Subject Guide

IB - CREATIVITY, ACTION AND SERVICE (CAS) Supervisor – Mr Matt McLaughlin Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is at the heart of the IB Diploma Programme. It is one of the three essential elements in every student’s Diploma Programme experience. It involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. The three strands of CAS, which are often interwoven with particular activities, are characterised as follows: • Creativity: arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking. • Activity: 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 enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning. At the same time, it provides an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the rest of the Diploma Programme. The Programme involves: Successful completion of CAS is a requirement for the award of the IB Diploma Programme. CAS is not formally assessed but students need to document their activities and provide evidence that they have achieved eight key learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are differentiated from assessment objectives because they are not rated on a scale. There is no provision to quantify CAS (ie, you do not have to meet any ‘hours spent’ requirements). The CAS programme we offer at Somerset College is both challenging and enjoyable; it is a personal journey of self– discovery. Each individual student has a different starting point, and therefore different goals and needs, but for many their CAS activities include experiences that are profound and life–changing. WHO IS THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME FOR? Obviously, access to universities throughout the world is a major attraction of IB, both for families of international business people and diplomats, and for local students. Most students who undertake the IB Diploma Programme course at Somerset however, have little thought for overseas study. Instead they are attracted by the intrinsic qualities of the IB Diploma Programme curriculum itself and how well it prepares them for university studies. Features which students expressly value include its academic rigour, its breadth and balance, its emphasis upon learning to think for oneself and the development of the skills of individual research and self–directed, efficient study which has subsequently been found to be so important at university. Although the IB Diploma Programme successfully challenges able students, it has far wider appeal. Anyone who has a reasonable chance of ultimately being able to cope with University study can also cope with the IB Diploma Programme. This is a course which is suitable for any student who intends doing tertiary study and who has developed an interest in learning and a self–motivated approach for study. Somerset College achieves excellent IB Diploma results. COST OF THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME Students and their families are expected to pay for the student’s registration and examination fees in the IB Diploma Programme, as these constitute an optional cost in addition to the annual College fees. As noted on page 4, the largest amount payable by Year 12 students mid-2020 will be approximately Singapore $1,050 (approximately AUD $1,020). This is for the full IB Diploma Programme, and is an estimate only as the IB adjusts its fees slightly each year. The College believes that the benefits to the College and the student body far outweigh the cost. As a result, students are not expected to meet the additional charges associated with membership and implementation of the IB Diploma Programme course. • Real, purposeful activities, with significant outcomes • Personal challenge – tasks that extend the student and are achievable in scope • Thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, reporting • Reflection on outcomes and personal learning.

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