Introduction to TOK, CAS & EE

for Parents/Students

Class of 2019

TOK (Theory of Knowledge)

Skills Developed in the Core

● Communication● Collaboration● Self Management● Research● Thinking

What hopes do you have for your child, yourself?

● Personal Fulfillment

● Health

● Happiness

● Compassion for others

● Remember these points

What is CAS?● CAS is organized around three strands: creativity, activity and

service defined as follows.

● Creativity—exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance ● Are you making something new?

● Activity—physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle ● Does it make you sweat?

● Service—collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need

What CAS isn’t... It’s not a

● CAS should not be just another obligation that your child HAS to do.

● CAS should be something they WANT to do.

● Why?

Preparation for Life● CAS is a chance to explore passions, develop skills, take

risks, lead projects, collaborate with others, persevere, evaluate choices, learn responsibility, make ethical decisions, and sometimes to fail and forge on

● The CAS guide for the class of 2017 is the first that emphasizes the importance of FUN!

Learning Outcomes● Identify own strengths and develop areas for

growth● Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken,

developing new skills in the process● Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS

experience● Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS

experiences● Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of

working collaboratively● Demonstrate engagement with issues of global

significance●Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and

actions

Duration of CAS● CAS is completed over an 18 month period. Beginning of

Junior Year through the beginning of second semester of senior year. This has broken down into 4 quarters.

● Students are supposed put equal emphasis each strand –Creativity, Activity, Service

Expectations for DCHSThe 18 month duration of CAS is broken up into 4 quarters: August to

December (junior year), January to April (junior year), May to

November (junior into senior year), and December to March (senior

year).

A “weekly commitment” is defined as undertaking experiences (either

one extended* or three isolated* experiences) in all three of the

strands throughout each quarter.

● an extended activity is an ongoing activity which lasts for a

month or more (for example: consistent involvement in a sport,

club, activity, or service experience)

● an isolated activity is an activity that does not extend over a

long period of time or really even a day; usually your involvement

begins and ends on the same day or couple of days (for example:

water ambassador program, outdoor ed counselor, single service

experience, 10K walk/run)

CAS Project (collaborative)● IB placing increased emphasis on the stages

How will students document their experiences?

● At DCHS we use ManageBac, online platform.

● Students will be assigned an advisor to support them through the entire CAS journey.

● Students will also be supported in their CAS program through Homeroom.

What is Extended Essay (EE)?

● “Promotes high level research, writing

skills, and intellectual discovery and

creativity”

● Research is based on student choice of

inquiry - 27 possible subject areas

(Dance, Film, Peace & Conflict)

The Details

● EE process begins in during the junior

year and is completed by October of

senior year

● EE is approximately 4,000 words

Support Offered

● Students work with trained faculty

advisors in developing research

questions and finding resources

● Supervisors act as mentors not

instructors

● They have six meetings with their

supervisor: 3 formal and 3 informal

Support (cont.)

● Students receive instruction in the

general qualities of the EE in HR

(supervisors are subject area experts)

● Students receive support outside of the

classroom as well ($80 cost through

IBPO); we use the Auraria library 3 days

and sponsor a 1-day writing workshop

Sample Extended Essay Titles● The Effects of Ayurvedic Medicine and Allopathic

Medicine on Breast Cancer Treatment● An Evaluation of the Political Dispute of Foreign Oil

Companies in the Niger Delta● Peace Organizations and the Effects on Children in

Israel and Palestine

● The Evaluation of the Efficacy and Practicality of

Pest Control Methods for the Phlebotomus paatasi,

with a Focus on Sterilization, Biological Control and

Pesticides

● The Fibonacci Sequence in the Practical World

Questions?

If you have questions after tonight….

Please contact either of us:

Kimberly CleverLeah Yates