Red Flag? What should you do?

I have been through all the CAS portfolios and you should all have received a message if you have a red flag. A red flag means that you are not really up-to-date with what you need to do.  Don't put it off as you must start your CAS now in order to make the 18 months required by the IB.

Things to check:

• Have you uploaded your Personal Profile?
• Have you uploaded your CAS proposal?
• Have you added current CAS experiences?
• Do all your experiences have clear descriptions and goals that relate to the learning outcomes that you have selected for that experience?

If you have done all of the above you should have a green flag.  

Next Step

Once you have a green flag and are on your way, you need to start uploading evidence and reflections where appropriate.  Don't wait until an experience is complete.  Get used to checking your portfolio for 10 minutes a week and adding anything you can.  Evidence can be photos, films, membership, gym attendance, training schedules etc.  Reflections should be done if you have something significant to report about.  They do not have to be done every week.  You will get some time to reflect in advisory class in groups as well.  We will talk more about this in the coming weeks.  

Learning outcomes and goals

It is important that there is a link between your goals and the learning outcomes.  If you choose - show commitment and perseverance in CAS activities - then you must make a goal that matches that learning outcome.

e.g. You are a member of a sporting team.  Your goal could be to train and participate at least 2 times a week.  Then you would need evidence to show that you have done this.

If you are going to the gym - your goal might be to attend 2 times a week - then you need to have evidence that you have done this.

If you choose - Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth - you need to show how you have done that.  

e.g. You participate in a fun run - your goal is to run the 50% of the distance as you know that you do not have a great amount of stamina.  You manage to run 50% so you have shown that you can increase your stamina but still need to develop it more.  Your strength was that you made it to the end of the run.  

Look at your goals.  Look at your evidence.  Do they match with your chosen Learning Outcome? Remember that is evidence and reflections that show that you achieved the Learning Outcomes along with the 18 months of CAS that determines whether you get a 'complete' at the end of the IB.

Volunteer Work

Keep an eye out on volontärbyrån later in the week.  Just now it is not possible to search the site as they are changing to a new system.  It should be up and running on Tuesday.