CAS guide 2024

1. What is CAS?

CAS is short for the three strands Creativity, Activity and Service. It is a framework for
experiential learning, designed to involve students in challenging new roles. The emphasis is on
learning by doing impactful tasks that have real consequences for the student and others involved.
CAS is outside the normal IB-curriculum! Ahead of the action phase lies
research and preparation and after comes reflections in order to achieve
personal development. This is an excellent opportunity to extend
what is learned in the classroom.
When you look at the IB Diploma Programme icon you
see that CAS is centrally placed (along with TOK and EE). You
are therefore expected to take CAS seriously and allocate the
appropriate time for CAS outside your ordinary timetable.
The CAS programme is not assessed using the 7 scale, but to
pass CAS:
You must be CAS active on a weekly basis throughout at least 18 months of the Diploma
Programme (not including holidays!). You must engage in several tasks hereby targeting and with
thoughtful reflections prove the achievement of the following 7 learning outcomes
1. Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
2. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
4. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global importance
7. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
Some of these are targeted several times while others will be displayed a minimum of two times.
As a guideline a total of roughly 180 hours (equivalent to 2-3 hours per school week!) is expected
to be spent in the three strands - with time distributed reasonably evenly between C, A and S. We
distinguish between experiences (=single events) that last for a limited period of time (normally
around 5 hours) and targets only 1 of the above learning outcomes and projects (=sequence of
events) that stretch over at least a month (and last for 10-15 hours or more) and targets 2 of the
above learning outcomes. This is in order to keep focus on reflections and securing a varied CAS
programme!
You are encouraged to aim for projects and avoid experiences lasting for less than 3 hours (since
these often give rise to only limited personal development. Exceptions do exist!). One mandatory

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IBO project involving learning outcome 3 and 5 and lasting a minimum of 3 months must be
completed. Each experience/project will have its own natural length. It has to be long enough for
you to get comfortable and gain experience which you can learn and develop from, and not so long
that you do not have time for the other experiences/projects necessary to give balance to your
programme. As a general rule we suggest an interval of 10 to 25 hours.
Since service experiences/projects take up a special part of CAS we require that each
student during the CAS programme completes a project helping out an official voluntary
organisation in the local community.
From the above “hour counting” might seem like the most important aspect of CAS. This
is however NOT the case. You should think of CAS as quality, not quantity! (the number of
hours is just a guideline).
The school will offer some experiences/projects for students which meet the aims of CAS,
but to ensure a variety of experiences/projects and an interesting individual balanced programme it
is much better that students bring forward their own ideas and arrange experiences/projects which
meet their own interests. The three strands of CAS may be carried out separately, or even better
two or three strands could be integrated into the same experience/project.
The three strands are explained below:

Creativity provides students with the opportunity to explore their own sense of original thinking
and expression. It is interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of visual and
performing arts and other activities (e.g. music, drama/theatre, dancing, painting, blogging etc.).
These experiences may also include creative thinking in the design and carrying out/planning of
activity and service experiences/projects.

Activity is any experience that can promote lifelong healthy habits related to physical well-being
Eg. participation in expeditions, individual and team sports, and many different kinds of physical
exertion which may also be involved in carrying out creativity and service experiences/projects.

Service encourages the students to understand their capacity to make a meaningful contribution to
their community and society. It involves interaction such as the building of links with individuals or
groups in the community and providing aid where there is an authentic need. The community may
be the school, the local district, or it may exist at national or international levels. Service
experiences/projects should not only involve doing things for others, but also doing things with
others and developing a real commitment with them and is often the most transforming element for
CAS students!

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 When students are involved in C/A/S projects, the five CAS stages (see chapter “5.
Carrying out CAS”) prove useful: 1) Investigation (curiously looking into the new area), 2)
preparation (getting ready for taking on a challenging project and setting goals), 3) action
(implementing the idea/plan), 4) reflection (critical/worthy moments are briefly described and
related feelings/emotions expressed - before, during and after the action phase!) and 5)
demonstration (clearly argumentation for the achievement of the targeted learning outcome(s)
supported by incontestable documentation).
The CAS coordinator and advisors of the school are responsible for documenting,
evaluating and approving each student’s CAS programme. This is done using the CAS Managebac
software and at 3-4 CAS reviews where the student presents, reflects on and documents
experiences/projects completed.
At the end of the CAS programme you will be writing a CAS student final summary (an
essay of approximately 1000 words) covering general critical reflection and personal development
from the most important experiences/projects in your CAS-programme. That is why it is essential to
maintain good records as you go along!

Morten Brejner Freitag

CAS-coordinator
Kolding Gymnasium & HF-Kursus & IB School
2024

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 We make a living by what we get, but we make a
life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
2. CAS is not ……
It might prove difficult for you as a student to decide whether an experience/a project is appropriate
for CAS or not. Therefore there are some general rules about that (please also read chapter 6 before
getting started with an actual experience or a project!).

CAS is not:
- any experience or project which is already part of the student’s Diploma Programme

- any experience or project which is already part of the student’s every day life (must be a
challenging and new role!)

- an experience or project for which the student is personally rewarded either financially or
with some other benefit (unless this benefit is passed on in full to a worthy cause)

- doing simple, tedious and repetitive work

- a passive pursuit, such as a visit to a museum, theatre, art exhibition or sports event unless
it clearly provides inspiration for work in a related experience or project with which the
student is already engaged

- any form of activity or chore within the closest family

- religious or political devotion and any activity which may be considered as ‘proselytizing’

- an experience or project where there is no supervisor (adult/responsible person) on site to

evaluate and confirm the student’s performance

- teaching a friend/fellow student (exceptions exist – ask the CAS-coordinator/advisor)

- an experience or project that cannot be documented incontestably

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 The manner of giving is worth more
than the gift.
Pierre
Corneille
3. Why CAS?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is more than an educational programme. The
organization is motivated by a mission to create a better world through education. This is captured
in their mission statement:

“The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young
people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding
and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to
develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and
lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right”.

As a CAS student you must also be familiar of the 10 key

words found in the IB learner profile guiding students to
become:
Inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators,
principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced
and reflective.
Where the six subject groups and extended essay (EE) and
theory of knowledge (TOK) focus on the academic part, CAS at the
heart of the icon takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship enabling the
development of the
whole person.

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4. The CAS-coordinator and advisors

The CAS-coordinator is the person appointed by the school to help you fulfil your programme and
successfully meet the CAS requirements necessary to be awarded the Diploma. The CAS
coordinator is assisted by 2 CAS advisors and each person is responsible for a group of students. It
is also a coordinator’s job to evaluate students’ programmes and, if necessary, to report to the
IBO that a student has not done CAS properly and so cannot be awarded the IB Diploma. It is
therefore a very good idea to keep in touch with the CAS-coordinator/advisors, to discuss your
plans and progress regularly, and to seek support and advice whenever you have the needs.
You should see the coordinator/advisors as the persons who going to help you to realize your ideas
and ensure they meet the criteria in the IBO CAS guidelines.
For many experiences/projects the CAS-coordinator/advisors can act as the supervisor if adequate
documentation is presented, but for external experiences/projects external supervisors are
preferred!
Regular timetabled blocks for CAS (refer to Lectio) is used to bring CAS students together for
meetings with the CAS-coordinator/advisors, the IB-coordinators or sub-committee meetings. They
may also be used for school based creativity, activity or service experiences/projects when these are
arranged.
The CAS-coordinator/advisors don’t have office hours every week, but you can anytime contact
him/her by e-mail (Lectio or the Managebac note system!) or try and catch him/her informally if it’s
a simple matter/urgent problem. Meetings can always be scheduled!

E-mails: CAS-coordinator: Morten Freitag: [email protected]

CAS-advisor (2i): Jacob Spangsberg Day: [email protected]
CAS -advisor (3i): Niki Jensen: [email protected]

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5. Profile grades

Twice a year (December and May) – just like in any other subject – you are being evaluated
formally. This is done by your CAS advisor who is evaluating you in 4 criteria along with an effort
grade. This evaluation – along with your Managebac status (concerns/on track/excellent) – is a clear
indicator to whether you are going to pass CAS on time (or not!).

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6. Carrying out CAS

Before starting out with a new experience/project, you should run through the checklist below to
ensure that it is appropriate for your CAS-programme.

 Is this experience/project new, challenging and impactfull? Yes No

 Will I develop personally from getting involved? Yes No
 Is there an adult/responsible supervisor who can evaluate me? Yes No
 Can the experience/project be documented incontestably? Yes No
 Will I be targeting 1-2 of the 7 learning outcomes? Yes No

After having done the above considerations you will have to contact the supervisor and explain to
him/her what CAS is all about (official school letter is available!). The supervisor is an important
person, as he/she will confirm that you have completed the experience/project and also evaluate
your performance. A supervisor is always an adult person (students and family members can
never supervise!). If suitable documentation is provided, your CAS coordinator/advisor can
supervise any experience/project, but it is preferred that the supervisor is a person who is often
around when the experience/project is carried out! This makes evaluation of your performance
and feedback possible (supervisor e-mail needed!)!
After this you can apply using the CAS Managebac (further explanations on the CAS introduction
in mid August!). Your CAS coordinator/advisor will ASAP approve your experience/project and
clearly state how you should document it.

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For each experience/project you must apply using CAS Managebac. Pay attention to the description
(What am I going to do?) and goal(s) (What do I hope to learn/achieve?) which should be written
in full sentences and include significant details and in future tense, so when reading it, it makes
sense to the CAS-advisor and the IBO moderators (please refer to “10. Checklist on how to carry
out CAS” on page 15).

You should never start an experience/project without the approval of the CAS advisor!

While carrying out the experience/project you must keep track of the number of hours spent by
keeping your CAS log book up to date (please refer to “11. CAS Student Log Book” on page 16).
Before, during and after your project you should be reflecting (again using CAS Managebac!) on
the things you have experienced by taking on this challenge. Reflections are thoughts that help
you to develop personally! They are not just a description of what you have been doing!
Reflecting is not easy to everyone, but the following 5 stage model1 might prove useful:

1) Briefly describing the memorable moment and why it was important/influential/difficult….

2) Express your feelings/thoughts related to that moment

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IBO Creativity, Activity and Service Guide
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3) Rethink/re-examine the moment – what did you learn from this and how can you benefit from
this in the future?
4) Ask questions (Why…? How? What if….?) to prompt further thinking and ongoing inquiry

Again – quality over quantity! The good reflections don’t necessary have to be long – 10 to 20 lines
as a rules of thumb! Choosing the appropriate moment making worthy reflections possible is a
delicate balance! If you attend a project make sure regularly (every 2 weeks!) to upload
reflections and documentation!

Is it important to write reflections? YES – reflections are the primary evidence used by the CAS-
coordinator/advisor to determine whether the student has achieved the targeted learning
outcome(s) and thereby in the end is able to pass CAS!!! So no short cuts here…….

Besides written reflections you will present incontestable evidence. Examples include photos, video
clips (up to 30 seconds), official letter, e-mails, diplomas, screen shots, links to web pages,
receipts/invoices and many more!

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7. The CAS reviews

You will have a total of 3 CAS reviews during the minimum of 18 months – two in the first year
and one in the second year (please refer to the CAS Student Log Book p. 16).
Well ahead of the reviews we will publish a schedule on the IB notice board in front of the IB-
office and also notify you via Lectio e-mail about the time and place. It is important that you don’t
miss your appointment because arranging these interviews is a heavily time-consuming process. If
you are unable to show up at the scheduled time please try to swop with a friend and please notify
the CAS-advisor! If something comes up at the last minute, don’t forget to send your apologies
(phone or e-mail).
Preparation for each review is expected and you will be informed ahead!

Agenda for:
1st review:
- What are your interests/passion outside the school?
- How would you like to develop your current skills and personality?
- Ideas for experiences/projects in the future 4 months of CAS?
- Comfortable with using MB?
2nd review:
- Checking up on regular CAS attendance, MB and log book
- Evaluating quality of evidence (reflections and documentation)
- Ideas for future CAS taking into account the current balance of C/A/S and the learning
outcomes?
3rd review:
- Checking up on regular CAS attendance, MB and log book
- Evaluating quality of evidence (reflections and documentation)

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 - Ideas for future CAS taking into account the current balance of C/A/S and the learning
outcomes?
- Making sure that all requirements will be met before the internal deadline.
4th review:
- Additional review to complete CAS (if needed)

Besides the three CAS review the CAS coordinator/advisor will be doing regular check ups to make
sure that any especially regular CAS attendance and evidence is in place. These will appear as
assignments in Lectio and absence will be given if deadlines are nor respected.

8. Communications

We are well aware of the problems we face with gathering IB students together within the school
day due to the fullness of the academic timetable. For this reason, we have established a number of
means of giving CAS information and support to help you to get the best out of the programme

We will circulate information on CAS and other IB issues in the following four ways:

 CAS classes scheduled in Lectio – it is mandatory to attend all CAS events arranged within
the time table and attendance lists will be recorded.
 IB notice board – opposite to the IB office in the V-sector.
 Lectio messages (“Beskeder”) – important messages will be e-mailed to students using
Lectio.
 E-mail – you will get a notification in your e-mail box whenever the is a message for you in
ManageBac

It is expected of you that you check your e-mail and Lectio messages daily and that you
regularly pass by the IB notice board!

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 Let’s kick
CAS…..
9. CAS failing conditions

You cannot be awarded the IB Diploma without passing CAS! If you follow the guidelines given
by the CAS-coordinator/advisors you will never fail CAS……

Based on past experiences special attention should be giving to:

- not keeping the CAS Student Log Book up to date

- not attending the scheduled reviews
- showing up at the reviews unprepared
- not carrying out CAS regularly for a total of 18 months (several empty weeks in the log book)
- cheating with the documentation of experiences/projects
- not respecting internal deadlines
- not targeting (and documenting this!) each of the 7 learning outcomes at least two times
- not regularly (every 2 weeks) updating CAS Managebac
- not having a project exceeding 2 months in length and targeting learning outcome 3 and 5
- not having a high quality service project helping out an official voluntary organisation in the local
community
- not attending the Lectio scheduled CAS classes/events

Normally warnings will be given first time crossing the above criteria. Crossing them twice you
will seriously jeopardize your IB Diploma – at least getting it on time!!!

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 Is jeopardizing the quality of your work really worth it?

10. Checklist for carrying out CAS

Please run through the checklist below before getting started with your CAS-experience/project!

Before applying
 It is a proper CAS experience/project (new, challenging, impactful and personal developing?)
 I have an adult, responsible person (not student/family related!) who will be present during the
action phase and who can supervise and evaluate me? If not the CAS-advisor can supervise if
incontestable documentation can be provided!
 The experience/project can be properly documented to IBO.

Applying to get started via https://kolding.managebac.com/login

 I have filled in all the boxes in MB “Add CAS experience” (experience name, CAS-project?,
approaches?, dates, full supervisor info).
 I have estimated the no. of hours going to be spent in C/A/S (and if relevant specified type of
service)
 I have stated the description using full sentences in such a way that a person who is not familiar
with my CAS-programme can understand what I will be doing (future-tense!) and goals. Please
include informative details!
 I have stated which of the 7 learning outcomes are being targeted (1-2 per experience/project!).

During the experience/project and until it stops

 I am saving and uploading the documentation requested by the CAS advisor.
 I have “Add new reflections” during (every 2 weeks!) and on completion of the experience/project
addressing the learning outcomes targeted (proving/arguing for the fulfilment of them!) via
Managebac.
 I am keeping my handwritten or electronically log book up to date.
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Before requesting Supervisor review
 I have uploaded the requested documentation via Managebac (file, photo or scan).
 I have adjusted the estimated no. of hours to the actual no. of hours spent

Requesting for Supervisor review

 Request for the supervisor to review your effort via Managebac

After doing so the Managebac programme will automatically contact the supervisor via e-mail and
request for a comment on your performance (so please instruct your supervisor to respond to the e-
mail received!) and finally the CAS-advisor will complete the experience/project (it will be locked and
cannot be modified further!)

11. CAS Student Log Book (handwritten or electronically filled!)

2024 Experience/project name C A S Hours

Week 33 1st day in school
(2i) Introduction to CAS

Week 34

Week 35 Introduction to CAS

Week 36 Introduction to CAS

Week 37 Introduction to CAS

Week 38

Week 39

Week 40

Week 41 CAS check point 1

Week 42 Midterm break

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Week 43

Week 44

Week 45 1st review

Week 46 1st review

Week 47

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L/2

2024 Experience/project name C A S Hours

Week 48
Profile grades

Week 49

Week 50

Week 51

Week 52 X-mas break

2025
Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6 Check point 2

Week 7 Winter break

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10 2nd review

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L/3

2025 Experience/project name C A S Hours

Week 11
2nd review

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14 Easter break

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

Week 19

Week 20 CAS check point 3

Week 21

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24

Week 25

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L/4

2025 Experience/project name C A S Hours

Week 26 Summer break starting

Week 27

Week 28

Week 29

Week 30

Week 31

Week 32 Summer break ending

(3i)

Week 33

Week 34

Week 35

Week 36

Week 37 Check point 4

Week 38

Week 39

Week 40

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L/5

2025 Experience/project name C A S Hours

Week 41

Week 42 Midterm break

Week 43

Week 44 3rd review

Week 45 3rd review

Week 46

Week 47

Week 48

Week 49

Week 50 Check point 5

Week 51

Week 52 X-mas break

2026
Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

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L/6

2026 Experience/project name C A S Hours

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6 Final check point

Week 7 Winter break

Week 8 Mock exams

Week 9 Mock exams

Week 10 4th Review

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13 Deadline for approval of CAS

31st of March 2026

Week 14

Week 15

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