Creativity, Action, and Creativity, Action, and ServiceService(CAS)(CAS)International BaccalaureateInternational BaccalaureateKenmore West High SchoolKenmore West High School

Start with SelfStart with Self

CAS at the CenterCAS at the Center

CAS DefinedCAS Defined

Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking

Action – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the Diploma Programme

Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected.

CAS Program BasicsCAS Program Basics

The CAS experience, as a whole, should be evidence that students have:

increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth

undertaken new challenges

planned and initiated activities

worked collaboratively with others

shown perseverance and commitment in their activities

engaged with issues of global importance

considered the ethical implications of their actions

developed new skills

CAS Program BasicsCAS Program Basics

Creativity, action, service (CAS) should involve: 

real purposeful activities, with significant outcomes 

personal challenge – tasks must extend the student and be achievable in scope

thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, reporting

reflection on outcomes and personal learning

Levels of ActivitiesLevels of Activities

Project – Project – Large idea, made up of many Large idea, made up of many activitiesactivitiesExample: International Development TripExample: International Development Trip

Activity – Activity – Smaller action that supports the Smaller action that supports the overall project, made up of tasksoverall project, made up of tasksExample: organizing a garage sale fundraiserExample: organizing a garage sale fundraiser

Task – Task – most basic unit that supports the most basic unit that supports the projectprojectExample: working the table at the garage saleExample: working the table at the garage sale

The CAS TeamThe CAS Team

CAS Coordinator – CAS Coordinator – oversees the oversees the execution of the CAS program and execution of the CAS program and organizes the evaluation of student organizes the evaluation of student progressprogress

CAS Advisers – CAS Advisers – building-based building-based individuals who meets with students individuals who meets with students (about 10 students per adviser)(about 10 students per adviser)

CAS Supervisors – CAS Supervisors – organization-based organization-based individuals who works with student individuals who works with student directly at the task/activity/projectdirectly at the task/activity/project

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Reflection:Reflection:a key componenta key component

The fundamental questions of reflection The fundamental questions of reflection may be basic, but the answers may be may be basic, but the answers may be quite complex:quite complex:

What did I plan to do?What did I plan to do?What did I do?What did I do?What were the outcomes for the team, What were the outcomes for the team,

others, and me?others, and me?

Reflection:Reflection:a key componenta key component

Beyond the basics, students will consider:Beyond the basics, students will consider:

how they felt,how they felt,what they perceived,what they perceived,what they thought of the activity,what they thought of the activity,what the activity meant to the student,what the activity meant to the student,what the value of the activity was,what the value of the activity was,what they learned from the activity and what they learned from the activity and

how this learning (e.g. change of how this learning (e.g. change of perspective) might apply more widely. perspective) might apply more widely.