New CAS microsite

I know this post should have preceded the other two posts below, and I apologize for any confusion brought about by the delay in announcing (and clarifying) the changes. YES, as you may have figured out by now, there is a new CAS microsite for Brent Subic.

Although this blog has served its purpose quite well in getting information and program procedures out to the public, the new microsite promises to make all this information and its different levels more accessible. The Navigation Panel at the bottom of each page should make it easier to jump from topic to topic, and there should be less digging through page links to get the information you need. Also, helpful information and tips previously shared as posts on this blog tend to get buried under all the more current material as the year progresses. This issue is easily circumvented with the new microsite with its unlimited static pages and the new forum feature. (Should you have a question or concern that is not directly answered in any of the individual pages of the microsite, you can start a topic in the forum, CAS Talk, created specifically to help facilitate discussion about issues, concerns, and ideas about the CAS program.) A contact page with an easy-to-use form is now also available, enabling site visitors an easy and convenient way to send questions, suggestions, or feedback without having to leave the site or open a separate browser window/tab for their mail client.

These and several other features of the new site have made the decision to migrate easy for me. One thing I do miss is not being able to use the "http://brentsubiccas..." url (yet). I believe it helped this blog show up in internet searches more often. The convenience, though, of having all the information I need for my students in one location outweighed this particular feature. Hopefully those of you who did find your way to this blog through your searches won't mind one more click to be re-directed to a more robust incarnation of this information portal. :-)

I am still in the process of migrating the rest of the information from this blog's static pages to their new home. Some of these pages received needed updates, others full re-writes to address the weaknesses of last year's program and processes. I encourage you to have a look at (and bookmark) the new CAS microsite if you have found any of the information on this blog useful. For the time-being, I will continue to re-post CAS-related material here to reach those of you who have subscribed to this blog (or may stumble upon it through a Google search).

(Got feedback, a comment, or suggestion for the new site? Something you'd like to see/featured? Please do let me know. Thanks.)

-mistahTee

UPDATE: POCCH Visit

Here’s a proposed breakdown of the activities for tomorrow’s interaction with the kids from POCCH:

4:00 - 4:15  Name tags, groupings, group cheer
4:15 - 4:30  Activity #1: Ping-Pong Relay
4:30 - 4:45  Activity #2: Elbow Tag
4:45 - 5:00  Activity #3: Human Bingo
5:00 - 5:40  Merienda and Playground time
5:40 - 5:45  Group photos and load up the bus

For those who can make it, let’s meet in the Spirit Shop at 3:15pm to discuss the basics of the activities and what possible role/s you can fulfill for the afternoon’s event. If you have something at that time, then just come see me any time during the day (except 3rd block coz I have class) so I can brief you and answer any questions you might have.
A big THANK YOU to those who have emailed to say that they will be helping out. See you all tomorrow.

Jumpstarting Journals

I have noticed that some of you are having difficulty in fulfilling the journal requirements for your CAS activities. Remember that the expectation is that you write journal entries regularly (generally once a month) for each activity or project that you are actively involved in. Here are some tips on how to get yourself in the groove to write:

• Journal Entry #1: Self-assessment

Make it a point to write a journal entry when you start each activity. You can use the following questions as writing prompts:

• What is my past experience with this activity?
• What new learning or skill do I hope to achieve or develop?
• How will this experience be different from that of the past?
• How am I going to know if I am making progress in achieving the goal/s I have set?

Answering these questions should help clarify where you are headed and what needs to be done for each activity.

• Staggered Journaling

Avoid having to write multiple journal entries in one sitting. Instead, spread out your journaling sessions into 3- or 4-week cycles. For example, Week 1 would be journaling for Activity A, Week 2 for Activity B, Week 3 for Activity C, and so on. Your reflections should certainly be more authentic and sincere as a result of this practice.

• Journals as Checkpoints

Set short-term goals that you hope to accomplish before the next journaling session. Your can then write about whether or not you achieved these short-term goals and the reasons and factors that affected each outcome.

These are just some simple ways to help develop the practice of journal writing. Journals provide you with opportunities to reflect on your experiences and record your insights and learning in a timely and organized manner. As an added benefit, you will have a better resource (than just your memories) to draw from when you need to write your final reflections at the end of each activity or project.

Happy journaling =)

Friendly Reminders

We are nearing the end of the second week of the semester now and I believe that you have had more than enough time to get your programs back on track (for those of you who have already started, that is). A couple of reminders to help you get on your way:

• All Juniors should be done with their first interview. This means that we should have had a meeting about the activities you plan to take part in for the year. If you have not done this yet, you must see me ASAP. 
  • Set up an appointment using the CAS calendar.
  • Download the CAS Planning form from this link and type in the necessary information. Then email me the form with your answers. (There is no need to print this form.) Forms must be sent in the day before our scheduled meeting, at the latest.

For everyone else already hard at work with their programs:

• Remember to write a journal entry at least every month for your long term projects, and one journal entry every 2 or three weeks for projects of a shorter duration. (Post these journal entries on your blogs, or send them to me via email. If you are using a written journal, make sure to have your supervisor sign your entries.)
• Within two weeks after your activity or project is finished, make sure to post your final reflection on your blog (or email it to cas@brentsubic.edu.ph... or write it in your notebook or diary). Check our CAS blog (Reflection page) for some guide questions. You can also refer to page 9 of your Student Handbook for CAS. 
• Provide your supervisor with a copy of (or access to) your final reflection and a copy of the supervisor’s evaluation form that they are to answer for you. Make sure that you get this evaluation form to the coordinator. This completes the requirements for that particular project or activity.

Juniors, we will be having our second CAS interview beginning mid-February. By that time, we will check on your progress and see how close or how far you are from hitting the 8 learning outcomes of the program. Make sure to take the necessary steps to be prepared for this session.
Seniors, your final interviews will be scheduled for the latter half of March. Please use the time between now and that time to make sure that everything is in order with your programs.

For comments, concerns, suggestions, extra guidance, please come see me.

Touching Base and Catching Up

Welcome back, guys! I hope you made the most of your vacation with your family and friends. Now it’s time to get back on track (well, at least for those who didn’t get to do any CAS work over the break).

I was very happy to receive a handful of proposals over the holidays, and even happier to hear about the work that some of your peers were doing while on vacation. Abbas and Akber were involved in a restoration project in Italy and I am looking forward to reading about their experiences and seeing the some of the photos they were able to take. Armand and William were actually involved in a medical mission with the Tzu Chi foundation even before we went on break last December. Cindy, together with a couple of other Juniors (Kevin and Solina, if I’m not mistaken) took riding classes at El Kabayo just a few weeks back. I know of a couple of seniors who were supposed to have done some CAS work as well, and I will let you know about their accomplishments soon. (I am waiting to hear from them first.)

This is all good news for those who were able to stay productive during the break. One reminder for these busy bees: please update your blogs with your journal entries. If your activity has concluded, then you have two weeks from the date of completion to write and post your final reflection. Then, we need to get the evaluation from your supervisor. Once these necessary steps are done, then we can update the status of your project from Finished to Complete.

We do have some ongoing projects that might be of interest to those of you who haven’t really gotten their feet wet in CAS. The outreach work with POCCH (Philippine Outreach Center Children’s Home) had a successful first visit last December and we’re looking forward to more regular encounters with the children this semester. Production is coming up, and so is the ISAC tournament. And of course, 2nd semester clubs are starting in two weeks as well. If you are interested in getting involved in any of these activities, or, if you have questions about what’s involved, then drop by the CAS office (or email me!).

Stay tuned for more updates and possible service activities.

Let’s welcome 2011 with positive expectations. Go Razorbacks!

Deadlines

Important Reminders:

Reflection essays for the International Coastal Cleanup must be turned in or posted on your blogs by tonight. (It has been two weeks since the event, right?)

Proposals for Girls' Basketball and Boys' Soccer are due this week. Talk to your respective Coaches if you need help setting achievable / demonstrable goals appropriate for you and your CAS program.

Online Activity Proposal Form

Here's a sample of the CAS Activity Proposal form. Use this form for all the activities you will be proposing for the year, including any activities that you may be continuing from last year. You can access the form by clicking on the image below (link also available on the Resources page on this blog). Don't forget to click "Submit" when you're done.

You will be able to edit your responses to this form whenever necessary, even after you've clicked "Submit". All changes will be reflected on my spreadsheet where all the data you input will be stored.

Make sure to check the box right before the "Submit" button which says, "Send me a copy of my responses."

Doing so will get you  a copy of your responses via email. I suggest that you copy your form responses from this email and make it a post in your blog. Why? For several reasons:

1. You have another copy of your activity proposal should something go wrong with your email account.
2. Posting your activity proposal makes it much easier for me to comment on and ask questions about it through the comments section. We can share this with your supervisor as well to get further feedback.
3. This becomes additional documentation for the planning stage of each activity. All our conversations will be threaded and be easier to follow.

In case you don't have a blog or it's just not your thing, then forward the email you received to etolentino@brentsubic.edu.ph and I'll send my comments, questions, and suggestions via email as well.

Sounds like a win-win situation for just a little bit of extra effort, right? Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get to work! =)

For the Seniors

For those of you who are done with the Self-Review, use this document to help sort out what you've done so far for CAS. This can help you determine what you have to focus on for your second year.

CAS Year 2 Planning form

Hope this helps =)


(Check our CAS calendar for deadlines.)

CAS Step-by-Step (Part One)

A couple of your classmates have been asking very similar questions about how to go about their CAS work. Here's a quick run-through of the steps to be taken and forms to be filled out to get things started:

Step 1:  Answer this Self-Review document.

Step 2:  Have a planning session (or sessions, if necessary) with your CAS coordinator (or chosen faculty advisor) to identify possible projects/activities you can initiate or take part in.

You can use this form to help you organize your ideas.

Step 3:  Once you've sorted out your initial projects/activities, fill out the online CAS Activity Proposal form for EACH project or activity. Read more about this step and the additional instructions from this post.

Learn more about the Learning Outcomes of the program here (also found on page 6 of the Subic CAS Student handbook).

Step 4:  Once your proposal is approved, fill in the details for the CAS Planning Form (page 16 of the Subic CAS Student Handbook). Begin carrying out your plans.

Step 5:   Make sure to document your work regularly. Have your supervisor sign off on your activity log for every entry you make. Write about whatever you're doing, accomplishing, and/or struggling with in your journal/blog at least once a week until your project/activity is completed. (Don't forget to take photos or videos if applicable.)

Hopefully these first 5 steps help clarify the things you need to do to get started. Leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions.