Course Overview THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

In short, TOK is a course in critical thinking:  How to evaluate evidence using reason and judgment  How to avoid or at least be aware of bias and errors  The process of knowing How will we do this?  Raise Questions  Evaluate Evidence  Make Judgments Goal : to make what you are already doing more explicit, coordinate across curriculum, to allow comparisons and a broader view of knowledge that can be gained in any 1 subject area. WHAT IS TOK?

 There are 8 ways of knowing (WOKs) or 8 methods by which we acquire knowledge:  The WOK’s have two Roles: they underlie the methodology of the Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) and the provide a basis for personal knowledge.  We will examine how these work in isolation, when combined with other WOK’s and in the various AOK’s. WAYS OF KNOWING Ways of Knowing Sense PerceptionEmotion LanguageReason ImaginationFaith IntuitionMemory

 There are 8 Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) that have distinct natures and methods of gaining/acquiring knowledge:  We will try to view these as “branches of knowledge” instead of a way to classify knowledge… classification can be bad. AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE Areas of Knowledge MathNatural Sciences Human SciencesArt HistoryEthics Religious Knowledge SystemsIndigenous Knowledge Systems

What are they? Dangers & Pitfalls we need to avoid. EXPLORING KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS

One of the most central questions of the course is:  “How do I as a knower, know that a given assertion is true, or a given statement is well grounded?”  Assertions or judgments of this sort are termed “knowledge claims.”  The difficulties that arise in addressing these questions are known as “knowledge issues.” KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS

A knowledge question is a question concerning knowledge where there are at least two plausible alternatives. They can include real life situations. “I am driving in my car when I arrive at a toll booth. There are two booths. One has a long queue of traffic, the other booth is empty. Should I join the queue or go to the empty booth? How do I know?” KQ’s can also be more abstract. “How can we know if all our actions are freely chosen?” Or, “How is the knowledge we have in maths and science related to our own cultural paradigm?” KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS(cont)

Knowledge Claim and KQ in Art:  Knowledge Claim: This is a beautiful work of art!  Knowledge Question: “How do we know what constitutes good art?” KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS(cont)

Knowledge Claim and KQ in Ethics:  Knowledge Claim: These people are savages.  Knowldeg Question: “Can we use reason to justify making judgments about another culture’s ethics?” KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS(cont)

KQ’s are also relevant to ways of knowing.  In language, “Is it justified to claim that our thoughts are determined by our language?” or, “In one or two areas of knowledge, how far does our language describe the world or express our feelings about it?”  Considering perception, “How far is our knowledge of the world limited by our sense perception?”  Considering reason, “Is reason the most reliable route to knowledge in the natural sciences and the human sciences?” KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS(cont)

What to do and what not to do. Who to become and who not to become. DANGERS AND GOALS

While finding Knowledge Issues in various Knowledge Claims is the ultimate goal for TOK Students, it does not give us a “green light” to question everything… scrutinizing minor details to the point where you irrationally discredit the work of the great thinkers and doers who have given us a wealth of information. We must avoid being pushed (or pushing ourselves) toward two extremes:  Prejudice and Certainty  Relativism and Skepticism DANGERS AND PITFALLS

Prejudice and CertaintyRelativism and Skepticism Obvious things must be true.Nothing is what it seems to be. We can easily attain certainty.Certainty is possible. Critical thinking isn’t important and does not apply to the “real world.” The purpose of critical thinking is to be able to be skeptical about anything and everything. I know the truth.There is no such thing as the truth. My standards are better than any other standards There are no standards by which to judge anything My culture is the best in every wayAll cultural perspectives are equally valid. AVOID THESE AT ALL COSTS

OUR AIM: BECOME CRITICAL THINKERS Critical Thinkers know: Things are not always what they seem to be; we must examine and analyze them carefully. Certainty is very difficult to come by in all except the simplest cases. We are all searching for the truth, but it is hard to say that we can find it or know we have found it. Many standards are defensible; equally, many are not. I have considered several positions and know and can justify what I believe to be reasonable and un reasonable.

Units & Assessment SEMESTER 1 THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 1

 Introduction to Knowledge, Knowers, and Knowing (2 weeks)  Sense Perception / Intuition / Memory (3 weeks)  Rationalism: The Use of Reason (2 weeks)  Ethics (2 weeks)  Knowledge in Human Sciences (2 weeks)  Emotion (2 weeks) MAJOR UNITS

TOK Presentation:  Individual or small group presentation (live or recorded)  Require students to identify knowledge issues raised by substantive real-life situations of interest to them.  Issues can range in relevance from personal, to school, community, national, or global in scope  Lectures, skits, simulations, dramatized readings, debates are all acceptable forms.  All Presentations are recorded. IB may request copy of recording for auditing purposes. INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (I GRADE IT)

 We will work on these throughout the semester and will present these in May.  Presentation details, criterion, examples and rubrics will all be posted on our class Haiku site.  Failure to complete a TOK Presentation by the due date will not disqualify you from receiving a IB Diploma, but you will not receive an “A” in TOK 1. TOK PRESENTATION

TOK Essay:  One essay of words chosen from a list of prescribed titles, published by IB for each examination session.  The titles are generic questions based on knowledge issues and are cross-curricular. A combination of the TOK course and other DP courses should provide sufficient reference material. Sample Titles:  ‘Through different methods of justification, we can reach conclusions in ethics that are as well-supported as those provided in mathematics.’ To what extent would you agree?  As an IB student, how has your learning of literature and science contributed to your understanding of individuals and societies? EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT (IB GRADES IT) DUE IN THE FALL OF SENIOR YEAR

 Failure to submit the TOK Essay will disqualify you from IB Diploma Candidacy. Additionally, poor or “elementary” scores on both TOK Essay & Presentation and EE will result in disqualification.  Successful completion will earn bonus points toward your IB Diploma Total.  TOK Grade (Essay x2 + Presentation x1) and Extended Essay Points often are the deciding factor in whether or not you will receive the IB Diploma. TOK ESSAY IMPORTANCE / POINTS

DP BONUS POINTS MATRIX

You get what you give. SIMPLE ADVICE FOR SUCCESS

This course can be one of the most rewarding (personal, emotional, academic) experiences of your life, but you have to want it. Participate & Reflect:  Every Discussion  Every Activity  Every Reading Assignment  Every Journal Entry Be Responsible for your growth:  Complete everything that’s asked of you.  Give 100% - no more, no less.  Demonstrate every trait in the IB Learner Profile ADVICE FOR SUCCESS