Preparing for the final interview

After sports break, I will start doing the final interviews for CAS.  Some of you will still be participating in experiences up to the beginning of May but others will have already done the 18 months by the end of March.  You can still do your final interview even if you have an open CAS experience.  Your portfolio will not be complete until all experiences are closed and you have done the final interview.

How do I prepare for the interview?

In some ways this is the most important interview as you need to show that you meet the requirements for CAS.  The main things that I will ask you to show me are:

• evidence of 18 months (or nearly at the time of interview) participation
• evidence and reflection for each of  the 7 learning outcomes
• evidence of creative, active and service experiences - should be a good balance of all 3
• reflection on the IB learner profile attributes.

You can do this in various ways but it must be done before the interview and added to your CAS portfolio documents before the interview.

In the past students have made posters, or visual representations of their achievements or written a text explaining their achievements. This is the basis for our discussion at the interview.

You can see some visual documents here and here or here.  Just note that some of these were done in the old CAS system with hour requirements and 8 learning outcomes but they should give you an idea.

If you have been diligent with your CAS portfolio this will be easy.  You can just past reflection for each outcome onto your document/poster.  If you want to make a big poster on paper, please do - just take a picture to upload onto your portfolio.

What kinds of questions will I ask?

This is a sample of the list from the IBO - the complete list can be found here

 What did you most enjoy about CAS?

 What have you achieved through CAS?

 What have you learned about balancing your time with your choices and commitments?

 Describe your CAS project: how you planned, who collaborated, your roles and responsibilities and the results of your collaboration. How were your expectations met or exceeded?

 What did you learn about yourself and others?

 What have you learned through working in collaboration with others?

 How did you improve and develop your planning skills?

 What could be improved about the way CAS is organized in school?

 What advice do you have for upcoming CAS students regarding making CAS enjoyable, sustained

over time and meaningful?

 Five years from now, what will you remember most about your CAS programme?

What does the IB say about the final interview?

This is the summative interview for CAS. It may well be just before the Diploma Programme finishes. In this interview the student outlines how they have achieved the learning outcomes for CAS. In addition, they discuss and evaluate their overall CAS programme and reflect on personal growth. The student’s CAS portfolio is used as reference in this interview. This third interview may provide the opportunity for discussion on development of the CAS programme for future CAS students based on this student’s personal

experience.

Creativity, activity and service guide - IBO March 2105

Congratulations to our rhino group!

They recently received certificates thanking them for their contribution to the the KZN Rhino project.

Why do I have a red flag?

If you still have a red flag it is because there is something that you need to fix.  I have done a very thorough check of the portfolios over the last week and I am pleased to say that most people have now managed to tidy up their lose ends and get a green flag.

10 minutes a week, keeps the red flag away!

If you now, please, try to dedicate 10 minutes a week to making sure that you have added some evidence and reflection to your portfolio you should find that finishing off CAS in March/April will not be a big chore.  If you do not take the time each week, you will be faced with a huge task in the time between the mock exams and the May exams.  If you really fall behind, you will find that you will need to come in to school during the study week.  No one wants to do that, so please do not put yourself in that position.

Why do I have to do all this?

Because if you don't, you will not be eligible for the IB Diploma.  

Of course there are lots of other reasons for doing CAS.  It can be fun!  it can help you with college/university/job applications. It is great experience.  You learn a lot.  You get to work with something you enjoy.  

What do I need to do to have a satisfactory CAS portfolio?

1. Have enough evidence to show that have participated in your CAS experiences for the time that you have claimed.
2. Have a balance of Creativity, Activity and Service experiences
3. Have reflection for each of your experiences - more for longer ones - at least 2 times each term.
4. Show that you have met the 7 learning outcomes
5. Have enough evidence and reflection to show that you have participated in CAS experiences for 18 months.
6. Complete 3 interviews with the CAS coordinator.

Coming up next week!

In my next blog post I will write about the final interview and how you need to prepare.  If you have a good CAS portfolio, you will find it easy to prepare.