TOK: Theory of Knowledge Seeing is believing, but is believing knowing?

TOK: This is the Roman numeral IX [9] … how can we alter it to a 6??

Is there such a thing as truth? How do we know? TOK The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) programme is central to the educational philosophy of the International Baccalaureate. Is there such a thing as truth? How do we know?

TOK Course specifics: IBO requirement is 100 hours over two years; Assessment is in two parts: Externally set essay of 1,200 to 1,600 words [student may choose between 10 prescribed topics]; Internally set oral presentation of approx. 10 minutes per candidate;

TOK TOK course is almost completely about questions: Key vocabulary: Areas Of Knowledge [AOKs]; Ways Of Knowing [WOKs]; Doubt; Inquiry; Verification; Evaluation; Explanation; Synthesis;

TOK In a similar way to the MYP Areas of Interaction, TOK interfaces with every subject and there are many opportunities for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary links. An element of TOK is required to be covered within every DP subject, in addition to the regular timetabled TOK class … you should look for the links and reflect on these regularly in your TOK Journal. Part of your work in TOK will be conducted within the context of each of your Diploma subjects, not just in the two TOK class periods each week.

TOK TOK Elements: Areas Of Knowledge [AOKs]; Maths, Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History, The Arts, Ethics Each AREA OF KNOWLEDGE has essential elements within the area of TOK … these are:

Knowledge Claims: TOK is mostly about questions: The most central of these questions is ‘How do I know that a given assertion is true, or a given judgment is well grounded?’ Assertions or judgments of this sort are termed ‘knowledge claims’, and they occur in all your individual subjects. The difficulties that arise in addressing these questions are the broad areas known as ‘problems of knowledge’.

Do we see things as they are or how we perceive them? TOK Each AOK is made up of these components: Knowledge Claims; [eg, Science has advanced mankind] Knowledge Issues; [eg, Science has made many diseases controllable] Knowledge Perception; [eg, Genetic engineering is the key to the future of mankind] Do we see things as they are or how we perceive them?

TOK The ways in which we relate to each Area Of Knowledge [AOK] is called: Ways Of Knowing [WOKs] These are the ways in which we interpret the world. Broadly the WOKs include:

TOK WOKs Ways Of Knowing: Perception; Reason; Emotion; Language; If a tree falls in the forest and there is no-one there, does it make a noise …? …How do I know?

How will culture influence a person’s view of truth? TOK Methodology: TOK can be examined in each Method/Subject area through the Ways Of Knowing, eg: Perception in Maths; Language in Maths; Emotion in Maths; Reason in Maths; What do we know in each subject? How do we know this? What is the evidence that we base our knowledge upon? How will culture influence a person’s view of truth?

TOK Methodology: Readings [class text, other texts]; Discussions; Viewing films/video clips [movies, youtube, etc]; Peer presentations;

Some Useful Resources: Advertising analysis is an excellent way to examine TOK; Regular reading of newspapers is a good TOK resource; Alchin, Nicholas: Theory Of Knowledge, London, Hodder Murray, 2006 SNOPES website [http://www.snopes.com] which looks at evidence and perception; Movies such as “Matrix” and “Flatland” are good to work with in TOK;

TOK Essay Examples: Consider the extent to which knowledge issues in ethics are similar to those in at least one other area of knowledge. How important are the opinions of experts in the search for knowledge? 3. “Doubt is the key to knowledge” (Persian Proverb). To what extent is this true in two areas of knowledge? 4. To what extent do we need evidence to support our beliefs in different areas of knowledge? 5. To what extent are the various areas of knowledge defined by their methodologies rather than their content?

TOK Course Outline 2010-2011 Year 1: Aug - Sept 2011 Course Intro.[Completed] Sept -Oct 2011 Language; Oct - Nov 2011 Perception; Nov - Dec 2011 Classification; Jan - Feb 2012 Reason; Feb - Feb 2012 Emotion; Feb - Mar 2012 Ethics; Mar - May 2012 Areas of Knowledge

TOK Course Outline 2012-2013 Year 2: Aug.15-Aug.19 2012 Part 2 Intro Aug.22-Sep.23 2012 Empiricism Sep.26-Oct.21 2012 Paradigms and culture Oct.24-Nov.25 2012 AOK History Nov.28-Dec.16 2012 Ethics Jan-Feb 2013 Human Sci Feb-Mar 2013 Natural Sci Mar-Apr 2013 Mathematics

TOK Other useful resources: http://www.youtube.com International magazines and newspapers http://search.ebscohost.com [EBSCO database] http://infoweb.newsbank.com [Access World News] Your TOK Journal will be an important resources – reflect in it often