Talk:IB Diploma Programme/Archive 5

Archive #2

Can we archive sections 1-9 ("criticism" through "copied from article") as they date from May and appear to be inactive? La mome (talk) 18:50, 14 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Job done! Ewen (talk) 15:28, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Ewen! Next time, I'll try to figure out how to do it instead of asking someone else. I am slowly learning the ins and outs of editing. Cheers La mome (talk) 21:48, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

CAS

A while back someone who identified himself/herself as a student changed the CAS hour requirement from 150 to 180. I linked this http://www.ibo.org/ibaem/conferences/documents/JohnCannings.pdf where it clearly states a minimum of 150 hours during the course of 18 months. Cheers La mome (talk) 22:36, 14 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm changing the CAS section as there is no 150 hour requirement. This was so until the current academic year but it changed. --Candy (talk) 14:43, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I have no problem with eliminating what actually constituted a "standard" (150 hours) of some sort for one of the IB DP's "Core" requirements. It just goes to prove that the 3 Core requirements are the fluff and nonsense part of the DP. ;-) ObserverNY (talk) 14:57, 16 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY[reply]

ObserverNY.- Perhaps read the changes before you add a comment? --Candy (talk) 15:28, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, I see you made a small novel out of the CAS section, especially since IB students seem to be very proud of being able to "fake" CAS. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=903969 Way too much information. ObserverNY (talk) 19:10, 16 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY[reply]

There's no need to be sarcastic, everyone!

The CAS section is getting a little long now that it's been updated. The new requirements seem a little harder to express concisely? I'd suggest using the specific page for more detail.

As an aside, it's useful having protagonists in different time zones isn't it? It gives people time to calm down and think before answering. It's a conscious effort to keep civil sometimes but we're managing it more often than not.

Ewen (talk) 21:05, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Protagonist? Moi? Not a propagandist? Oh that's good, I must be moving up the evolutionary scale. ;-) ObserverNY (talk) 21:33, 16 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY[reply]

Candy-The changes you made to the CAS section are fine with me. I think there still is a guideline of a minimum of 150 hours, but as you have said, there is more of a focus on the learning outcomes. La mome (talk) 21:46, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi la Mome. FYI. The quote from Section 1 page 6 of the guide I referenced is' "This focus on learning outcomes emphasizes that it is the quality of a CAS activity (its contribution to the student’s development) that is of most importance. The guideline for the minimum amount of CAS activity is approximately the equivalent of half a day per school week (three to four hours per week), or approximately 150 hours in total, with a reasonable balance between creativity, action and service. “Hour counting”, however, is not encouraged." --Candy (talk) 22:32, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

To all -

The entire CAS section can be reduced to the following and cut out all of the IB flowery jargon:

CAS

Main article: Creativity, Action, Service

CAS is an acronym for Creativity, Action, Service. Students are required to engage in three roughly equally balanced areas of unpaid activities involving social or community work (Service), participation in sports or physical activities (Action), and initiative in creative or artistic activity (Creativity). The guideline for the minimum amount of CAS activity over the two year programme is approximately 150 hours in total. "Hour counting”, however, is not encouraged. [12]

CAS performance and records are documented by the student using official forms (CAS/AEF Forms) which are retained by the school. CAS/CP forms are submitted to the IB regional offices by 1 May and 1 November. If the Diploma Programme candidate does not complete the requirement within two years, the Diploma will not be awarded, even if all other requirements have been satisfactorily met. [13]

There was redundant/conflicting information re 18 mo/2 yrs and also re non-completers. I would like consensus on the above section, please. ObserverNY (talk) 22:09, 16 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY[reply]

Candy--I can't seem to open the #12 link for CAS. ObserverNY--What flowery jargon? You cut out the part about the learning outcomes, which is the essence of CAS, not forms and hours. La mome (talk) 23:14, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

La Mome - You can't open a book reference! It's the CAS curriculum Guide published by the IBO. My understanding is that original sources are quite valid as material in Wikipedia. --Candy (talk) 23:30, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Candy--I had no idea (obviously)---thanks for pointing that out! Good to know. So, we can cite the guides that we can access either through the OCC or purchasing at the IB store. Can you take a look at the changes I made in the EE section and add the citation for the current EE guide? I am new to this and have problems citing sources. Cheers La mome (talk) 23:45, 16 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

LaMome - My proposed revision for the CAS section does indeed cut out what you call the "learning outcomes" but what I call IB subjective rhetoric and unsubstantiated claims. The aims of CAS are to develop students who are reflective thinkers who understand their own strengths and limitations; who identify goals and devise strategies for personal growth; who are willing to accept new challenges and new roles and are aware of themselves as members of communities with responsibilities towards each other and the environment; who are active participants in sustained, collaborative projects and enjoy and find significance in a range of activities involving intellectual, physical, creative and emotional experiences. This entire passage is full of biased adjectives that are unsubstantiated with any specific sources outside of IB's salespitch. "Reflective, find significance, personal growth, enjoy, new challenges, creative and emotional experiences" - a link to the CAS guide like the EE guide can provide anyone who is interested access to reading these "aims" instead of cluttering up the article with IB educationese. I posted a link in this section from students who claim CAS is a "joke" and how they successfully "faked" the requirement. If you want to leave that section in, then I recommend you locate a source which substantiates the claim. Of course, then I expect to be allowed to include the student opinion which contradicts your claim.

-)ObserverNY (talk) 12: 11, 17 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY

ObserverNY - This is not the place to discuss CAS, people who claim to have cheated in their academic studies, the academic integrity of particular students but to discuss improving the article in an encyclopedic way. This is also not a bargaining area or place of tit for tat. --Candy (talk) 12:50, 17 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Candorwein - It's not? Gee, I would have thought a sub-section titled CAS on the discussion page would have been the appropriate place to discuss the CAS portion of the article, but if you can point me to a more appropriate arena, I'm all eyes. Otherwise, I am still awaiting feedback re: my proposed revision to the section as posted above. Since you were the one to insert the flowery "aims" of the component, either defend them with a source which quantitatively confirms IB's "aims", or agree to the revision which factually and more succinctly describes the design of the component. ObserverNY (talk) 13:04, 17 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY[reply]

Since when are you calling the shots here, ObserverNY? I happen to think the CAS section is fine the way it currently is. Others can speak for themselves but I haven't seen anyone else here object to the current wording. You may not like the aims part, and that's too bad, but it accurately describes the goals of the program according to the IBO. Some students will always find a way to game the system and cheat; this does not mean most do, nor does it make CAS and its goals any less meaningful. Candy is right, quit using this discussion page as a platform for your propaganda. I have yet to see any edits of yours that have actually improved the article. Tvor65 (talk) 14:18, 17 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I believe Candy means here is not the place to discuss approval or disapproval of CAS, but to discuss how best to incorporate CAS in an encyclopedic manner. A couple of suggestions to tighten the section: consider moving the sentences re: CAS form submission to the CAS sub-article; consider reworking very long sentence #2. Because the reference is titled "For students graduating in 2010 and thereafter" (in other words students beginning year one of DP now or in the fall), the CAS section must reflect current CAS requirements, aims, and philosophy, with which I agree. Truthkeeper88 (talk) 14:54, 17 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Truthkeeper. "Because the reference is titled "For students graduating in 2010 and thereafter" (in other words students beginning year one of DP now or in the fall)" ... Just to clarify, I understand this to mean students currently in year one of the programme in the Northern Hemisphere (just coming to the end of their first year) and all subsequent students (until the guide changes). I'm "on the run" atm but happy for you to try out some changes to see how it looks and others respond if you want to. (Nothing ventured nothing gained). :) --Candy (talk) 15:10, 17 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi ObserverNY You can either tag the part you are not happy with for a cite or delete it. I will, however, when I have time in the next few days, put an appropriate cite on. You've read the WP guidelines so you know what is appropriate. --Candy (talk) 15:10, 17 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

CAS hours can always be falsely reported anyway. I know a few classmates who did precisely 0 YellowMonkey (cricket calendar poll!) paid editing=POV 02:59, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

So true, YellowMonkey. However, IB advocates seem to think CAS merits a mini-tome's worth of description in the article. Since they finally put the IB language in quotes, I'll not fight it any further. Intelligent people can sift through the IB rhetoric and discern the truth. ObserverNY (talk) 11:07, 25 June 2009 (UTC)ObserverNY[reply]

The article does seem to be overbloated, given that CAS is pretty straightforward and out of around 60 fellow students that I overlapped with, none ever failed it (although some should have) whereas exams and subjects are a much bigger deal. Also, for "action" it isn't just "physical sports", debating and chess are apparently allowed; if they are not, I and a few of my classmates who correctly and transparently declared this ought to have failed. For service, most people went to a lunchtime charity/fundraising club at school, sat at a table and ate their lunch and got their 1 hour's service per week; even though the lunch break was 40minutes I think they all claimed 1 hour YellowMonkey (cricket calendar poll!) paid editing=POV 04:30, 26 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]