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Creativity, action, service (CAS, or SAC in Austria) is a mandatory core component of the IB Diploma Programme. It aims to provide a 'counterbalance' to the academic rigour of the educational programme by requiring students to spend a minimum of 150 hours during their Diploma course participating in different activities that have a function of developing them creatively, physically, and socially. The component is often thought of merely social service, but it is in fact more than just that.
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CAS aims
The function of CAS is to allow IB schools the opportunity to "give students the means to learn through experience [and] how to take actions in the service of others."[1]
All the portions (creativity, action, and service) are vaguely defined and should, according to the International Baccalaureate Organisation, be interpreted as imaginatively as possible, so that a wide array of different activities can qualify for CAS. At least 150 hours are required, equally divided between the three areas, so there is a de facto requirement of at least fifty hours each. The learning outcomes and the quality of the CAS activity are of utmost importance.
Documentation
While individual schools or regions have different methods of documentation, all require some form of proof or the signature of the activity coordinator to be presented after completion of the activity. Students must also personally keep track of their total records in either a log or "diary" format. This allows for students to monitor their required hours and to present a coherent documentation of their entire CAS experience.
CAS performance and records are documented by the student using official forms (CAS/CP) that are submitted to the IB regional offices at the beginning of the examination session.
Assessment
CAS is not assessed, but a failure to complete and report the full 150 hours is a failing condition for the IB Diploma. However, the candidate has over one year to make up the 150 hours following the end of the course to receive the diploma. Those not doing the full IB Diploma but instead the associate program to obtain an IB certificate are only required to have 100 CAS hours.
Footnotes
- ^ Elisabeth Fox (2001). "The Emergence of the International Baccalaureate as an Impetus for Curriculum Reform". in Mary Hayden and Jeff Thompson. International Education: Principles and Practice (2nd ed.). Routledge. pp. 69. ISBN 0749436166.
References
- Creativity, action, service (CAS) ibo.org, retrieved 2009-06-05
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