Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

Theory of Knowledge is a course about critical thinking and inquiring into the process of knowing, rather than about learning a specific body of knowledge. It is a core element which all IB Diploma Programme and IB Honors students undertake and to which all schools are required to devote at least 100 hours. The Theory of Knowledge course examines how we know what we claim to know. It does this by encouraging students to analyze knowledge claims and explore knowledge questions.

Objectives of the Course

It is expected that by the end of the TOK course, students will be able to:

identify and analyse the various kinds of justifications used to support knowledge claims
formulate, evaluate and attempt to answer knowledge questions
examine how academic disciplines/areas of knowledge generate and shape knowledge
understand the roles played by ways of knowing in the construction of shared and personal knowledge
explore links between knowledge claims, knowledge questions, ways of knowing and areas of knowledge
demonstrate an awareness and understanding of different perspectives and be able to relate these to one’s own perspective
explore a real-life situation from a TOK perspective in the presentation.

How is TOK structured?

As a thoughtful and purposeful inquiry into different ways of knowing, and into different kinds of knowledge, TOK is composed almost entirely of questions.

The most central of these is "How do we know?", while other questions include:

What counts as evidence for X?
How do we judge which is the best model of Y?
What does theory Z mean in the real world?

Through discussions of these and other questions, students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions, as well as developing an appreciation of the diversity and richness of cultural perspectives.

Assessment of TOK

The TOK course is assessed through a public exhibition and a 1600 word essay.

The public exhibition asks students to connect TOK thinking to their real-life experiences, while the essay takes a more conceptual starting point.

For example, the essay may ask students to discuss the claim that the methodologies used to produce knowledge depend on the use to which that knowledge will be used.

What is the significance of TOK?

TOK aims to make students aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases – whether these biases are retained, revised or rejected.

It offers students and their teachers the opportunity to:

reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge
consider the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world.

In addition, TOK prompts students to:

be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge
recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world.

TOK also provides coherence for the student, by linking academic subject areas as well as transcending them.

It therefore demonstrates the ways in which the student can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility.

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Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

Objectives of the Course

How is TOK structured?

Assessment of TOK

What is the significance of TOK?

Windermere Preparatory School