5 Stages of CAS

Summary

The video script outlines the IB's CAS Experience framework, guiding students through the 5 Stages of IPARD: Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration. It emphasizes the importance of starting with personal interests and skills, conducting thorough research, and creating a detailed action plan with SMART goals. The script highlights the continuous reflection process as a key to learning and personal growth, and encourages students to creatively demonstrate their CAS projects to an audience of their choice.

Takeaways

• 🔍 **Investigation**: The first stage of CAS involves identifying personal interests, skills, and global issues to create meaningful experiences.
• 📝 **Preparation**: Transforming research into an action plan with tasks, resources, and a timeline is crucial for successful CAS execution.
• 📈 **SMART Goals**: Utilize the SMART framework to clarify objectives, maintain focus, and set a completion date for CAS activities.
• 🏃 **Action**: Implementing the project based on the knowledge and plan from the previous stages is where the actual CAS experience happens.
• 🤔 **Reflection**: A continuous process of self-examination before, during, and after CAS to understand and learn from the experience.
• 🎭 **Demonstration**: Sharing CAS experiences with an audience post-project, showcasing the process, challenges, and learning outcomes.
• 🌐 **Think Global, Act Local**: Encouraging action in local communities to effect positive change on a global scale.
• 📚 **Research**: Deep dive into potential activities and organizations to understand how to get involved at a local level.
• 🗂️ **Organization**: Keeping information organized through tools like Asana or a CAS folder is key to managing the project effectively.
• 📋 **Action Plan Worksheet**: An available tool to guide and structure CAS experiences, including a section for SMART-proofing concepts.
• 📹 **Documentation**: Importance of documenting experiences with evidence for the demonstration stage and for personal reflection.

Q & A

What does CAS stand for in the context of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program?

CAS stands for Creativity, Activity, and Service, which is a core component of the IB program.

What is the acronym IPARD and what does it represent in the context of CAS?

IPARD stands for Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration, which are the five stages of the CAS journey as outlined by the IB.

What is the purpose of the Investigation stage in CAS?

The Investigation stage is where you establish what you want to do for a CAS Experience by clarifying your ideas, building factual evidence, and researching information from various sources.

How should one start the Investigation stage for a CAS Experience?

One should start with their own interests, skills, desired skill developments, and global issues they genuinely care about, using this list to guide their choices for potential activities.

What is the significance of the Reflection process in CAS?

The Reflection process is constant and guides and challenges students in developing and learning through their CAS Experiences, helping them understand the experience and convert it into learning.

What are the key components of the Preparation stage in CAS?

The Preparation stage involves creating an Action Plan with a list of tasks to be completed, resources or equipment needed, and a timeline for the project.

What tool can be used to help organize and manage CAS Experiences?

An Action Plan Worksheet or an online project management tool like Asana can be used to keep all information organized for CAS Experiences.

What does SMART stand for and how does it help in CAS?

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It helps in CAS by providing clarity, focus, and motivation to achieve goals by clearly defining objectives and setting a completion date.

What is the Action stage in CAS and what is its purpose?

The Action stage is where students actually carry out their CAS project, applying the knowledge gained during the Investigation stage and following the plan developed during the Preparation stage.

How should students approach the Reflection stage after completing a CAS project?

Students should approach the Reflection stage by constantly reflecting before, during, and after every CAS Experience, asking themselves tough questions to understand the experience and convert it into learning.

What is the purpose of the Demonstration stage in CAS and how can it be carried out?

The purpose of the Demonstration stage is to share CAS Experiences with an audience upon completion. Students can choose their audience and medium, such as writing for a school magazine, hosting a conference, or publishing on social media.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Exploring the CAS Experience Journey

The script introduces the complex task of planning and executing CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experiences within the IB framework. It simplifies the process by outlining the 5 Stages of CAS, known as IPARD (Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration). The emphasis is on the constant reflection process that guides and challenges students throughout their CAS journey. The Investigation stage is highlighted as the starting point where students identify their interests, skills, and global issues they care about. It encourages students to research and get involved in activities at a local level with a global perspective, aiming for positive change. The script also mentions the importance of starting with self-reflection and using personal interests to guide CAS choices.

05:02

📝 Structuring the CAS Experience with Action Plans

This paragraph delves into the Preparation stage of CAS, where students transform the knowledge and information gathered into an actionable plan. It stresses the importance of organization, suggesting students list tasks, required resources, and create a timeline. The script offers practical advice such as using a CAS folder or online tools like Asana for organization. It introduces an Action Plan Worksheet designed to guide students in structuring their CAS experiences, particularly for longer collaborative projects. The paragraph also touches on the SMART criteria for setting clear objectives and deadlines, which is crucial for achieving goals. The Action stage is briefly mentioned as the phase where students execute their plans, and the script foreshadows a dedicated video on the Reflection stage, which is integral to CAS and the IB program.

🎭 Demonstrating and Reflecting on CAS Achievements

The final paragraph focuses on the Demonstration stage of CAS, where students share their experiences with an audience after completing their projects. It reassures students that the medium and form of sharing are flexible, ranging from school publications to social media. The emphasis is on the content of the demonstration, which should include challenges faced, learning outcomes, and lessons learned throughout the CAS process. The script encourages documentation of experiences and evidence collection, viewing the Demonstration stage as an opportunity for a comprehensive final reflection. It highlights the importance of communicating personal growth and the impact of CAS experiences on both the individual and the community.

Keywords

💡CAS Experiences

CAS Experiences refer to the Creativity, Activity, and Service experiences that are a core component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. These experiences are designed to encourage students to engage in personal growth, community service, and creative endeavors. In the video, CAS Experiences are the central focus, guiding students through the process of selecting, planning, and carrying out meaningful projects that align with the IB's educational philosophy.

💡IPARD

IPARD is an acronym representing the five stages of CAS as outlined by the IB: Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration. It serves as a framework to help students navigate their CAS journey systematically. The script emphasizes the importance of following these stages to ensure a comprehensive and reflective approach to CAS experiences.

💡Investigation

Investigation is the first stage of the IPARD framework, where students establish what they want to do for a CAS Experience. It involves clarifying ideas, conducting research, and gathering information from various sources. In the script, Investigation is described as the starting point for identifying personal interests, skills, and global issues that students genuinely care about.

💡Preparation

Preparation is the second stage of the IPARD process, where students take the knowledge from the Investigation stage and develop an Action Plan. This stage emphasizes good organization, listing tasks, resources, and creating a timeline. The script mentions the creation of an Action Plan Worksheet as a tool to help structure CAS Experiences effectively.

💡Action

Action is the stage where students execute their CAS projects, applying the knowledge and plans developed in the previous stages. It is the practical phase where students 'make their project happen' and is a key part of the CAS Experiences, as highlighted in the script.

💡Reflection

Reflection is a continuous process throughout the CAS journey, as mentioned in the script. It is the act of thinking deeply about the experiences, challenges, and learning outcomes. Reflection is portrayed as a vital component of CAS and the IB program, encouraging students to ask themselves tough questions to understand and learn from their experiences.

💡Demonstration

Demonstration is the final stage of the IPARD framework, where students share their CAS Experiences with an audience after completion. It involves showcasing the process, challenges, learning outcomes, and lessons learned. The script suggests various ways to demonstrate, such as writing for a school magazine, hosting a conference, or using social media, emphasizing the importance of documenting experiences with evidence.

💡SMART

SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, which is an effective tool for setting and achieving goals. In the context of the script, SMART is used to encourage students to clearly define their objectives for their CAS Experiences and set a completion date, thereby improving their ability to reach their goals.

💡Personal Interests

Personal Interests are individual preferences and passions that students have, which can guide their CAS Experiences. The script suggests starting with personal interests to ensure that CAS activities are meaningful and enjoyable, thus increasing the likelihood of persistence and engagement.

💡Global Issues

Global Issues refer to worldwide challenges or concerns that students may choose to address through their CAS Experiences. The script encourages students to consider global issues they genuinely care about and to find ways to get involved at a local level, embodying the idea of 'Think Global, Act Local'.

💡Action Plan

An Action Plan is a detailed strategy that outlines the steps, resources, and timeline for completing a project or task. In the script, creating an Action Plan is a crucial part of the Preparation stage, helping students to organize their CAS Experiences and ensure they have a clear path to follow.

Highlights

The IB has created a framework called IPARD to guide students through their CAS journey.

IPARD stands for Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration.

Reflection is a constant process that guides and challenges students in developing and learning through CAS experiences.

Investigation involves establishing what CAS experience a student wants to pursue by clarifying ideas and conducting research.

Students should start the Investigation stage by identifying their interests, skills, and global issues they care about.

Preparation involves creating an Action Plan using the knowledge and information gathered during the Investigation stage.

An Action Plan should include a list of tasks, required resources, and a timeline.

The IB provides an Action Plan Worksheet to help structure CAS experiences.

SMART is an effective tool for defining objectives and setting completion dates to achieve goals.

The Action stage is where students implement their project based on the knowledge and plan developed in previous stages.

Reflection should be a continuous process, occurring before, during, and after each CAS experience.

Demonstration involves sharing CAS experiences with an audience after project completion.

Students can choose the audience and medium for demonstrating their CAS experiences.

Documentation and evidence are crucial during the Demonstration stage to showcase the learning outcomes and lessons learned.

The 5 Stages of CAS (IPARD) provide a structured approach to CAS experiences, ensuring meaningful and impactful projects.

CAS experiences should be meaningful and enjoyable for students to maintain persistence and engagement.

Thinking Global while Acting Local is an effective approach to bring about positive change for the entire planet.

Students are encouraged to dive deep into research to find ways to get involved in potential activities and organizations at a local level.

Transcripts

So, with everything you know about what CAS Experiences should consist of,

you now face the overwhelming task of selecting planning,

and carrying them out. That sounds easy, right?

No. There are literally millions upon millions of different

directions you could turn. So how do you decide which route to take?

Well, luckily the IB has created a framework to help you navigate your

whole CAS journey. These are the 5 Stages

of CAS or IPARD.

While it may not be the best acronym to pronounce, it actually stands for:

Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection and

Demonstration. If you pay close attention to the IPARD

info graphic, you will notice that one element is repeated. Yes, the

all-important Reflections. The Reflection process is constant and

will guide and challenge you in developing and learning

through your CAS Experiences. But more about that later.

For now, let's take a look at the other elements:

We'll begin with.. Investigation - Here you establish what it is that you want to do

for a CAS Experience. In this stage you will

clarify your ideas, building factual evidence and research

information from a variety of sources.

So where to start? Well, let's start with YOU!

CAS needs to be meaningful, but it must also be fun

if you are going to persist with it. So start with the list:

What are your interests? What skills do you have? What skills would you like to

develop? And which global issues do you genuinely

care about?

Now that you've listed what is meaningful for you, use your list to

guide your choices. Dive deep into research of how you can

get involved in potential activities, organizations and global issues at a

local level. Keeping your targets realistic and

Thinking Global, while Acting Local will be the most effective way to bring about

positive change for the entire planet. All we need to do is to each take action

in our own communities. The next stage is

Preparation - During this stage you will take all that

knowledge and detailed information gathered from the investigation stage

and turn it into an Action Plan. Like pretty much everything, the secret to

this is good organization. You should: First, list

all of the tasks to be completed. Then, list resources or equipment that you

will need. And finally, put this together and Plan a Timeline.

You can compile a CAS folder or use an online project management tool like

Asana to help you keep all of your information

organized.

Luckily for you, we have created an Action Plan Worksheet

to help guide you through and structure your CAS Experiences.

You can download that by clicking the link in the Description below.

This has been created with a longer one-month collaborative CAS project in

mind, but it can also be used to help you plan

your other CAS Experiences as well. You'll also see that the Action Plan

includes a section for SMART-proofing your concepts. SMART

is an effective tool that provides the clarity, focus

and motivation you need to achieve your goals. It can also improve your ability

to reach them by encouraging you to clearly define your objectives

and set a completion date. Ok, finally - time for the fun part!

The next stage is the Action - This is where you actually do it!

Taking all of the knowledge you've gained during the Investigation stage

and the meticulous plan you developed during the Preparation stage,

this is the moment you've been building to - to make your project

happen! Afterwards your project may be wrapped up,

but you aren't finished quite yet. The next stage is Reflection,

which is an integral part of CAS. Remember that info graphic?

It is such a vital component of CAS and indeed the IB as a whole,

that we are dedicating a whole video to the topic later.

But for now, consider that Reflection should be constant.

You should be reflecting before, during and after every CAS

Experience. Always asking the tough questions of yourself

and the situation to understand the experience

and to convert it into learning.

And in the end, you'll be expected to Demonstrate the process of your CAS

project - Let's face it, not many of us are

destined for the big screen. Performance anxiety is real and can lead

to many students truly fearing this final

stage. But there's no need to worry.

Demonstration simply means that you share your CAS Experiences with an

audience upon completion. But the audience you choose and the

medium or form in which you share your achievements,

is entirely up to you.

You could write for the school magazine, host a Zoom conference,

publish your own website, get up on stage at a school

assembly, or publish your project progress via social media channels - it

all counts.

What is really more important here is what you display,

as opposed to where you display it or who you display it to.

With this in mind, make sure you are documenting your experiences every step

of the way with plenty of Evidence... Think of the

Demonstration stage as your opportunity for an

epic final reflection by communicating the challenges you faced,

the Learning Outcomes you engaged with, and the lessons you learned

through all 5 Stages of your CAS Experience.