TOK - Theory of Knowledge.
What is TOK?
The TOK course “challenges students and
their teachers to reflect critically on diverse
ways of knowing and areas of knowledge
and to consider the role knowledge plays
in a global society. It encourages students
to become aware of themselves as
thinkers to become aware of the
complexity of knowledge and to recognize
the need to act responsibility in an
increasingly interconnected world.”
Key Questions.
 How do I, or how do we, know that a
given assertion is true, a belief is
reasonable, or a given judgment is
well grounded?
 How do we know what we know?
The International Baccalaureate
 A rigorous preuniversity course.
 6 academic areas
surrounding a core.
 Maintains balance.
 Encourages
development in all
academic areas.
Relationship of TOK within the IB.
TOK is at the core of the IB programme.
It sits alongside the extended essay and
CAS.
It is designed to develop a coherent
approach to learning which transcends
and unifies the academic areas an
encourages appreciation of other cultural
perspectives.
Interdisciplinary and relevant to
personal experience!
Helps you to think differently….
Questions how you see things…
Looks for different answers…..
Suggests a reasoned approach to
personal decisions
Questions our ethical choices….
The TOK Diagram
 You are at the center
of the diagram.
 Your ways of knowing
help you explore and
interpret the world
 The areas of
knowledge are the
disciplines knowledge
is classified.
Assessment
Essays 1200-1600 words
Presentation
No Homework but journal done online
 Class participation
Make a list of 5 things
which you know
and
5 things you would like
to know
Now decide..
Which items on your first list do you know
through
School? Experience? Observation? Practice?
Reasoning? Religious means? Other means?
Which items on your second list will you:
Never know
Probably never know
Probably know at some point
Definitely know at some point
Some topic areas
The following slides show just a few of the
topics covered in the TOK course.
Ways of Knowing – Emotion
Ways of Knowing – Reason
Ways of Knowing - Perception
Ways of Knowing - Language
It is very important that you learn about
traxoline. Traxoline is a new form of
zionter. It is montilled in Ceristanna. The
Ceristannians gristeriate large amounts of
fevon and then bracter it to quasel
traxoline. Traxoline may well be one of
our most lukized snezlaus in the future of
our zionter lescelidge.
History - What is a historic fact?
 What is history?
 What is meant by “the
history of the world is the
history of the privileged
few”?
 Why study history?
 What value judgements
can be made from
historic events?
Art and Artists – How do we know what
constitutes “good” art?
Ethics.
These two bear cubs are waiting
to be boiled alive.
Businessmen take package tours
where they attend ceremonies in
which bear cubs are boiled alive,
slowly, and their paws are then
eaten, the belief being that this
makes male humans more virile.
No comment.
As of December 31,1999, the death penalty
was authorized by 38 states and the Federal
Government. Texas leads nation in the
number of executions since death penalty
was reinstated in 1976.Texas, California,
and Florida have the largest death row
populations.3,581 offenders were under
sentence of death in the United States as of
December 31, 2001.There are five methods
of execution in the United States: lethal
injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging,
and firing squad.
Class Ground Rules for TOK
 TOK lessons are different
to other lessons – skills
based (debating,
argument, reasoning)
rather than content.
 Mutual Respect is
paramount
 Disagreement is normal
 Tolerance is vital
 Openness is crucial
 Not knowing and not
understanding is ok
 Changing positions is fine
 Participation is crucial
 Rules for Debates is not
win
 Communication is two
way
 Negotiation is vital
 Curiosity is good
Lesson Style.
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Discussions
Note taking
Exercises
Presentations
Research
Role-play
Music
PowerPoint
Student input is
mandatory
Thank you for your time and
concentration.
The TOK Department.