The nature of TOK

Students are encouraged to consider questions such

as:

What counts as knowledge?What methodology is used in different subject

areas? What is the value and limitations of this

knowledge? Does the subject matter vary depending on one’s

position in the world?

TOK encourages critical thinking, enables students develop an understanding of knowledge as a human construction and helps them to discover and express their views on knowledge issues.

WHAT IS ‘AFRICA’ LIKE?

1. Image and reality

Africa in the media

PovertyWarFamineAidsCorruptionOne homogenous continent?

Photo: American Red Cross

Some basic factsSome basic facts Nairobi: a different imageNairobi: a different image

47 countries100 major

languages888 million peopleDesert, Savanna,

Rainforest, Coast…Christianity, Islam,

Animism, Judaism….

Huge diversity

Photo: www.bauck.com

South AfricaSouth Africa ChadChad

Infant Mortality: 59 per 1000

Population growth: -0.47%

GDP per capita (PPP): $10,600

GDP growth rate: 5% p.a

Labour force in agriculture: 9%

Infant Mortality: 102 per 1000

Population growth: 2.32%

GDP per capita (PPP): $1,600

GDP growth rate: -1.3% p.a

Labour force in agriculture: 80%

Revealing the complexity

Source: CIA World Factbook

•WHAT ARE OUR IMAGES OF AFRICA?

•WHERE DO THESE IMAGES COME FROM?

•HOW ACCURATE ARE THEY?

Possible questions to consider

Manipulation of data: who is the biggest polluter?

Annual CO2 emission in 2004

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

USCh

ina

Russ

iaInd

iaJ a

pan

German

y

Cana

da UK

South K

orea Ita

ly

Mexico

South A

frica Ira

n

Indon

esia

Fran

ce

Countries

Am

out

of C

O2

emitte

d (*

1000

mt)

Annual CO2 emmision per capita in 2004

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

US

China

Russia

Indi

a

J apa

n

German

y

Canad

aUK

Sout

h Kor

eaI ta

ly

Mex

ico

Sout

h Afri

caI ran

Indo

nesia

Franc

e

Countries

CO

2 em

mis

ion

per

capi

ta (

%)

Annual CO2 emission per area in 2004

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Countries

CO

2 em

issi

on p

er a

rea

(100

0mt/

squa

re m

iles)

CO2 emission per GDP in 2004

0

0.0000005

0.000001

0.0000015

0.000002

0.0000025

0.000003

0.0000035

Countries

(100

0mt/

$)

Possible questions to ask

Why was this particular data set chosen?

What would be other possibilities?How might my conclusions differ if

other data were used?How do I decide what is the ‘right’ data

to use?How could this data be used to

manipulate?

Measuring development: An Alternative index?

1. Vanuatu2. Colombia3. Costa Rica31. China81. Germany99. Denmark148. Burkina Faso150. USA154. UAE

Which index has resulted in this ranking?

Happy Planet Index

The ‘Happy Planet Index’ combines environmental impact with well-being to measure the environmental efficiency with which people live long and happy lives.

Life Satisfaction, Life Expectancy and Ecological footprint.

What are the strengths and limitations of the Happy planet index?

•Source: www.happyplanet.org (NEF)

Which map to use?

Source: Oxfam

What is the difference?

Another perspective

And another!

Visible and invisible: Name one of each

A world leaderAn important historical eventA scientistA famous artistA famous authorA religious leader

How many people on the list were:

Female?African?Latin American?…….

Why?