The Final Steps- - Reflection and Evaluation

One of the key components of the CAS portion of the IB Diploma Programme is reflection and final evaluation.  The student must reflect on all CAS activities.  . 

Within each student’s CAS notebook he or she must include*:

·         written or visual evidence of the student’s involvement - - think pictures

·         evidence of planning and organization

·         evidence of commitment and effort

·         reflection of the student’s personal achievement and development, taking into account skills, attitudes and values at the start of the activity and at the end of the activity.

The reflective pieces are written for each activity of ten hours or less; the responses may be written in question form or in lieu of writing individual answers an essay response that considers each of the questions may be done.

This is a self-evaluation of your personal performances and should reflect:

1.      The extent to which you develop personally as a result of the activity.

2.      The understanding, skills and values you acquired through the activity.

3.      The benefit you consider the activity was or may be to others.

Some things to consider when writing a reflection. . .

• What did I do and where did I do it?

• What did I hope to learn?

• How successful have I been?

• What difficulties were encountered and how did I overcome them?

• What did I learn about myself? What did I learn about other people?

• What abilities, attitudes and values have I developed?

• Did anyone help me? With who have I interacted?

• How did this activity benefit other people or institutions?

• What would I change if I were to do this again?

Reflections are to record changes, successes and challenges during the program. These entries should prove quite helpful when as you compose their CAS essay at the end of their junior and senior years. It is NOT meant to be merely a record of time spend and/or activities undertaken.

CAS Final Essay

REFLECTION ON YOUR CREATIVITY, ACTION AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Each student has to complete an essay summarizing and reflecting on the CAS experience as a whole. The paper should touch on the information related to the following guide questions along with anything else that a student wishes to share and reflect upon regarding the CAS experiences. The contents of questions overlap somewhat and are meant to be prompts for writing.

Guide Questions

1. What types of activities did you choose and why did you choose them?
2. What did you learn about the people with whom you worked?
3. How have your experiences broadened your understanding of other ethnic or cultural viewpoints? A culture may include institutions, clubs, communities, etc.
4. To what extent did contact with people having differing viewpoints and experiences broaden your own views?
5. What did you learn about yourself through your participation in CAS activities?

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