IB Theory of Knowledge Syllabus



IB Theory of Knowledge SyllabusWhat is Theory of Knowledge (TOK)?The International Baccalaureate believes that you are taking a program of study rather than separate courses of specific subject matter isolated from one another. The goal of TOK is to help you see the links between the disciplines as well as discover their ability to critically examine all subject areas from the perspective of how knowledge is acquired.TOK is an inquiry-based course designed to examine the origins, methods, and validity of the various claims of knowledge in our society. This includes a variety of types of knowledge as well as what you will come to know as “Ways of Knowing”. In TOK, we learn that there are standards for judgment and defenses of knowledge claims. You must always back up what you say. Simply put, TOK is an opportunity for you to consider the following…“How do we know what we claim to know, if we know anything at all?”Course AimsThe aims of the TOK course are to engage students in reflection on, and in the questioning of, the bases of knowledge. The following are some of the key aims of TOK and what the class will hopefully instill in you, the learner:Awareness of how knowledge is constructed, critically examined, evaluated, and renewed by communities and individuals.Develop an awareness of personal and ideological assumptions, including your own.Consider the responsibilities that stem from the relationship between knowledge, the community, and the individual as a citizen of the world.Analyze critically knowledge claims, their underlying assumptions and their implications.Generate questions, explanations, conjectures, hypotheses, alternative ideas, and possible solutions in response to knowledge issues concerning areas of knowledge, ways of knowing and students’ own experience as learner.Demonstrate an understanding of and reflective approach toward different perspectives on knowledge issues.Learner ProfileIt is expected as IB students that all of you will follow the IB Learner Profile to create a cooperative and respectful environment in the classroom. It is also expected that you come prepared to this class to think and discuss. As the Knower in this course, it is up to YOU to lead and drive this course. Have an open-minded attitude and understand that others have different opinions and perspectives than you.IBO AssessmentThe assessment model in Theory of Knowledge (TOK) comprises two components:Internal Assessment, Presentation (approximately 10 minutes per candidate) – Junior YearOne presentation to the class.External Assessment, Essay on a Prescribed Title (max 1600 words) – Senior YearOne essay on a title chosen from a list of six titles prescribed by the IBO for each examination session.Course WorkIn this course, you will be assigned reading in and outside of class with guided reading questions that act as discussion points for the chapters in our ToK book. You will also have periodic journals and essays which will help you prepare for your TOK assessments. In addition, there may be times when the teacher requires you to bring in items, such as articles or artifacts to be used for discussion purposes. There may also be times when we will ask you to do reflections outside of class. Participation in this class is key to your success. That means within your small group as well as whole class discussion. Grading RubricIn addition to the TOK scoring related to the external requirements of the program, you will also receive an in-class score. The following rubric is a general guide for Participation that will be applied to the course. All rubrics and values assigned to assignments will be determined individually. All percentages and grades received within the course will follow the district grading scale.A student who achieves the grade ADemonstrates exceptional understanding, develops and presents clear sophisticated arguments; reflects active and sensitive reading of texts; shows integrated understanding of the most difficult subject matter; expresses ideas with clarity, insight and confidence; employs a critical distance; provides significant leadership in discussions and group activities.A student who achieves the grade BDraws insights beyond the facts; independently considers different points of view; confidently examines issues and positions; understands contexts and texts; expresses ideas with accuracy and insight; independently initiates participation.A student who achieves the grade CAcquires and uses most of the concepts and terms; considers different points of view when explained; attempts a critical examination of positions and issues; expresses straightforward ideas simply and clearly; organizes ideas and materials; takes some responsibility for participation.A student who achieves the grade DDraws together the more easily perceived concepts; raises concrete questions with assistance; collects relevant data from simplified documents and acknowledges sources; has partial control of technical aspects of language; must be encouraged to initiate discussion or group activities.A student who achieves the grade EHas met the requirements for attendance and completion of work; has a basic understanding of concepts and terms; favors absolute statements and understands some straightforward ideas; uses plain, descriptive or simple narrative language; has limited control of the technical aspects of language; is present in group activities and class discussion.The Diploma Points Matrix:TOK pointsPoints awarded for the externally assessed component, part 1, the essay on a prescribed title (40 points), and for the internally assessed component, part 2, the presentation (20 points), are combined to give total out of 60. The grade boundaries are then applied, to determine the band (A to E) to which the student’s performance in TOK belongs.The band descriptors are:A Work of an excellent standardBWork of a good standardCWork of a satisfactory standardD Work of a mediocre standardE Work of an elementary standardThe band descriptor is used both to determine the contribution of TOK to the overall diploma score and to provide the basis for reporting to schools on each student’s TOK performance.TOK and the Extended EssayThe performance of a student in both Diploma Programme requirements, theory of knowledge and theextended essay, is determined according to the quality of the work, based on the application of the IBDiploma Programme assessment criteria. It is described by one of the band descriptors A–E. Using the two performance levels and the diploma points matrix, a maximum of three diploma points can be awarded for a student’s combined performance.A student who, for example, writes a satisfactory extended essay and whose performance in theory ofknowledge is judged to be good will be awarded 2 points, while a student who writes a good extended essay and whose performance in theory of knowledge is judged to be excellent will be awarded 3 points.A student who fails to submit a TOK essay or who fails to make a presentation will be awarded N for TOK, will score no points, and is ineligible to receive an IB diploma. Performance in theory of knowledge and/or the extended essay of an elementary standard also makes a student ineligible for an IB diploma.PlagiarismAs upper-classmen in high school and IB students, you are well aware of the importance of academic honesty. This is especially critical in a course like TOK, where your independent analysis of concepts, issues, and questions through writing and speaking makes up the core of your class work and overall grade. In accordance with policies on cheating and plagiarism, any students who attempt to turn in the same work as someone else, copy responses from someone else, or otherwise misrepresent the true authorship of the work they turn in will receive a zero on the assignment in question and will be referred to an administrator for disciplinary action. You are responsible for thinking about the compelling and thought-provoking material we cover in class. Therefore, do your own work!TOK Websiteuaistok. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download