CAS

Creativity, Activity & Service

In order to reinforce the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy that there is more to education than what occurs in the classroom, students pursuing the IB full diploma are required to complete the CAS requirement. The emphasis of CAS is on experiential learning. Students learn by doing real tasks that have real consequences and then reflect on these experiences over time. Students should select activities that they find intrinsically worthwhile and rewarding, as well as mutually beneficial to themselves and their communities. Students will be engaged in a combination of activities that meet the eight CAS learning outcomes while in the diploma programme.

CAS Learning Outcomes:

  1. Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth They are able to see themselves as individuals with various skills and abilities, some more developed than others, and understand that they can make choices about how they wish to move forward.
  2. Undertaken new challenges A new challenge may be an unfamiliar activity, or an extension to an existing one.
  3. Planned and initiated activities Planning and initiation will often be in collaboration with others. It can be shown in activities that are part of larger projects, for example, ongoing school activities in the local community, as well as in small student-led activities.
  4. Worked collaboratively with others Collaboration can be shown in many different activities, such as team sports, playing music in a band, or helping in a kindergarten. At least one project, involving collaboration and the integration of at least two of creativity, action and service, is required.
  5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities At a minimum, this implies attending regularly and accepting a share of the responsibility for dealing with problems that arise in the course of activities.
  6. Engaged with issues of global importance Students may be involved in international projects but there are many global issues that can be acted upon locally or nationally (for example, environmental concerns, caring for the elderly).
  7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions Ethical decisions arise in almost any CAS activity (for example, on the sports field, in musical composition, in relationships with others involved in service activities). Evidence of thinking about ethical issues can be shown in various ways, including journal entries and conversations with CAS advisers.
  8. Developed new skills As with new challenges, new skills may be shown in activities that the student has not previously undertaken, or in increased expertise in an established area.

All eight outcomes must be present for a student to complete the CAS requirement. Some may be demonstrated many times, in a variety of activities, but completion requires only that there is some evidence for every outcome. Creating “a better and more peaceful world” is a large aim. Working towards it should be seen as involving many small steps, which may be taken locally, nationally or internationally. It is important to see activities in a broader context, bearing in mind the maxim “Think globally, act locally”. Working with people from different social or cultural backgrounds in the vicinity of the school can do as much to increase mutual understanding as large international projects.

New CAS Guide (Class of 2017 & beyond)

Students will document all of their CAS activities on ManageBac. The NHHS ManageBac website link is: https://northhall.managebac.com