CAS Creativity - Ping Pong Machine Design

We have been playing ping pong for 1.5 year, which we have started to play at the beginning of IB1, in school. The school has a ping pong table and we are playing every day. The problem we have been facing from the very beginning is that we lack of ping pong balls. Due to we don’t have any area to store balls, we bring them at every break and then leave it. They were lost and every time we need to bring another ball. In a day, sometimes we lose 2 or 3 balls and therefore, everyone was complaining about the lack of balls. This problem leads me to find a solution and find that we need a ping pong ball storage area besides the table. My friend Arda joined me in this process. I organized this event as a CAS Creativity Experience and I designed a compact ball machine which we all can access easily to it. It has a suitable design for both to store balls and to put balls into it after playing. At 8 May, I visited my uncle, he is a mechanical engineer, and we assembled the machine. He also helped me to draw the mechanical drawing of the machine.

I was always bad at time management, I have been struggling during the process of doing something and leaving it until the last minute. But in this project, in a limited amount of time, I decided to do a ping pong ball machine and actually produced it in a short time. I’ve already identified my weakness on time management and develop it accordingly. I wasn’t previously actually undertaken this skill, I’ve always had struggles about time management on many IB Internal Assessments, projects and also in my personal project.

I planned this CAS creativity experience and I can say that this can be my best organization ever in IB program. I collaborated with my best friend and decided to find a solution to a common problem in a short amount of time. I designed the structure and shape of the machine where my uncle helped me about the technical interface and assembling it. I showed my experience about this project and planning, by collaboration with my friend.

With the help of the contribution of my friend, we planned this project in a pair. He sometimes denies what I said and thought of a different design, which were the challenges of the process. The benefits were deciding in common and sharing the costs of ping pong balls. Overall, doing this project with a pair, rather than by myself is great.

CAS Action - Skiing in Erciyes, Turkey

From 27^th to 30^th January 2017, I went to Kayseri, Erciyes, one of the famous skiing places in Turkey to have a winter holiday. I started to skiing when I was 8 years old and still, every year I ski in different regions in Turkey such as Uludağ, Kartalkaya and Erciyes. As well as I enjoy skiing, it is also an action experience for CAS.

I ski nearly every year (although some exceptions occur) so I try not to stop skiing. I showed commitment and perseverance by skiing every day minimum for 8 hours and skiing every year with learning new abilities. At the age of 8, when I start to ski, I know only basic ski movements, only skiing fast and stopping. But then, with the help of skiing every year and learning new skills year by year, I think that I developed myself. Now, I am able to perform various skiing skills, perform movements better than I were. So, committing to this event developed my ability to ski.

While skiing, doing some movements such as rapid turns and climbing to the mountain with skis forces me. Skiing from so steep tracks are hard for me. Also, fully slaloming by lying my body is hard to do. In order to achieve these enormous skills, I concentrated on my hobby and work hard every day.

Some benefits of skiing are body development, due to training your every muscle while skiing, learning a new winter sport created me an opportunity to experience a different kind of sport. I learned that attending regularly to a sport enhances your development.

CAS Action - Fitness and Ping pong

I’ve been regularly attending to gym from the beginning of November 2017, it’s been 8 months and I went to gym at every Saturday and Sunday except some exceptions. Going to gym developed my understanding of how life is integrated with sports, because before this year, I don’t have an understanding of going regularly to gym. I play ping pong at the gym and I can observe that my skills, my technique has improved. Besides ping pong, I do fitness within the framework of my personal program, which means my personal trainer prepared a program which only suits my needs. Therefore, it is focused to develop me.

I start to train myself regularly after I started to do sports. Thus, I wasn’t so familiar with some machines and exercises. I used to use dumbbells and treadmill, so my skills of using them developed more than the others. I learned how to use new fitness machines and how they train our muscles. For instance, 2 machines which train leg muscles completely have different roles. One of them allows us to strengthen upper leg muscles, whereas the other one allows to train our lower leg muscles.

I can see a small change on my body due to exercising regularly, especially on my arm muscles. In addition to body development, I become familiar with the names of the muscles. Some of them which I learned are biceps, triceps (lower and upper arm), deltoids (upper body), gluteus (bottom), erector spinae (lower bottom under vertebrae), abdominals (belly muscles) and gastro kinemicus (calf muscles).

As you would appreciate, getting used to do fitness isn’t easy to handle. Because body needs to adjust itself to carry additional weight. Some challenges that I’ve handling are getting up early and going to sports even at the busiest time of school. It caused lots of pains on my body while doing that exercise, so continuing with these pains makes me tired. I get used to a new life style with sports beside its challenges.

I used to play ping pong at the primary school, age of 11, which means long time no see ping pong. This year I felt like starting from the very beginning to learn every movement. Forehand, backhand, topspin, leg movements while playing forced me. But I can see a clear change when I compare my self with the beginning of the year. My technique takes a lot of time to develop.

With my personal trainer, we build up a yearly plan to develop my body step by step. This allows me to invite my friends to sport in order to collaborate with them. For instance, playing ping pong requires at least 2 people, while training on some machines, another person to carry the weight or help is required. Thus, working collaboratively is a part of doing sports.

I fully showed commitment by going to sports regularly and composing another fitness program for me after 18 trainings. I showed perseverance by not giving up after several trainings. This progress requires many regular trainings in order to see the development. I believe that I attend to fitness more than everything.

Some consequences challenged me to continue. For example, fitness requires lots of time, in one training at least 2 hours in order to finish the daily program. Other than that, as I said it needs attendance to develop yourself. But, I was patient and I can say that fitness developed me a lot both physically by doing various kinds of activities and by mentally by adapting to a new lifestyle.

 

CAS Creativity and Action - TOK Conference

At 4^th, 5^th and 6^th November, I attended to “The 15^th Annual International Students’ TOK Youth and Culture Conference” in my school, Eyüboğlu which they’ve been organizing this event with only University of Maastricht in the world. This year’s theme was “What is real?” IB2 students performed their TOK presentations in accordance with what topic they have chosen. As well as this TOK conference was instructive in order to prepare us for next year by listening our experienced TOK teachers, it also integrate us with students from other schools by offering us various kinds of creativity and action experiences. We taught our music, art and dance cultures to students from other countries.

First of all, according to our traditions, we believe that people will definitely like everything that we taught. Therefore, in school with professionals, we try to show the key points of the Turkish dance, “Damat Halayı.” Then, one of the important art techniques of Turkish culture, Ebru is showed to students. Every people creates unique designs, like they are professionals. And then, the last of all, music culture which we select to teach rhythm and percussion is executed with all the school community.

As you would appreciate, trying to teach different things to foreign people is difficult from our perspective, and trying to learn is difficult in their perspective. Therefore, we naturally develop our skill of teaching. I know that my weak side is music, whereas I’m strong in terms of drawing, which means I even develop my ability to play music instruments in sync with others. Also, it’s the second time that I’m learning rhythm and percussion. 

Both artworks and dance movements aren’t suitable for working individually, these are for working collaboratively, because the dance is played with the group and when art pieces are combined, the whole picture is seen. It has some benefits to work collaboratively such as if one of us couldn’t make it, the others can help. Also, while playing with the music instruments, like an orchestra, the whole sound is heard.

Some challenges like communication problems while dancing and making music doesn’t even affect our enthusiasm. Because the activities were so entertaining that we all participated. I thought of if every group of people showed their country’s culture we would have learned better.

We showed commitment by coming to school for 3 days and attending to every session. Before the conference some pre-presentations are shown to us in order to inform us, so this was a 1-week progress.

At the end, my first TOK conference is united with one of my CAS experiences and I enjoyed a lot.

CAS Action Experience - Steptember

At 2 September, all the IB students started the activity called “Steptember”. The objective of the activity is to create awareness about celebral palsy disease by walking 10.000 steps per day. We demonstrate that we aren’t just collecting money from people, we also create a chance to walk and exercise. This is why the name of the organization is comprising of step and September.

After we walk, approximately 10.000 steps per day, we entered the numbers of steps to the web site of steptember. Money is collected from the school community, which means majority of the people contributed to the activity.

Since we walked approximately 10.000 steps per day, it is sometimes hard to attain this number. I often have exercise, increasingly during IB period, most likely I run, walk and do fitness. It was hard to complete 10.000 steps in first days, however, I developed and adapted myself and get used to complete 10.000 steps. At first, I was laboring to compete steps after school, which was pretty troublesome, afterwards I become more engaged with walking and managed to complete it within the time limits of school. I realized my skills and developed my growth in terms of being able to walk. At least, I have some skills to attend extracurricular activities whereas, at some times I slog on walking.

During this activity, all the students contributed to the activity to raise fund for celebral palsy disease. It is significant to work collaboratively. We also had an opportunity to play sports instead of walking, they are both valid. With my previous experiences and knowledge, I tried to obey the number of steps and raise fund at the first week. I conveyed the message to my other friends and my family, thus they committed to the activity.

This is a continual activity; therefore, it is necessary to show commitment. We showed commitment by walking every day about 10.000 steps regularly and showed perseverance with finishing 10.000 steps off. Also waiting for getting money from both teachers and my friends is a demanding continuum.

Celebral palsy is a vital disease which restricts people’s body movements. It represents a global significance due to there are lots of patients across the world. It is estimated that 500.000 children and adults in the United States are diagnosed one or more of the symptoms of cerebral palsy. It is both a national and an international event due to symbolizing a common disease’s Turkey stand. Therefore, steptember presents us both an “action event”, and a “creative event” ensuring global significance working on a widespread disease.

This event encloses action and creativity because we designed some action plans for fund raising, for instance creating boxes and placing them to floors is creativity, whereas walking and having exercise is the action part.  

CAS Project - İzmir Trip, Helping a School

At 8-9 June, we went to İzmir for our CAS project, which we have planned to help a public school. İzmir Menemen Fatma Koşay Primary School have been lack of computers, projectors and some basic sport goods. My classmate Özde, which is the head of this organization planned this CAS project and offered us to contribute.

In this project we aimed to fulfill the requirements of creativity by teaching how to apply sophisticated art techniques, by teaching some activities such as several games and by teaching them how to dance. We try to “service” them by providing computers to encourage them to integrate with technology, before we went to meet with sponsors in order to convince them to supply us some computers. We aimed that if they contribute this event, they will have an opportunity to advertise their brand. We try to engage students with sports, for instance playing sports and extracurricular activities trying to fulfilling the requirements of action.

We formed some groups according to our own strengths, for instance I was in group of extracurricular activity and sports because I know that my ability is strength in terms of activities. Therefore, I identified myself as a good player and select my group as sports group. I try to join and contribute other groups such as dancing and painting in order to try myself and develop my areas of weaknesses.

We have executed 3 meetings with sponsors regularly in order to receive computers, but importantly, the organization progress, meetings with sponsors, informing our school community about the activity in order to collect donation, which all took nearly 7 months. We, as a group start from informing our school community. I personally design one of the creative eye-catchy posters and continued this progress by making announcements in classes.

When we arrive there, we first served foods to kids to make them happy. This was both the happiest and gloomiest part of the project because giving food and witnessing to their happiness is amazing. On the other hand, due to their economic conditions, it’s obvious that they can’t afford live prosperously. But providing prosperous conditions made us happy.

Besides pros, this project has some cons like every project. Our critical reflection and cross-questioning ourselves is a bit quite challenging. Comparing these kids with our childhood make us to realize our chance that we’ve been experiencing. Although we’re living in the same country, due to our different cultures and backgrounds we had some difficulties while we’re trying to communicate. Instructing and organizing kids, make them listen to us, being a leader forced us.

This project developed our skills of communication, organization and planning. We handled this event by demonstrating creativity, action and service, and also make students happy.

CAS Nehir's Steps - Awareness Walk

At 24 September, Sunday, we went to Istanbul Technical University’s campus (İTÜ) for trekking. There is a social awareness for leukemia project called “Nehir’s Steps”. Nehir was a kid who passed away from leukemia and her father decided to organize a walk for her memory; also, the money gained from sold t-shirts is donated to foundation which they are dealing with cancer.

When we go there, we first buy t-shirts per person which they are 50 TL. Except us, the IB students, there are lots of people existing there to help kids with cancer. With the first whistle, majority starts to run, some walked. With a great start, after a minute I was 5^th. I can see the 4 people in front of me. After 5 minutes, gradually I get exhausted and keep ran slowly due to not training so often. I finished the 5-6 km route in 30-40 minutes approximately.

I love playing sports, both individual and team sports. They both have different pleasures. I enjoy walking and running. Because they teach people how to be effective on every second from start to finish. I am good at starting parts of the competitions; however, I can’t manage myself so ideally that I am couldn’t finish the walking or running without being almost played out.

I experienced a real long-haul walking/running organization which contains from ramps and descents. The most challenging part of the process is the 10-15 minutes after start, because I felt almost dead and live the moment that I can’t even breath. Likewise, I compelled at the ramps which they were at the end of the runway, it challenges me a lot, after 5 km running and walking, the last ramps feel even hard. I developed my body strength slightly and oxygen capacity. Also after 5 minutes from start, a friend of mine fell and he had a minor injury which we led him to the race again. We helped him and learned that how should I interact with a stressed person who had an injury and basically how to interfere him in case of a first aid situation.

I showed perseverance by admitting the walk, keeping it till the end without giving up. We worked collaboratively when donating them money, walking together with all the people who are trying to help cancer and when helping the injured friend, we showed that how we are connected to each other and what we are doing. This CAS action helped me to develop my body, how to manage my breathe and one on one friend communications. In addition, I developed my self-management skills by managing myself, according to the phases of the activity. Social skills by meeting new people at there, which aren’t from our school, discussing about the walking with my friends.

We accord the rules, don’t invade the rules of the University. We run and walk according to the establishment’s directions, for instance following the common pathway, our paramount objective is donating money to kids with cancer, walking for them alongside.

CAS Camp Şile

At 8-9 September, we went to Şile for CAS camp. The camp was so interesting than normal, because we don’t have so much opportunities going for camp in the city of Istanbul. We have chance to play volleyball, football, do canoeing, creating some intelligent and authentic works and collect rubbishes from the beach.

As we played volleyball, I realized that how important the role of coordination in team sports is, because when you I’m playing one on one with my friend, you’re almost predicting where she can throw the ball, in a match of totally 10 or 12, you should both predict what your teammate will do and so the opponent.  

While playing the survivor game, I realized that I am precise and accurate, because I shot a basket at once. I observed that attention payed to games raise the quality of your work. When your rival team is carrying the ball on the stick slowly but fully concentrated, oppositely if you’re carrying it fast but not attentive, then they will win. I learned how to create tactics: analyzing their skills and then preparing your movement accordingly.

I get used to stay in a tent -even it’s a one night-and adapted to the cold. I learned that camping technics are that important you to have a qualified time in total. I decided to start camping education after this experience, because I fully enjoyed it.

The most challenging part of the camp was building the tents, getting used to cold and sleeping in the tents. We received the camping materials and built up the tent. There are a few materials that we’re not be used to it. Everyone slept in their boiler suits. I learned how to set up a tent firstly, then to move inside and respect everyone according to their wishes. At home, we are free people with our family, most of the time my ideas are matched with my family so there isn’t any significant problem; however, during the night time in the tent, some wanted to sleep earlier than us, some stayed around the camp fire till the sun rise, so you must respect everyone’s ideas and conducts. The paramount skill I’ve achieved is respecting each other.

I participated the sports activities, creativity based activities and community service. I initiate to football and volleyball games during our free time. I advised that we should watch stars from a higher and a darker place because light pollution affects the visual quality rate of stars negatively, also advised that the night walk can be longer because experiencing a long night walk can be a good promotion of camping.

We played survivor game and canoed. During this process, we supported and helped each other. I showed my collaboration and taught how to direct canoe, because I did it few times, that’s why I know. Although it is hard to survive in survivor game, gave tactics and supported my friends as possible I can. I showed a great perseverance to the sports and art activities by both respecting my teammates’ ideas and showing patience to the long process. For instance, collecting rubbish from the coast took a time way too much as I expected, but because of working collaboratively we easily overcome the challenge.

I’ve realized and experienced other’s support. For example,by getting help during setting up the tent, trying to race with the canoe, we specified some rules, importantly, the game which we played at the beach consisting of every teammate of our team provides me to experience the collaboration in best way. I learned some key points from my friends. The benefits are specifically, increase on my strength, even it’s a two-day program, analyzing your opponent critically and producing relevant solutions accordingly, more importantly, moving and deciding with your team, producing common and agreed ideas.

During the camp time, I am aware of my environment. Water, food and security are the prior global issues that we might have faced with. Thank god, they didn’t vitally affect our health. We find fresh water; the camping management gave us food and the security of us was provided by again the campmanagement.

We accord to the rules and the ethical issues such as respect to each other, to the nature and animals. We run the camp process according to our plans within the framework in creativity, activity, service.