Considering ethics of choices and actions

CAS and Ethics

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. 

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.

Mostly green flags!

Most people have managed to add a number of CAS experiences and have them approved.  The next step is to start adding evidence and reflection.  Each experience should have some evidence at least by the end of October.  You should also consider a good moment to reflect.  By the end of November, you should have evidence and reflection for all experiences.  

Projects

You should all have started planning a project by the end of November.  That means you have the CAS stages document in the evidence section of your CAS portfolio - with at least the first section filled in.  Please check the sharing settings so that I can see it!  If you are having trouble with a project idea, please see me.

Creative Cats

Can you knit, sew or crochet?  Or would like to learn?  Heart Cats is a project where

people crochet cats with small red hearts for children undergoing heart surgery. These follow a set pattern that can be found in English, Japanese and Swedish. Cats or other figures can also be made for siblings - the difference with these is that you do not have to follow a pattern or even crochet - you can let your imagination go wild.

Once completed the cats/animals are sent to the HjärteKatt organisation, which then distributes them to the children. If you want more information you can go the website - it is in Swedish so if you don't understand come and see me or ask a Swedish friend to help you.  Look at the very cute pictures here!

Turn Activity into service

There is a free app called: Charity Miles.  If you use this app when you are walking, running or cycling companies donate money to a charity that you choose from a list.  Sounds like a great way to get exercise and raise money for charity. It is available on Apple  and and through Google Play.  

Amnesty Group - congratulations!

The Amnesty group has worked hard to gather 142 signatures to protest about the imprisonment of Amnesty activists in Turkey.  The hearings started this week and 2 of the activists have actually now been released after over 100 days in jail to await trial later next month.  Let's hope that the voice of our students is heard and that all the activists can have fair trials.   Well done!