Theory of Knowledge Theory of Knowledge IntroductionIntroduction

IB Hexagon

Nature of the SubjectNature of the Subject

• The TOK challenges students and their teachers The TOK challenges students and their teachers to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and areas of knowledge, and to consider the and areas of knowledge, and to consider the role which knowledge plays in a global society. role which knowledge plays in a global society.

• It encourages students to become aware of It encourages students to become aware of themselves as thinkers, to become aware of the themselves as thinkers, to become aware of the complexity of knowledge, and to recognize the complexity of knowledge, and to recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected world.interconnected world.

Nature of the Subject

• The TOK is composed almost entirely of The TOK is composed almost entirely of questions.questions.

• The most central of these questions is ‘How do I, or how do we, know that a given assertion is true, or a given judgement is well grounded?’

Consider History

• The Aztec dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries

• Historical artifacts are silent; they tell us nothing

• It is we that interpret a meaning onto them • Whatever affects these interpretations will also

affect any knowledge claims being made

The prevalent view of the dagger is that it was commonly used by Aztecs for human sacrifice.

Consider Science

• How do we know what the universe is like?

Hubble’s Greatest Discoveries

• Galaxies Evolution

• Speed the Universe is Traveling

• Age of the Universe

• Black Hole Formation

• The Construction of Newly Forming Planets

How do we know what the How do we know what the universe is like?universe is like?

• Have we discovered for ourselves?• How does science answer the questions about

the origin of the universe? • What came before the big bang?• How can science ever hope to give us the

answers?

AimsAims

• Develop a fascination with the richness of Develop a fascination with the richness of knowledge, and an understanding of the knowledge, and an understanding of the empowerment that follows from reflecting on itempowerment that follows from reflecting on it

• Develop an awareness of how knowledge is Develop an awareness of how knowledge is constructed, critically examined, evaluated and constructed, critically examined, evaluated and renewed, by communities and individualsrenewed, by communities and individuals

• develop an understanding of why critically develop an understanding of why critically examining knowledge claims is importantexamining knowledge claims is important

AimsAims

• develop a critical capacity to evaluate develop a critical capacity to evaluate beliefs and knowledge claimsbeliefs and knowledge claims

• make interdisciplinary connectionsmake interdisciplinary connections

• consider that knowledge may place consider that knowledge may place responsibilities on the knowerresponsibilities on the knower

• understand the strengths and limitations of understand the strengths and limitations of individual and cultural perspectivesindividual and cultural perspectives

Nature of the Subject

• The course is made up of four broad categories:

–The Knower and Knowing–Ways of Knowing–Areas of Knowledge –Linking Questions.

The TOK Diagram

The Knower and Knowing

• Nature of Knowing

• Knowers and Sources of Knowledge

• Justification of Knowledge Claims

WAYS OF KNOWING• Sense PerceptionSense Perception

– Nature of Perception– Limitations of Perception

• LanguageLanguage– Nature of Language– Language and Knowledge– Functions of Language– Language and Culture

WAYS OF KNOWING• ReasonReason

– Nature of Reason– Reason and Knowledge– Strengths and Weaknesses of Reason

• EmotionEmotion– Nature of Emotion– Emotion and Knowledge

Areas of Knowledge

• MathematicsMathematics– Definition of Mathematics– Mathematics and Reality– Mathematics and Knowledge Claims– Mathematics and Values

Areas of Knowledge

• Natural SciencesNatural Sciences– Definition of the Natural Sciences– Natural Sciences: Methods of Gaining

Knowledge– Natural Sciences and Knowledge Claims– Natural Sciences and Values– Natural Sciences and Technology– Natural Sciences: Metaphor and Reality

Areas of Knowledge

• Human SciencesHuman Sciences– Definition of the Human Sciences– Human Sciences: Methods of Gaining

Knowledge– Human Sciences and Knowledge Claims– Human Sciences and Values

Areas of Knowledge

• HistoryHistory– Definition of History– History: Methods for Gaining Knowledge– History and Knowledge Claims– History and Values

Areas of Knowledge

• The ArtsThe Arts– Definition of the Arts– The Arts: Methods of Gaining Knowledge– The Arts and Knowledge Claims– The Arts and Values– The Arts and Knowledge Perspectives

Areas of Knowledge

• EthicsEthics– Definition of Ethics– Ethics: Methods of Gaining Knowledge and

Knowledge Claims– Ethics and Values– Ethics and Technology– Ethics and Knowledge Perspectives– Ethics and Politics

Linking Questions

Belief Certainty Culture

Evidence ExplanationInterpretation

Intuition Technology Truth

Values

TOK and the Extended Essay (EE)

The first year of Tok was be devoted to • Picking a mentor for the Extended Essay.• Completing 2500 words of the 3500-4000 word

essay.

The second year of Tok was be devoted to

•Complete your Extended Essay

TOK and the Extended Essay

• A candidate who fails to submit an essay or receives a grade of an E and will not be awarded a Diploma.

• .A candidate who receives an E for their prescribed title and oral presentation will receive an E for TOK and will not be awarded a Diploma

Assessment Outline: Oral Presentation

• (approximately 10 minutes per candidate)

• presentation to the class, with a video tape assessment review by the IB program.

• one written self-evaluation report

• The presentation should be an integral part of the TOK course.

Assessment Outline Tok Essay

• One essay on a title chosen from a list of ten titles prescribed by the IBO for each examination session ( 1200–1600 words).

TOK PointsTOK Points

• TOK PointsTOK Points– Points awarded for:Points awarded for:

– External Assessment: the Essay (1,200-1,600 External Assessment: the Essay (1,200-1,600 words) on a Prescribed Title (words) on a Prescribed Title (40 points40 points) )

– Internal Assessment: the Presentation Internal Assessment: the Presentation (approximately 10 minutes per student) (approximately 10 minutes per student)

(20 points)(20 points)– both are combined to give a total out of 60.both are combined to give a total out of 60.

Sample Assessment TopicsSample Assessment Topics

• A sample Essay Title:– “We see and understand things not as they

are but as we are.” Discuss this claim in relation to at least two ways of knowing.

• Sample Presentation Topics:– Plastic surgery Plastic surgery – Banning of videogames Banning of videogames – Media and societyMedia and society

Assessment Outline: Blog Entries

3-6 Blog entries a marking period3-6 Blog entries a marking period