Calling IB Kids- Tell me about TOK

[vegangirl]

<p>Okay, so to make a long story short I'm out of social studies classes at my school, and my guidance counselor wants me to take one at another high school next year. The only (public) high school of any quality in my area besides mine is one with an IB program that offers three one year social studies courses (the only ones that i could potentially take)- economics, philosophy, and theory of knowledge. </p>

<p>I know what economics and philosophy are, but I'm a little stumped on TOK. From what I've heard, it's similar to philosophy, but beyond that I don't know anything about it. So for any IB kids who've taken/are taking this class, tell me about it! Is it a good subject? What do you do in your class? etc. </p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

[sheetmusic]

<p>It varies so, so, so, so widely depending on teachers that you'd have to find someone in your potential district. I don't know that I'd call TOK a social studies course? I should try to find my official IB course description...</p>

[warblersrule]

<p>I actually liked TOK, although many don't. </p>

<p>

@IBO

Theory of Knowledge (TOK), an interdisciplinary requirement intended to stimulate critical reflection on knowledge and experience gained inside and outside the classroom, is a course of study unique to the International Baccalaureate Organization and mandatory for every Diploma Programme student; it adds coherence to the programme. TOK should involve at least 100 hours of teaching time spanning the programme’s two years. The origins of TOK lie in a fusion of two divergent educational traditions, one pragmatic and the other placing prime importance on the teaching of philosophy. In TOK, students are encouraged to reflect on all aspects of their Diploma Programme work. It is possible to have informed discussions about the nature and purposes, strengths and limitations of particular knowledge systems, since distribution requirements ensure that course selections include each of the principal domains of knowledge. For example, students are encouraged to reflect on the nature of poetic truth in literature and to contrast such truth with that obtained in other systems of knowledge – the historical fact, the scientific fact, a mathematical proof, and so on. They also examine the grounds for the moral, political and aesthetic judgments that individuals must make in their daily lives. Emphasis is placed on the role of language and thought and on the development of the student’s critical thinking skills.Students are helped to consider how they know what they know (different ways of “knowing”) and to develop habits of reflection which they bring to each subject, resulting in a deeper intellectual experience. As befits an international programme, the TOK course explores various cultural traditions and encourages students to think about the strengths and limitations of different ways of knowing. TOK is not another name for philosophy, which exists as a subject option in its own right, yet in a broad sense the aim of TOK is to encourage a philosophical cast of mind and to promote clarity of thought and good judgment. The IBO devotes considerable energy to training teachers and to providing exemplar (sample) materials.</p>

<p>Each student is required to submit one essay between 1,200 and 1,600 words from a list of 10 titles prescribed by the IBO for each examination session. In addition, the student makes a 10-minute presentation to the class and writes a self-evaluation report that includes a concise description of the presentation and answers to questions provided by the IBO.

</p>

[kyzan]

<p>basically at our school, its ********</p>

[vegangirl]

<p>sounds like a cool class, and i hear the teacher is good at the school i want to take it at. the question will be if they'll let me do it at all, since i'm not in the IB program.</p>

<p>thanks for the info, everyone!</p>

[scarletleavy]

<p>I don't know if you'd be allowed or even interested in TOK if you aren't doing the IB program. All it is is an IB requirement to graduate. </p>

<p>I think you'd be much better off taking Economics or Philosophy.</p>

[FrddyGV]

<p>I don't like it, nor the impact it has on most students taking it. They become ridiculous pseudo-intellectuals talking about the significance of stuff just to look smart :/</p>

[sheetmusic]

<p>I like TOK too, but I agree with scarletleavy - it's an IB requirement and in my opinion wouldn't be nearly as meaningful without the full IB program. It's designed to integrate and make the rest of your IB classes connect to each other, so without those classes...</p>

<p>I know that my school wouldn't let a non-IB student take it.</p>