TOK Aims
TOK Aims
Embedded Files
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 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
TOK Essential Questions
TOK Essential Questions
How do we know what we know?
What is knowledge?
How is knowledge constructed?
How can multiple plausible truths coexist?
How does theory of knowledge manifest in the world around us?
Explore the terminology and concepts central to the TOK course. These include knowledge, real life situation, and the 12 TOK concepts.
Part 1: Theory of Knowledge Themes
Part 1: Theory of Knowledge Themes
The three themes look at knowledge in relationship with the knower, technology, and language. These create a foundational understanding of knowledge exploration and facilitate critical evaluation of how we understand the world around us. This section is broken into three units, and mastery of these units is assessed via the theory of knowledge exhibition.
This unit explores questions such as:
What is knowledge?
What does it mean to be a knower?
How is knowledge produced, shared, and applied?
This unit explores questions such as:
How does technology effect what we can know?
To what extent does technology shape our understanding of the world?
This unit explores questions such as:
How does language shape what we understand about the world?
To what extent does language reflect or construct reality?
Part 2: Areas of Knowledge
Part 2: Areas of Knowledge
There are five areas of knowledge: the arts, natural sciences, history, human sciences, and mathematics. Each area of knowledge is compared and contrasted using the knowledge framework. This framework includes scope, methods and tools, perspective, and ethics. This section of the course is broken into four units--one unit for each part of the knowledge framework. Mastery of these units is assessed via the theory of knowledge essay.
Scope refers to the extent and boundaries of an area of knowledge, including its subject matter, concepts, and the types of questions it addresses. Understanding the scope helps to clarify what is included and what is excluded in a particular area of knowledge.
How and why does categorization impact knowledge?
What are the challenges and benefits of interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge?
Methods and tools refers to the specific techniques and instruments used to acquire, construct, and validate knowledge within different areas of knowledge. This includes the methodologies and practices that are accepted within particular disciplines.
How do methods and tools impact the production, sharing, and application of knowledge?
How and why have disciplines, and even different disciplines within a single area of knowledge, developed distinct methods and tools?
Perspectives refers to the various viewpoints from which knowledge can be approached and understood. Perspectives are shaped by cultural, historical, and personal contexts and influence how knowledge is interpreted and valued.
How can multiple plausible truths coexist?
What roles do schools of thought play in the production of knowledge?
How does context impact the communication of knowledge?
Ethics refers to principles that govern the conduct of individuals and organizations. In TOK, ethics examines the implications and responsibilities that come with the acquisition, application, and dissemination of knowledge.
How and why have areas of knowledge, and even different disciplines within a single area of knowledge, developed distinct ethics?
To what extent do ethics shape what knowledge can be produced, shared, and applied?
Assessments
Assessments
This assesses the student’s ability to critically evaluate how knowledge manifests in the world around them.
This internal assessment is worth 1/3 of the overall TOK score, and it is completed during year 1.
This assesses the student’s ability to critically respond to knowledge questions and evaluative the dynamics between areas of knowledge.
This external assessment is worth 2/3 of the overall TOK score, and it is completed during year 2.
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