cas information session mira loma high school. what is cas? learning by doing and reflecting...

CAS Information Session

Mira Loma High School

What is CAS?

Learning by Doing and Reflecting

Experiential Learning

Finding Balance

Purposeful

Creativity (50 hrs)

Arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

Definite goal or outcome

PERSONAL 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 outcomes

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

3. thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, reporting

4. reflection on outcomes and personal learning

CAS Projects

Students 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 Program

An activity for which you are rewarded financially or with some other benefit

Doing simple, tedious and repetitive work

Working 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 NOT

A passive pursuit, such as visiting a museum, theatre, art exhibit, concert or sporting event

All forms of duty within the family

Religious devotion and any activity that may be interpreted as proselytizing

Work experience which only benefits the student

Fund-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 performance

Activities which cause division amongst different groups in the community

Integrity and Intent

A 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 Handbook

4. Submit a proposal

5. Do It

6. Prove It

7. Reflect on It

8. Get Evaluated

CAS Blog

http://miralomacas.wordpress.com/

Handbooks and Guides

Dates

Resources and Contacts

Twitter

Facebook (coming soon)

ManageBac

Miraloma.managebac.com

District student Account (Google)

lastf1234@student.sanjuan.edu

Mmddyyyy

Welcome email from MB to set password (coming soon)

CAS Handbooks/Guides

IB CAS Guide

MLHS CAS Handbook

Both on MB and Blog

Submit a Proposal (MB)

• Meets the requirements, has a supervisor

Evidence of Parental Permission

Parent 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 Documentation

All 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.

Reflection

For 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.

Reflection

Each 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 Participation

As 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 Questions

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

CAS Supervisor

Submit to supervisor for review

They reply to an email

If their email domain is not associated with an organization, back up the review with an uploaded review document.

Required for EVERY CAS ACTIVITY!

CAS Advisor

Choose a CAS advisor, meet with them twice in the Jr. year

Sr. year CAS advisor is your TOK teacher, who will do your final interview.

Timing

75 hours completed by end of Jr. year (June 2012- June 2013

75 hours completed by beginning of spring Sr. Year (June 2013 – January 2014)