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CAS
WHAT IS CAS?
CAS is experiential learning; that is, the emphasis is on learning by doing real tasks that have real consequences and then reflecting on these experiences over time.
According to the IB expectations, the students should spare at least 150 hours in two years for CAS. And there should be an equal distribution of time among Creativity, Action and Service.
The work carried out in the school teams and clubs constitute one third of the total hours stipulated for CAS work. Each student must engage in at least one international project.
Creativity is interpreted, as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of arts and other activities outside the normal curriculum and to include creativity by the individual study in designing and carrying out service projects. Examples of Creativity activities include
- Art projects in school's art rooms
- Reading and/or storytelling to young children
- Recording project (preservation of oral history and traditional music)
- Musical activities (band, choir, orchestra, rock group)
- Children's theatre
- Turning a school building (or a cultural centre) into centre for artists, drawing pictures on or painting a school building
- Drama productions
- Creative writing submitted to a literary magazine
- Display for an art show
- Taking photography courses
- Learning to play a musical instrument
- Group tuition in contemporary dance, jazz or ballet
- Design and Technology
- Information technology
- Dance performance
- Journalism (articles, interviews,.)
- Sculpture
- Debate
- Organizing a history walk
Action can include participation in expeditions, individual and team sports and physical activities outside the normal curriculum; it also includes physical activity involved in carrying out creative and service projects as well as training for service. Examples of Action activities include
- Coaching sporting activities
- Participation in competitive athletic or other sport events at the team or individual level
- Football
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Swimming
- Rock-climbing
- Paragliding
- Rowing
- Squash
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Gymnastics
- Modern dance
- Ballet
- Folk dancing
- Aikido
- Horseback riding
- Bicycling
- Tango
- Canoeing
- Scuba diving
Service is community or social service; it can include environmental and international projects. The community may be the school, the local district, or it may exist on national and international levels. Service activities are 'doing' things for others and with others and developing a real commitment with them. Examples of Service activities include
- Remedial Courses at a center for the students from low-income families
- Environmental projects (Tree planting, water purification projects, recycling paper collection, WWF, Greenpeace, etc.)
- Assistance at Symposiums and seminars at school
- Ceremonies
- An International project through UNICEF or a similar organisation
- Student Council
- Parents- Teachers Evenings
- Helping in the Self- Access Centre
- joint project with other Turkish IB schools
- Fundraising
- Regular blood donations (by students, parents , and teachers)
- Secretarial support for charitable organisation
- Contacting and cooperation with NGOs
- Handicapped Children
- Dogs and Cats Shelter: taking care of the abandoned animals
- Old People's Home Assistance: Letter writing for the elderly, socializing more with the people who don't get visitors, realizing how they live daily, entertaining them
- Orphanage trips and assistance: playing creative games, helping with their studies, organizing New Year and April 23 parties, providing toys, food, clothes, working in an orphanage in another country as a follow-up
- Helping the blind: realize how they live, playing football blindfolded, learning Braille, reading to the blind, helping to train guide dogs for blind people
- Hospital visiting and assistance: visiting sick children in hospital, entertain them as well as the recovering children, feed older patients, serve meals, etc..
- Museum volunteer work
- Campus radio operation
- Books onto tape for the blind
- Utilisation of emergency (fire, earthquake, first aid courses rescue services, civil responsibility team, civil protection organization assistance)
- Providing friendship and academic support to other students: tutoring, going on field trips, organising activities, donating clothing and toys, lunch buddies
WHAT IS NOT CAS?
- Any class, activity or project which is already part of the Diploma Programme.
- An activity for which a student is personally rewarded either financially or with some other benefit (unless this benefit is passed on in full to a worthy cause).
- Doing simple, tedious and repetitive work, like retuning school library books to the shelves.
- Working in an old people's or children's home when the student:
- has no idea of how the home operates
- is just making sandwiches
- has no contact at all with the old people or children
- actually does no service for other people.
- A passive pursuit, such as a visit to a museum, the theatre, art exhibition, concert or sports event, unless it clearly inspires work in a related activity in which a student is already engaged.
- All forms of duty within the family.
- Religious devotion and any activity which can be interpreted as proselytising.
- Work experience which only benefits the student.
- Fund-raising with no clearly defined end in sight.
- An activity where there is no leader or responsible adult on site to evaluate and confirm student performance.
- Activities which cause division among different groups in the community.
WHY CAS?
You will find the answer in the philosophy of CAS as well as in our school's aims, which says:
- Education does not begin or end in the classroom, and most essential elements of education may exist outside the school. We agree, don't we? As stated in the school's philosophy, these include developing a sense of tolerance, value and respect towards others, taking responsibility for your behaviour , developing your talent in sport and the arts, understanding the notion of fellowship, charity and community service, learning the importance of mental and physical health, and being sensitive to the environment .
- An international education must be involved in the development of young person's attitude and moral values.
- Serving to the community (local, national, and international) is a must for intellectual development and social awareness. Young people of today are going to be the authorities of tomorrow. You must deserve your position in the future.
- Creativity and Action are two important features, which a leader of the future should have. CAS will develop in you a spirit of discovery, modesty, self-confidence and self-reliance; it will encourage new skills and interests, and will inspire a sense of responsibility towards people everywhere.
How are CAS activities evaluated?
- Activity Self-Evaluation Form : This is a crucial moment when the students sit to fill out this official report. As each activity is completed, the students will fill out a copy of this form, in which they will evaluate their own performance.
- CAS Diary : Written in English reflecting student's performance in and dedication to an activity. The student evaluates the activity and him/herself; takes into account his/her skills, attitudes and values at the beginning of each activity; is objective and writes about his/her planning and organisation of each of the activities, mentioning your efforts and commitment. S/he will reflect on the extent of which s/he has developed personally as a result of the CAS activity; the understanding, skills and values s/he has acquired through the experience, how others benefited from the activity the extent to which s/he is aware of his/her own strengths and weaknesses. The "Guiding Questions" section of the student's handbook will be helpful in writing your diary. The student will also stick photos, programmes, newspaper reports, etc. into the diary. Electronic or video journals are possible but more difficult to manage.
- Videotapes, audiotapes, PowerPoint presentations will be used as evidence of student's activities.
- Oral reports, group presentations, or a presentation at the activity site is compulsory; this will show student's progress and could be formal or informal.
- Student Final Summary : to be written at the end of the two-year program.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Criterion A: Personal Achievement
The student demonstrates:
THE ABILITY TO MEET CHALLENGES, REGULAR PARTICIPATION, AWARENESS OF PERSONAL LIMITATIONS, PROGRESS IN THE NEW ROLE, LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE, HELPING TO SOLVE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS.
Criterion B: Personal Skills
The student demonstrates the abilities of:
THINKING CREATIVELY, RESEARCHING COMMUNITY NEEDS, PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, IDENTIFYING SUCCESS AND FAILURE.
Criterion C: Personal Qualities
The student demonstrates:
PERSEVERANCE, SELF-CONFIDENCE, A DEGREE OF HUMILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, PUNCTUALITY, COMMITMENT, RELIABILITY, INITIATIVE.
Criterion D: Interpersonal Qualities
The student demonstrates:
ADAPTABILITY, COLLABORATION, EMPATHY, RESPECT, A SENSE OF JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY.
Criterion E: Awareness of Global Issues
The student demonstrates:
AN ETHICAL APPRECIATION OF HUMANITARIAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TO GUIDE CHOICES OF ACTION FROM A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
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