Why is CAS such a fundamental part of the IB Program? To gain deeper insight into the role of the CAS Coordinator, the importance of CAS, and the various aspects tied to it, read the following interview with Mrs.\u202fLoreana\u202fSeli\u0161ek\u202fButina, the French teacher and CAS Coordinator at MIOC IB, where she discusses what\u202fit\u202fis\u202fthat is\u202fusually referred to as the heart of the IB Program.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did you become the CAS Coordinator? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI became the CAS Coordinator at our school, as I was first\u202f a French\u202fteacher, which is my vocation, and after years of experience\u202fin\u202fbeing a teacher at our school, I was given the role of\u202fCAS Coordinator by the head of school.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n What skills would you say are crucial for this role? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would say that the crucial skills for this role are most definitely organization, being responsible, having good time management, being caring, and having empathy. However, these skills are equally important in the classroom, for a teacher.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you tell us about the main responsibilities as a CAS Coordinator? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs far as being the CAS Coordinator goes, my responsibilities consist of explaining what CAS is to the students\u202fthat are\u202fnew to the Diploma Program (3MN).\u202fI have to prepare and distribute all of the CAS guides,\u202fthen\u202fI have to organize all of the CAS activities (both in and out of school).\u202fI consult students on the best options for them, give them suggestions if they are feeling lost, and then I have to create groups for all of the activities. I communicate a lot with various people from organizations\u202fwith which\u202four students are involved. Throughout the\u202fyear, \u202fI organize and conduct interviews with 3MN and 4MN students regarding their progress\u202f with\u202fCAS for that year, and,\u202fof course,\u202f I read all of the CAS Journals. In short, my responsibilities consist of checking up on all of the students and doing a lot of organization.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why is CAS such a fundamental part of the IB Program? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCAS is a fundamental part of the IB Program as it benefits both\u202f students\u202fand other \u202fmembers of our community\u202fso much. CAS is something you do for yourself, it truly helps you grow as a person, develops sincere values in you, but CAS also aids the\u202fpeople around you\u202f(both locally and globally). You have to be active students!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Which kind of values do you think CAS develops in students? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThrough the CAS experience, students really develop values and skills from the IB Learner Profile, all seven of them. They develop skills and values such as\u202finquirers, knowledgeable, open-minded, risk-takers, and caring. This is very important as this is what IB students should be like!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n How would you say CAS benefits students? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would say CAS benefits students in the long-run. They start to think\u202fin terms of the\u202fvalues that\u202fstand\u202fin the\u202fIB Learner\u202fProfile; they think as open-minded students, they help not only their family, or community,\u202f but\u202falso\u202fthe world. Additionally, CAS can open\u202fdoors for you in the\u202ffuture. It can\u202fshow what kind of person you really are\u202fand reflect your interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f How does CAS help students prepare for life after school? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCAS is an integral part of the IB, along with TOK and EE, so I’d say CAS helps students become genuinely good people. I would say that that is the real goal. It should be fun, not a must.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you think CAS benefits communities outside of our school? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur students volunteer at various places. They interact with different age groups;\u202fthey help children\u202fwith their homework\u202fin schools,\u202fvolunteer in kindergartens\u202fas well as\u202fin homes for the elderly. We\u202fmake\u202fuse\u202fof these\u202fyoung people in the community\u202fto help\u202fand, in the end,\u202fto make it a better place\u202ffor all who live in it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n How does participating in CAS help students step out of their comfort zone and grow? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis\u202fdefinitely depends on the student. What I can say is that you have to be an active student.\u202fThink about how \u202fyou\u202fcan help? What\u202fyou\u202fcan do to help? Whatever you do, make sure you\u2019re stepping out of your comfort zone, do something different, and that will certainly make you grow.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of activities do you think best represent the \u201cCreativity\u201d, \u201cActivity\u201d, and \u201cService\u201d aspect of CAS? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are many activities offered by the school for each aspect of CAS. The C, A, and S aspects are meant to encourage balance. The student should choose their Creativity, Activity, and Service \u202fbased on their own interests and passions. For Creativity, we have\u202foptions such as \u202fFilm Group, Ceramics Group, Origami Group, and more. Activity includes all sports and\u202faerobics. The school helps arrange various Service activities like helping kids in kindergartens or seniors in elderly homes. These are led by the school and can help people in need.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Which advice would you give to students struggling to balance CAS and school work? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCAS should be something done after school. So you do your\u202fschoolwork\u202fand devote 3 hours (1 hour for each aspect) each week to your CAS activities. I know you have homework and everything, but you still must engage in CAS as young people. You collaborate with others, and learn to be creative and take care of your body\u202fand\u202fsoul.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why do you think it is important for students to engage in all aspects of CAS (\u201cCreativity\u201d, \u201cActivity\u201d, and \u201cService\u201d), and not just focus on one? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis sort of balance is an essential part of the IB program. Academics and subjects within school are important, but CAS activities help students become\u202fwell-rounded outside the\u202fclassroom.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is a CAS Project? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe\u202fCAS Project is the second part of CAS. CAS\u202fmust be done for 18 months\u202fin continuum for around 1 hour each week for each\u202fof the three \u202faspect.\u202fIn other words,\u202f 3 hours per week after\u202fschool\u202ffor CAS. CAS Projects\u202fcan be offered\u202fby the school.\u202fThese involve \u202f1 month\u202fof\u202f preparation,\u202ffollowed by\u202fdoing the project. This can be collecting money or something similar. You need time for investigation, preparation, and then demonstration. That is the essence of a CAS Project.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of advice would you give to students struggling with their CAS Projects? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe problem for students with CAS Projects is picking which one they want to do.\u202fStudents should come to me with their ideas.\u202fI will give them advice and help them on how to approach their CAS Project. It involves the steps of investigation, preparation, and demonstration.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n What are some examples of\u202fwell-executed\u202fCAS Projects you have seen at our school? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStudents helped raise money after the earthquake. They bought clothes and food, and they helped around the houses.\u202fHowever,what is\u202fmost important is to talk and communicate. Talk to the people, that\u2019s most important.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f Could you tell us\u202fmore\u202fabout the CAS Journal? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe CAS Journal is evidence of\u202fthe student\u2019s\u202fCAS\u202fengagement and activity.\u202fIt\u2019s\u202fthe\u202fevidence of your\u202fprocess of doing CAS as an IB student. You should write down what you did, how you felt, and what you want to change for next time. It should focus on learning\u202ffrom the\u202foutcomes.\u202fYou should follow the progress of learning outcomes with your journal throughout your CAS experience.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Could you go over a general outline for an entry of the CAS Journal? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike I said, it should include what you did, your reflections, and any possible improvements for next time. Think about what you want to do better. Each activity should have an entry, which\u202fcould\u202fbe\u202fbuilt\u202faround an hour\u202fof your CAS activity, but it\u202fdoesn\u2019thave to be. Focus on quality over quantity.\u202fIt\u2019s\u202falso better to split activities over time, so don\u2019t do 3 hours of\u202fthe same activity\u202fin 1 week. Keep up\u202fwith your journal\u202ffor the full 18 months. Spread it\u202fover the whole period you dedicate to CAS\u202fand make sure to participate in CAS during the summer\u202ftoo.\u202fFor example, you can clean the countryside or seaside.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is the CAS Journal assessed? If so, how? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u202f both\u202fCAS and the\u202fCAS Journal\u202fare assessed. There are\u202f3i nterviews and in them, everything about CAS, including the journals and CAS Projects, is assessed. It\u2019s about checking\u202fto see how the students are doing and progressing with their CAS experience.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n And\u202fthere we have it: Advice directly from the CAS Coordinator. Clearly, CAS is an essential part of the IB program, but also\u202fof\u202fhelping students develop\u202foutside the classroom. Many positive CAS Projects and experiences have been seen in the school, and there are many more to come. Every part of the CAS experience\u202fshould be carefully documented\u202fin\u202fyour\u202fCAS Journals, as it can be a great pathway into good universities that take great interest in CAS. It can\u202fshowcase\u202fyour personality and interests, while also highlighting\u202fyour\u202fbalance and time management. While it may be difficult to manage CAS, academic activities, and additional responsibilities, it can be very worthwhile in the\u202flong run! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Why is CAS such a fundamental part of the IB Program? To gain deeper insight into the role of the CAS Coordinator, the importance of CAS, and the various aspects tied to it, read the following interview with Mrs.\u202fLoreana\u202fSeli\u0161ek\u202fButina, the French teacher and CAS Coordinator at MIOC IB, where she discusses what\u202fit\u202fis\u202fthat is\u202fusually referred to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":117,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ib-focus","category-interview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions\/263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mioc.hr\/ibnewspaper\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The importance of CAS<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why students should take CAS seriously<\/strong>? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Insight<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CAS Project<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CAS Journal\u202f<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n