Theory of Knowledge

Ms Elke Greite - TOK Coordinator and teacher,  Visual Arts teacher and Head of Arts and Design - egreite@dresden-is.de 

Mr Andrew Bullough - TOK teacher, science teacher and Head of Sciences - abulough@dresden-is.de 

Ms Rachel Cozmatchi - TOK teacher, Language A teacher and Head of Language and Literature - rcozmatchi@dresden-is.de

Ms Alexia Uhia - TOK teacher, Spanish teacher and Head of Language Acquisition - auhia@dresden-is.de 

Course guide

The overall aim of TOK is to encourage students to formulate answers to the question “how do we know what we claim to know?” in a variety of contexts, and to see the value of that question. This allows students to develop an enduring fascination with the richness of knowledge.  Specifically, the aims of the TOK course are for students to:

• to encourage students to reflect on the central question, “How do we know that?”, and to recognize

• the value of asking that question

• to expose students to ambiguity, uncertainty and questions with multiple plausible answers

• to equip students to effectively navigate and make sense of the world, and help prepare them to encounter novel and complex situations

• to encourage students to be more aware of their own perspectives and to reflect critically on their own beliefs and assumptions

• to engage students with multiple perspectives, foster open-mindedness and develop intercultural

• understanding

• to encourage students to make connections between academic disciplines by exploring underlying

• concepts and by identifying similarities and differences in the methods of inquiry used in different

• areas of knowledge

• to prompt students to consider the importance of values, responsibilities and ethical concerns relating

• to the production, acquisition, application and communication of knowledge.

Expectations of students studying TOK

TOK is compulsory for all students taking the diploma programme. Together with the Extended Essay there are 3 diploma points to be had. There is no division of HL and SL and no required MYP scores. TOK will include:

• Discussions, group work and active participation in classes

• Keep an ongoing journal and portfolio in which they record examples of knowledge issues and questions from their own reading, in the media and in their subject courses

• Timely completion of exhibitions in preparation for the final exhibition

• Timely completion of essays in preparation for the final essay.

Content

The TOK curriculum is made up of three deeply interconnected parts. 

• The core theme—Knowledge and the knower: This theme encourages students to reflect on themselves as knowers and thinkers, and to consider the different communities of knowers to which we belong.

• Optional themes: This element provides an opportunity to take a more in-depth look at two themes of particular interest to teachers and students. The given themes all have a significant impact on the world today and play a key role in shaping people’s perspectives and identities. Teachers select two optional themes from a choice of five: knowledge and technology; knowledge and language; knowledge and politics; knowledge and religion; and knowledge and indigenous societies.

• Areas of knowledge: The areas of knowledge (AOK) are specific branches of knowledge, each of which can be seen to have a distinct nature and sometimes use different methods of gaining knowledge. In TOK, students explore five compulsory areas of knowledge: history; the human sciences; the natural sciences; mathematics; and the arts. 

Having completed the TOK course, students should be able to:

• demonstrate TOK thinking through the critical examination of knowledge questions

• identify and explore links between knowledge questions and the world around us

•  identify and explore links between knowledge questions and areas of knowledge

•  develop relevant, clear and coherent arguments

• use examples and evidence effectively to support a discussion

• demonstrate awareness and evaluation of different points of view

• consider the implications of arguments and conclusions.

Assessment

The assessment model in Theory of knowledge (TOK) has two components, both of which should be completed within the 100 hours designated for the course. 

I.               Part 1 The TOK exhibition (33%)

One exhibition assesses the ability of the student to show how TOK manifests in the world around us. The exhibition is an internal assessment component; it is marked by the teacher and is externally moderated by the IB.

II.              Part 2 The Essay 67%

The TOK essay engages students in a more formal and sustained piece of writing in response to a title focused on the areas of knowledge. The essay is an external assessment component; it is marked by IB examiners. The essay must be a maximum of 1,600 words and must be on one of the six prescribed titles issued by the IB for each examination session.

Unlike the other diploma subjects, but like the Extended Essay, TOK is graded according to levels A to E. These grades are taken together with those of the Extended Essay (EE) to determine the total ‘extra points’ awarded (see table below).