Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The Theory of Knowledge or TOK course is designed to develop students’ critical thinking and enhance their powers of reasoning and argument. These skills allow students to carry out more effective research, to be more demanding and rigorous in their studies as well as to be intellectually more independent and assertive. In short, TOK aims to help our students become active thinkers rather than passive learners and to develop into discerning adult thinkers.
TOK is a course that examines the origins and validity of various forms of knowledge. It is important to make clear that the course does not seek to challenge students’ beliefs; instead, it asks students to justify or validate their knowledge. By understanding why we believe certain things to be true we begin to understand how we make judgments. It is hard to fully explain precisely what TOK is all about in a few sentences. We feel it is significant that students frequently cite TOK as the thing they enjoy the most in the IB Diploma Programme.
The goals of the course are to gain an understanding of what it means to know something, for example as a scientist, an artist or a historian, and thereby to understand how different forms of knowledge relate to one another. Students from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to compare and contrast their diverse attitudes and perceptions.
Discussion is a vital aspect of this course, which requires involvement and commitment from students.
All students are assessed in the same way; there are no Higher Level or Standard Level differences. Internal assessment consists of a live or virtual exhibition of three objects based on one IA prompt. The prompt will be chosen from a list that will provided by the IB. External assessment consists of an Essay from the prescribed IB essay list. This is assessed externally by an IB examiner.
TOK is a course that examines the origins and validity of various forms of knowledge. It is important to make clear that the course does not seek to challenge students’ beliefs; instead, it asks students to justify or validate their knowledge. By understanding why we believe certain things to be true we begin to understand how we make judgments. It is hard to fully explain precisely what TOK is all about in a few sentences. We feel it is significant that students frequently cite TOK as the thing they enjoy the most in the IB Diploma Programme.
The goals of the course are to gain an understanding of what it means to know something, for example as a scientist, an artist or a historian, and thereby to understand how different forms of knowledge relate to one another. Students from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to compare and contrast their diverse attitudes and perceptions.
Discussion is a vital aspect of this course, which requires involvement and commitment from students.
All students are assessed in the same way; there are no Higher Level or Standard Level differences. Internal assessment consists of a live or virtual exhibition of three objects based on one IA prompt. The prompt will be chosen from a list that will provided by the IB. External assessment consists of an Essay from the prescribed IB essay list. This is assessed externally by an IB examiner.
Updated Sep'22
