Demonstrating Engagement with Issues of Global Significance

This is the second of my posts about the learning outcomes.  This week it is about learning outcome 6.

Engaging with issues of global significance

In order to meet learning outcome 6 - you need to:
be able to identify and demonstrate your understanding of global issues, make responsible decisions and take appropriate action in response to an issue locally, nationally or internationally.

Global issues can involve people, animals or the environment.  It is not hard to find something that involves a global issue.  The important aspect of this is to recognise the issue and show how you have engaged.  For example: if you have played football with refugees - you have engaged with the issue of migration and displacement as well as health and well being.  You need to explain how this activity helped the people involved.  Explain how you worked with people who have been forced to leave their homes because of the living situation in their country and the struggles that they face in a new country.  If you don't know - it is important to find out.  You cannot engage with an issue if you know nothing about it.

Ways to engage with some issues

Go for a walk with a pensioner
An elderly care facility in Sabbatsberg (near Vasa Park, Odenplan) is looking for people who can go for a walk with some of the people who live there.  Information is in Swedish so if you need help with the language find a Swedish speaker or see me.  Read about it here.

Help record linguistic diversity

Lingscape is a citizen science project about language.  It is asking people worldwide to collect photos of signs - monolingual and multilingual.

Lingscape is an app for researching such linguistic landscapes all over the world. Therefore we collect photos of signs and lettering on an interactive map.

You just download an app and head of to take photos of signs.  The idea is to map linguistic diversity!

Easy to do and a great way to get involved in a project that involves people from all over the world as well as contribute to knowledge about language and its uses.

Help record noise levels
Noise pollution is a problem for many people.  If you are interested in a global project mapping and comparing noise levels around the world.  You use an app and upload the recordings.  Click here for more details and interesting reading about noise and stress.

Stockholm Film Festival Junior
It starts next week but they seem to still be looking for volunteers. More information

Help needed at the Red Cross shop on Kungsholmen
Information in Swedish but you do not need to speak Swedish - we have had other students help out in Red Cross shops without speaking Swedish.  More information

Doctors without borders (you need to speak Swedish)
Administrative help required during the summer but you need to speak Swedish - information here


Just now there are a lot of opportunities on volontärbyran.  If you are looking for something and need help come and see me.

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.

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?

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/

Swedish speaking summer volunteers for Läkare utan Gränser

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

Do  you know GoogleAdWords?

Our logo represents a person who is bearing fruit in the world and is the symbol of who we are - Global Pedagogues - solution-focused individuals who see the world as it is, imagines how it can be and through optimism and joy, we engage in creating the conditions needed for more positive changes. Join Us - Welcome to be part of our work in Sweden and abroad, where we work together for all children's self-evident rights to good growing conditions and a safe future

Do you have Google AdWords skills? Come and be a Google AdWords expert at Global Pedagogues! The mission as "Google AdWords expert" gives you the opportunity to do what brings you joy while helping to make a difference. Or learn new skills at the same time as you help make the world a better place. https://www.volontarbyran.org/en/globala-pedagoger/google-adwords-one-your-skills-come-and-change-world-us

There are always lots of other opportunities at : https://www.volontarbyran.org

I have completed an experience - what should I do?

Quite a few of you have completed experiences.  Once that is done it is imperative that you follow the following procedure:

• Make sure you have evidence of participation
• Make sure you have evidence of or reflection about meeting each of the learning outcomes you have chosen
• Make sure you have some reflection
• Check you have the correct start and finish dates
• Fill in the CAS questions showing how you have met EACH learning outcome
• Check you have the right supervisor email
• Request a supervisor review - if the supervisor doesn't fill it in speak to them and explain what you need.

After you get the review you will then have a green tick next to the experience and it will lock.  That means that you will not be able to alter it any more.  That is why it is important to do it in the correct order!

Some of you finished experiences in December and still have not completed the process.  If you wait too long, you might find that your supervisor is not able to remember you!  You might find it hard to gather evidence afterwards.  

If you do not get a green tick within 3 months of completion - I am going to start deleting them!!!!!!!!!!!

Fund raising activities

If you are raising money - not matter what it is for - you must make sure that it is clear on posters, information and when you are selling goods where the money will go.  All fund raising should be approved by me first.  Any money collected must be accounted for and there must be evidence of what happens to the money.   We have facilities to keep money here in the school.  You must keep accurate records of all money collected and where it is.

Opportunities

Translator

An organisation that works with Ghana is looking for someone (or several people) to help translate their web page from Swedish to English.  You can see their web page here.  If you are interested, let me know and I will pass on your details.

Dutch Speaking Students

Are you interested in helping out at the Dutch Easter Celebrations?  Click here for all the details in Dutch about who to contact etc.

Plan InternationalSweden

A great opportunity for someone who would like to apply for the chance to be on the youth board of PLAN Sweden.  PLAN is an international organisation and this would be a fantastic chance to get some international experience at a high level. Details are on the pink notice board - in English and Swedish.  I have spoken to the contact person and he said that you do not need to speak Swedish to apply - and that speaking English is an advantage.  You are supposed to be aged between 13 and 16 but if you are 17, and are very interested it is OK to apply.  Details are on the website: PLAN International Sweden (in Swedish).  I have translated the information here.

Projects, campaigns, demonstrations

We have seen a lot of CAS related action over the last weeks with the MUN conference, fund raising for student council on Valentine's day, Cancer Foundation fund raising, Amnesty Campaigning against Child labour, Gender Equality Association selling T-shirts, amongst other things.

There are a few places where you can join local groups to show your feelings about issues coming up.

Don't send Afghans back - Sun 18th Feb 12.30

A protest has been organised in many parts of Europe. If you want to join this demonstration, head to Sergels Torg on Saturday. It is organised by ECAD - European Citizens against Deportation.

International Women's Day - Thurs 8th March

There are groups in Stockholm asking for volunteers to help out at events on this day.  See here on www.volontarbyran.org. (In Swedish).

Keeping Active with CAS

Make sure that you are keeping up-to-date with your CAS.  Quite a few portfolios have started to stand still with no changes for a while.  Evidence is something you should try to add on a regular basis.  If you have finished an experience, you must make sure you have all the evidence, reflection and then do the the CAS questions.  Finally request a supervisor review. 

On googleclassroom there is a checklist that you must fill in and submit.  So far it has been submitted by 6 students. Make sure you do this before the 26th of February.  It is a good way to see if you are on track.

CAS opportunities

Swedish speaking volunteers.  There are several opportunities on www.volontarbyran.org

You can put in your area and find something close to home or in the city working with refugees.  There are 'språk' cafés and other similar jobs.

Here in school, I have had a request from a grade 9 student who needs help with getting up to speed in Swedish. The student is Swedish but has been out of Sweden a while and needs some extra support.  Let me know if you are interested.

Red Cross - volunteers wanted for the shop at Hornstull.  The ad is in Swedish but they take people who don't speak Swedish.  Ask me if you need help or apply here.

Well done!

Great work last week by all the students organising the MUN and the QQ students who managed the media coverage.