, complete the CAS questions on ManageBac

CAS SupervisorSubmit to supervisor for reviewThey reply to an emailIf their email domain is not associated with an organization, back up the review with an uploaded review document.Required for EVERY CAS ACTIVITY!

CAS AdvisorChoose a CAS advisor, meet with them twice in the Jr. yearSr. year CAS advisor is your TOK teacher, who will do your final interview.

Timing75 hours completed by end of Jr. year (June 2012- June 201375 hours completed by beginning of spring Sr. Year (June 2013 – January 2014)