WE ARE EG...
CAS at EG - making a difference
The primary aim of the CAS-programme is to make a difference for yourself and others by challenging and learning about yourself in a new and experiential way.
CAS stands for – Creativity, Activity and Service
Creativity: arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking (drama, music, theatre, painting, film-making, language learning, dance, debate club, photography, cultural events, etc.)
Activity: physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle (expeditions, individual and team sports, adventure trips, coaching a sports team, organising a sport event, etc.)
Service: an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student (coaching, project manager, community work, peer tutoring, volunteer work, active member of an NGO or providing help nationally or internationally)
During the two years of the IB Diploma Programme all IB students participate in a number of CAS-activities. Each activity is founded on one or more of the three sub categories C, A or S and divided into three phases: inquiry, activity and reflection – the IB students search for and plan their activity, they do it and they reflect upon it. The goal is to learn by doing real tasks that have real consequences and then reflect on these experiences and the personal development that the activity has given the student.
The CAS-programme and the CAS-activities are not part of the ordinary timetable. Nevertheless CAS is considered to be the very heart of the Diploma Programme due to its experiential ways it encourages the students to focus on their personal and interpersonal development. That is also the reason why students who do not pass CAS will not be awarded the IB diploma.
The CAS programme requires a total of approximately 150 hours (about 3-4 hours per school week) and must be followed regularly throughout the two years of the Diploma Programme. These hours must be distributed reasonably evenly between C-, A- and S-activities. Nevertheless CAS is not about counting hours – it is quality over quantity!
We demand that our students have projects in each category and encourage them to avoid activities lasting less than 6 hours. Furthermore we require that each student have at least one long term project stretching over more than 2 months. This project will normally be a summer project in the first year of the Diploma Programme.
The CAS-programme is not graded on the regular 7 scale, but in order to complete CAS, the student must achieve the 7 learning outcomes – which means the students must have:
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increased their awareness of own strengths and areas for growth
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undertaken new challenges
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planned and initiated activities
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worked collaboratively with others
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shown perseverance and commitment in the activities
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engaged with issues of global importance
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considered the ethical implications of their activities
The IB students must document their activities, hours and progress in a CAS journal, which is presented as a weblog on Managebac and closely monitored by the CAS coordinator or the CAS advisor. In this journal students are also required to evaluate and reflect on their completed activities, forcing them to see the benefits of their activities and the CAS programme.
Esbjerg Gymnasium will not pay for expenses related to CAS-activities
Scheduled hours: 1 lesson per week mandatory for the students in their first semester
Mette Ehrhorn (ME)
CAS Coordinator
Amalie Boe (AB)
CAS Advisor
Martin Andersen (MAN)
CAS Advisor