As regular readers know, I teach an International Baccalaureate “Theory of Knowledge” class. Our school structures our IB program a bit differently from many others by having a whole lot of students take individual IB classes and we have relatively few who are taking all IB classes in order to get the IB diploma. I really like this set-up, and it opens up my TOK class to a lot more students.
As I’ve said before, I can’t think of a high school class that would be more fun to teach or more fun to take…
You might also be interested in:
The Best Theory Of Knowledge Resources — 2010
Here are my choices for The Best Theory Of Knowledge Resources In 2011 — So Far (this “The Best…” list, like yesterday’s, is fairly short):
“Criminal Penguins” is a great video to use when discussing ethics.
Helping Theory Of Knowledge Students Understand “Knowledge Issues”
Dilbert On The Difference Between Correlation and Causation
How My Theory Of Knowledge Students Evaluated The Class & Me This Past Year
Over 400 Categorized “Theory Of Knowledge” Links (It’s actually up to 700 now!)
Good Comic Strips For IB “Theory Of Knowledge” Classes
You can find information about Oral Presentations at For Theory Of Knowledge Teachers.
I’m very impressed with the TOK class blog used by Greg MacCollum last year, Mr. MacCollum’s Theory Of Knowledge Blog. In addition to the excellent assignments he posted, I really liked how he described his course outline. I found these two “definitions” particularly helpful:
Linking Questions: Questions are used to make connections between the elements of the ToK Diagram. They are not limited to and should not be equated interdisciplinary connections. These questions focus on ten areas: belief, certainty, culture, evidence, explanation, interpretation, intuition, technology, truth and values.
Problems of Knowledge: Possible uncertainties, biases in approach to knowledge, limitations of knowledge, methods of verification, justification appropriate to different areas of knowledge.
Additional contributions are welcome!
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You might also want to explore the nearly 800 other “The Best…” lists I’ve compiled.
Hi Larry; I;ve been teaching IB SL History Rt 1 for 2 years. I’ve just been informed that I will be teaching TOK to the 11th graders in September. I am trying to read and find out what TOK is all about from the OCC website. . Panic is setting in!!
Your advice?
regards,
S. Zeine
Sue,
Don’t panic! You’ve just received a gift — I don’t think you’ll find a more fun class to teach than TOK!
I personally have never found the OCC site that useful, but it may just be me. Check out the TOK resources I have on this blog, explore my TOK class blog and blogs from other TOK classes from around the world you can find on the sidebar there, and buy three or four of the TOK “textbooks” on Amazon. I spend a week or so on each of the Ways of Knowing, then a week-and-a-half or so on each Areas of Knowledge, then have students prepare and present their oral presentation, and then write their essay.
You’ll do fine…
Larry