Saturday 24 March 2018

Considering ethics of choices and actions


Over the next few weeks I am going to write about the 7 learning outcomes.  It is important that you show how you have reached each of the learning outcomes - you must have evidence and reflection to demonstrate that if you wish to 'complete' CAS and be eligible for the IB Diploma.  Some outcomes are easier than others to demonstrate. This week I am looking at 'ethics.'  Parts of this post are republished from posts I did for my last IB group.

CAS and Ethics

Considering ethics of choices and actions
This is one of the outcomes that many people find hardest to meet and reflect upon.  Here is an example.

A student in a dance performance had her leg in a cast after she tore a muscle and wouldn't be able to train with the other dancers in the last weeks leading up to the performance. The producers of the show had to make the decision to exclude her as she wouldn't have time to catch up when her cast was removed. Decisions like this that you have to make - accepting or not accepting people as part of a group, or their piece of work etc are important if difficult decisions that involve ethical considerations (Cannings et al.).

You can think about ethical decisions you have made in the following contexts: 
  • sport
  • dealing with other people
  • carrying out a service experience
  • in terms of academic honesty
  • reflection
Think about how often, "we make decisions in CAS relative to the feelings of our peer group."  This is especially so in experiences that involve working in groups.  I have met and spoke with some groups about this.  Who does the work?  Should everyone get equal credit?  These are the kind of questions that enable you to demonstrate that you have: Recognised and considered the ethics of choices and actions. 
Here is an example of what you might write: 
As part of this group......., we/I will have /have had to make decisions about who can be involved and in what capacity. It might mean that not everyone can have a chance to speak/go on a trip/have a leadership role.  I will have to think about my role as a leader or group member and be sensitive to the wishes of others and try not to hurt people's feelings, but also keep what is best for the group as a whole in mind. (Your example should mention specific decisions).

Source: Cannings, John, María Inés Piaggio, Peter Muir, and Tom Brodie. Creativity, Activity, Service CAS for the IB Diploma An Essential Guide for Students. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Pr, 2015. Print.

      I hope that this helps you to meet this outcome.  

Things to check this week:

      Have you got experiences for all the outcomes?  Have a look at the outcomes list.  



If you have a green mark next to the outcome - it means that you have reflected on it.  If you have a yellow mark it means that you have ticked it for this experience but haven't reflected on it yet.  If there is no mark you have no planned experience to meet that outcome.  You can see that the student above is missing 'Global Engagement.'

Dates

I am getting reviews requests from grade 12s now and I have noticed that many have incorrect dates.  Check the start and finish dates of your experiences.  You MUST always have at least one experience 'ongoing' to qualify for CAS.  You can get an overview by clicking the 'timeline' tab.

According to this student's timeline all the experiences are finished.  I know this is not the case.  You can always change you dates later on if an experience turns out to be shorter or longer than you expected but make sure that you have a no breaks - periods with no on going experiences.

Some great CAS going on around the school

Students are going to perform at a play  in English by refugees this weekend.  


GEA are selling T-shirts to raise money for a refuge for women.





The rhino group is going to sell books to raise money for the protection of rhinos through Acting for Rhinos.










Saturday 17 March 2018

Status Updates and FAQs

This week  I reset all the indicators and went through every single portfolio.  Many of you now have red or not flags often because of inactivity.  You must take the time to document your CAS or you will be at risk of not qualifying for the IB Diploma.  If you have a red flag, you are definitely in that category.

Check your start and finish dates - many of you have experiences the appear to be one day long.

What happens if I leave CAS to the last moment?

You will not meet the requirements for the IB Diploma.  You must show evidence of continuous participation in CAS over a period os 18 months.  Participation means not only doing and activity but also reflecting as part of it.  You cannot do that at the end - you must do it all the way along. The alternative will be to do CAS after you have finished and wait 18 months for a diploma.

What happens if I do not have a collaborative project?

You will not meet the requirements for the IB Diploma.  Everyone is required to have a project. You should have started it by now and finished it by the end of this term.

What if I do not do my project this term?

You will be very stressed next year when you have internal assessments, external assessments, extended essay, TOK essay, and mock and final exams to cope with.  There are some current grade 12s trying to get their projects done now and it is not easy.  Do not find yourself in that situation.



What if I do not get a green tick within 3 months of completing an experience?

Your experience will be deleted.  Some of you are reaching that deadline now.  I will be going through all the folders after the spring break and deleting anything in this category.  Make sure you have the correct dates for your experiences.

What if I cannot show that I have covered the 7 learning outcomes?

You will not meet the requirements for the IB Diploma.  Check that you have experiences for each of the learning outcomes.


What if I keep up-to-date with my reflections, evidence and project as well as meet all the learning outcomes and have a balance of creativity, activity and service?






Thursday 8 March 2018

Got a Green Flag? Great but keep adding to your portfolio.

Most of you have green flags and that is great.  It doesn't mean that you should stop working on your portfolio.  This week there were changes in about half of the portfolios - I get a message when you make a change!  Everyone should try to take at least 10 - 15 minutes each week to check and up-date portfolios.  Things to check are:

  • have I added evidence in the last month for long term experiences?
  • have I reflected on all my experiences around twice a term?
  • have I completed any finished experiences?
  • do I have  all the learning outcomes covered?
  • have I updated the CAS stages document for my project?
  • is my project going to be finished this term?
  • do I have a good balance between creativity, activity and service?

Some ideas for Creativity and Service

Essay Competition for Creativity
A great chance to do something creative, develop your essay writing skills and possibly win a prize.

NCH Essay Competition 2018

Register now to enter the NCH London Essay Competition. NCH is inviting competition essay entries from students in their penultimate year of secondary education.  Our selection of essay titles engages across a broad range of humanities and social sciences topics and we look forward to receiving entries from talented and intellectually curious students who show passion and academic potential in the humanities and social sciences.

Choose your essay title
  • Art History ‘Does contemporary art have social value?’
  • Economics ‘Can rich countries meaningfully help developing countries improve their standards of living?’
  • English ‘Does literature change anything?’
  • History ‘Is history dangerous?’
  • Law ‘Human Rights: Universal or a Western Construct?’
  • Philosophy ‘What is utilitarianism? Can it be defended?’
  • Politics & International Relations ‘Is war a pre-requisite for peace?
First place £2,000 cash prize, plus £1,000 for your school or college. Second place £1,000 cash prize. Third place £500 cash prize. Fourth-Tenth prizes £40

Giving out food to the homeless
I know quite a few of you have been helping out in the mornings with giving out food for homeless people.  There is a another group that does it on the weekend.  You can find the dates and times at https://www.meetup.com/Stockholmers-street-angels/








Serve Easter Lunch to elderly and others with limited resources (Information in Swedish - see me if you need help to apply).

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