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TOK ACROSS THE IB TOK ACROSS THE IB CONTINUUMCONTINUUM

Retreat OverviewRetreat Overview

What is TOK ?What is TOK ? The TOK diagramThe TOK diagram TOK inquiry - PerceptionTOK inquiry - Perception TOK across the DP curriculumTOK across the DP curriculum TOK across the IB continuumTOK across the IB continuum Teaching for understandingTeaching for understanding Obstacles to TOK - studentsObstacles to TOK - students Obstacles to TOK – facultyObstacles to TOK – faculty Group discussionsGroup discussions

What is TOK ?What is TOK ?

““TOK encourages critical thinking about TOK encourages critical thinking about knowledge itself to try to help young knowledge itself to try to help young people make sense of what they people make sense of what they encounter. What makes TOK unique, and encounter. What makes TOK unique, and distinctively different from standard distinctively different from standard academic disciplines, is its process. At the academic disciplines, is its process. At the center of the course is the student ascenter of the course is the student as knowerknower.”.”

TOK Subject Guide, 2006TOK Subject Guide, 2006

TOK - 1TOK - 1 The primary goal of TOK is to engage The primary goal of TOK is to engage

students in a critical reflection focusing on:students in a critical reflection focusing on:

1> the nature and limits of human 1> the nature and limits of human knowledge, knowledge,

2> the socio-cultural context of knowing, 2> the socio-cultural context of knowing,

3>3> the social, political and ethical the social, political and ethical dimensions of knowledge and knowingdimensions of knowledge and knowing

A second goal of TOK is to help students A second goal of TOK is to help students become effective communicatorsbecome effective communicators

TOK - 2TOK - 2 These goals are pursued by way of active These goals are pursued by way of active

inquiry, written work, group discussions inquiry, written work, group discussions and oral presentationsand oral presentations

International mindedness and the IB International mindedness and the IB learner profile frame subject matter and learner profile frame subject matter and pedagogypedagogy

TOK respects the inherent dignity of the TOK respects the inherent dignity of the person by fostering critical thinking as a person by fostering critical thinking as a means to autonomous agencymeans to autonomous agency

The TOK DiagramThe TOK Diagram

TOK THINKING - 1TOK THINKING - 1

Does the knowledge-claim contain problematic Does the knowledge-claim contain problematic terms? terms?

What assumptions are being made?What assumptions are being made? What knowledge issues are involved?What knowledge issues are involved? What WOKs/AOKs are involved in the What WOKs/AOKs are involved in the

knowledge issues?knowledge issues? What evidence/support is provided for the What evidence/support is provided for the

knowledge claim?knowledge claim? Is the evidence relevant, fair and true?Is the evidence relevant, fair and true?

TOK THINKING - 2TOK THINKING - 2

What counter-claims can be made to the What counter-claims can be made to the knowledge claim presented?knowledge claim presented?

How might the knowledge claim be viewed in How might the knowledge claim be viewed in other cultures?other cultures?

How is knowledge constructed in the subject How is knowledge constructed in the subject under review?under review?

What social, political, cultural and ethical What social, political, cultural and ethical consequences are connected with the claim? consequences are connected with the claim?

What are your views on the knowledge claim What are your views on the knowledge claim presented?presented?

STARTING A TOK CLASSSTARTING A TOK CLASSTrue or False?True or False?

……the law of gravity will be in effect tomorrow?the law of gravity will be in effect tomorrow?……the sum 18 + 7 = 26?the sum 18 + 7 = 26?……Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in July Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in July

1969?1969?……education weakens religious belief?education weakens religious belief?……genetic engineering is morally wrong?genetic engineering is morally wrong?……art is whatever you want it to beart is whatever you want it to be……a number is either odd or evena number is either odd or even……how do you know?how do you know?

TOK inquiry TOK inquiry Perception as a WOK Perception as a WOK

TOK across the DPTOK across the DP

Possible approaches to TOK in:Possible approaches to TOK in: MathematicsMathematics EthicsEthics Natural ScienceNatural Science HistoryHistory Language Language ArtArt

MathematicsMathematics

Our brains , it appears , may not be Our brains , it appears , may not be engineered to cope with extremely large or engineered to cope with extremely large or extremely small values.extremely small values.

Douglas Hofstadter coined the term Douglas Hofstadter coined the term “number numbness” to describe this “number numbness” to describe this syndrome, and many of us suffer from it.syndrome, and many of us suffer from it.

Compared to a trillion, a billion is peanuts.Compared to a trillion, a billion is peanuts. This fact is important when considering This fact is important when considering

statistics.statistics.

Depicts 426,000 cell phones, equal to the number of cell Depicts 426,000 cell phones, equal to the number of cell phones retired in the US every dayphones retired in the US every day



Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every 5 secondsevery 5 seconds

Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every 5 secondsin the US every 5 seconds

Questions - MathematicsQuestions - Mathematics Why do we associate certainty with Why do we associate certainty with

mathematics?mathematics? Can a mathematical statement be true before it Can a mathematical statement be true before it

has been proven true?has been proven true? What counts as understanding in mathematics?What counts as understanding in mathematics? If mathematics is a product of the mind then why If mathematics is a product of the mind then why

is it so well-suited to describing the external is it so well-suited to describing the external world?world?

Was calculus discovered or invented by Was calculus discovered or invented by Newton?Newton?

Is ability in mathematics linked to intelligence?Is ability in mathematics linked to intelligence?

EthicsEthics

““Ethics involves a discussion of the way Ethics involves a discussion of the way we ought to live our lives, the distinctions we ought to live our lives, the distinctions between right and wrong, the justification between right and wrong, the justification of moral judgments, and the implications of moral judgments, and the implications of moral actions for the individual and the of moral actions for the individual and the group.”group.”

TOK Subject Guide, 2006TOK Subject Guide, 2006

What do “you” see?What do “you” see?Ethical questions?Ethical questions?



Questions - EthicsQuestions - Ethics

Is selfishness incompatible with being moral?Is selfishness incompatible with being moral? Are the ten commandments morally right because God Are the ten commandments morally right because God

commanded them or did God command them because commanded them or did God command them because they are morally right?they are morally right?

What role do emotions play in moral deliberation?What role do emotions play in moral deliberation? Should the pursuit of knowledge be guided by moral Should the pursuit of knowledge be guided by moral

principles? principles? If moral relativism is true then can we condemn genocide If moral relativism is true then can we condemn genocide

or FGM? or FGM? Do non-human animals have moral experiences?Do non-human animals have moral experiences? Can something be morally good and also morally wrong?Can something be morally good and also morally wrong?

NATURAL SCIENCENATURAL SCIENCE

In 2001 Joseph Cloutier, a native of In 2001 Joseph Cloutier, a native of Montreal, went to see his cardiologist in Montreal, went to see his cardiologist in Houston, TX. Over the course of the Houston, TX. Over the course of the previous 10 years prior to this trip, Cloutier previous 10 years prior to this trip, Cloutier had 2 heart attacks, an angioplasty and a had 2 heart attacks, an angioplasty and a quadruple bypass. His trip to Houston quadruple bypass. His trip to Houston was recommended by his family doctor was recommended by his family doctor because tests had shown his arteries were because tests had shown his arteries were once again almost completely blocked. once again almost completely blocked.

NATURAL SCIENCENATURAL SCIENCE

While in Houston Clouthier went to a nearby church to While in Houston Clouthier went to a nearby church to pray to Brother Andre. When he returned to his hotel pray to Brother Andre. When he returned to his hotel room he suddenly felt a warm rush of energy throughout room he suddenly felt a warm rush of energy throughout his body. He later said that he knew, at that moment, he his body. He later said that he knew, at that moment, he had been healed. The following day his cardiologist had been healed. The following day his cardiologist informed him his arteries were “like new”.informed him his arteries were “like new”.

Montreal GazetteMontreal Gazette, October 7, 2001, October 7, 2001

Was Clouthier’s healing a miracle?Was Clouthier’s healing a miracle?

Questions - ScienceQuestions - Science Do cause and effect relationships actually occur Do cause and effect relationships actually occur

in nature or are they human constructs for in nature or are they human constructs for understanding experience?understanding experience?

If induction is unreliable then how can science If induction is unreliable then how can science make accurate predictions?make accurate predictions?

Using digital technology, it is now possible to Using digital technology, it is now possible to recreate pictures from light that we cannot see. recreate pictures from light that we cannot see. Is this seeing? Can we say that we have seen a Is this seeing? Can we say that we have seen a distant galaxy when we look at a picture distant galaxy when we look at a picture constructed from radio waves?constructed from radio waves?

What does “law” mean in science?What does “law” mean in science?

QUESTIONS - HISTORYQUESTIONS - HISTORY ““Historians are dangerous people. They are Historians are dangerous people. They are

capable of upsetting everything” capable of upsetting everything” Nikita Nikita Khrushchev Khrushchev What might Khrushchev have What might Khrushchev have meant when he said this?meant when he said this?

What is the difference between known facts, like What is the difference between known facts, like the exact date of a battle, and the background the exact date of a battle, and the background “facts” of what caused the battle?“facts” of what caused the battle?

What problems are posed for the study of history What problems are posed for the study of history by changes in language and culture over time?by changes in language and culture over time?

Can the study of history be scientific?Can the study of history be scientific? Can history help us understand the present?Can history help us understand the present?

QUESTIONS - LANGUAGEQUESTIONS - LANGUAGE

How do words acquire meaning?How do words acquire meaning? Can non-human animals think?Can non-human animals think? Does the language we use affect our Does the language we use affect our

experience of the world?experience of the world? Does it matter if languages disappear?Does it matter if languages disappear? If a particular word has a different meaning If a particular word has a different meaning

in two different cultures is one of these in two different cultures is one of these wrong?wrong?

Was Henry the VIII a “sexist”?Was Henry the VIII a “sexist”?

QUESTIONS - ARTQUESTIONS - ART

What are the roles of emotion and reason What are the roles of emotion and reason in the arts?in the arts?

Does an artist have a moral obligation to Does an artist have a moral obligation to use his/her art to confront issues in his/her use his/her art to confront issues in his/her culture?culture?

What is art? Is it important?What is art? Is it important? Should the state subsidize the arts?Should the state subsidize the arts? Should art respect religious beliefs?Should art respect religious beliefs? Can propaganda be art?Can propaganda be art?

Teaching for understandingTeaching for understanding

Identify something which you understand Identify something which you understand really well:really well:

How did you come to understand this?How did you come to understand this? How do you know that you understand How do you know that you understand

this?this? How would others know that you How would others know that you

understand this?understand this? How can you foster the development of How can you foster the development of

understanding in your students?understanding in your students?

Involving students in TOKInvolving students in TOK

JournalsJournals TOK-ifying experienceTOK-ifying experience PortfoliosPortfolios TOK jarTOK jar Q-Q-IQ-Q-I EssaysEssays DebatesDebates Audio casts/videos/drawingsAudio casts/videos/drawings Student generated questionsStudent generated questions

THE VALUE OF TOK - 1THE VALUE OF TOK - 1

The value of philosophy is to be sought largely in its The value of philosophy is to be sought largely in its very uncertainty. The man who has no tincture of very uncertainty. The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason. To such a man the world tends to become reason. To such a man the world tends to become definite, finite, obvious; common objects rouse no definite, finite, obvious; common objects rouse no questions, and unfamiliar possibilities are questions, and unfamiliar possibilities are contemptuously rejected.contemptuously rejected.

THE VALUE OF TOK - 2THE VALUE OF TOK - 2

Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions since no definite definite answers to its questions since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves; rather for the sake of the questions themselves; because these questions enlarge our conception of because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation; but above all because, the mind against speculation; but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good.universe which constitutes its highest good.

Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, 1910Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, 1910

THE ROAD TO KNOWLEDGETHE ROAD TO KNOWLEDGE