Extension Worksheet Topic 6 s3

Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma

Suggested course structure and timing

IBO suggested TOK course timing

100 hours:

· 4 terms of 12 weeks (2 hours per week)

· 4 hours’ individual work/group discussion/guidance

Note: Classes should be balanced to include a large discussion element as well as theory.

· Term 1 (24 hours)

· Term 2 (24 hours)

· Term 3 (24 hours)

· Term 4 (24 hours + 4 guidance hours per group/individual)

TOK presentations and submission of TOK essays by the end of term 4.

Advantages of this timing:

· Teachers and coordinators have a useful margin to meet IB submission dates in term 5.

· Students have more TOK-free time for study in the final weeks of their IB course.

· Students having difficulty with submission of work are less likely to put their IB Diploma at risk, as they will have completed the TOK element and will be able to concentrate on their other subjects in the final term.

Term 1: Introduction to TOK, knowers and knowing, areas of knowledge

Hour / Content / Website/Coursebook reference
1 / · What is TOK and what importance does it have in the IB Diploma?
· Introduction / Introduction
2 / · The importance of TOK marking
· The TOK assessed essay: how to construct an essay (needed for homework!) / Understanding TOK mark schemes
The TOK assessed essay
3 / · The problem of knowledge 1
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 19–22 / Chapter 1 summary
4 / · The problem of knowledge 2
5 / · The nature of knowledge 1
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 40–4 / Chapter 2 summary
6 / · The nature of knowledge 2
7 / · Ways of knowing: Language 1 / Chapter 3 summary
8 / · Ways of knowing: Language 2
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 79–84
9 / · Ways of knowing: Language 3
10 / · Ways of knowing: Perception 1 / Chapter 4 summary
11 / · Ways of knowing: Perception 2
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 105–10
12 / · Ways of knowing: Perception 3
13 / · Ways of knowing: Reason 1
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 141–4 / Chapter 5 summary
14 / · Ways of knowing: Reason 2
15 / · Ways of knowing: Emotion 1
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 169–73 / Chapter 6 summary
16 / · Ways of knowing: Emotion 2
17 / · Propositions / Appendix A summary
18 / · Paradigms / Appendix B summary
19 / · The TOK assessed presentation
· How to plan and give a presentation / The TOK assessed presentation
20 / · Setting of presentation topics
· Group work 2–5 people (2–3 works best) / Use discussion questions from Chapters 1–6
21 / · Group presentation preparation / The TOK assessed presentation
Chapters 1–6
22 / · Group presentation preparation
23 / · Presentations
24 / · Presentations

Term 2: Areas of knowledge – mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences

Hour / Content / Website/Coursebook reference
1 / · Area of knowledge: Mathematics 1 / Chapter 7 summary
2 / · Area of knowledge: Mathematics 2
3 / · Area of knowledge: Mathematics 3
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 213–19
4 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 213–19
5 / · Area of knowledge: Natural sciences 1 / Chapter 8 summary
6 / · Area of knowledge: Natural sciences 2
7 / · Area of knowledge: Natural sciences 3
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 250–5
8 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 250–5
9 / · Area of knowledge: Human (social) sciences 1 / Chapter 9 summary
10 / · Area of knowledge: Human (social) sciences 2
· Homework: TOK essay based around a discussion topic, Chapter 7, 8 or 9
11 / · Area of knowledge: Human (social) sciences 3
12 / · Free-will
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 283–7 / Chapter appendix summary
13 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 283–7
14 / · Setting of presentation topics
· Group work 2–5 people (2–3 works best) / Use discussion questions from Chapters 7–9
15 / · Group work and homework / The TOK assessed presentation
16 / · Group work and homework
17 / · Group work and homework
18 / · Presentations
19 / · Presentations
20 / · Presentations
21 / · Review TOK essay construction skills and content
· Set essay topics: use past TOK essay topics available on the IB website / The TOK assessed essay
22 / · Essay work
23 / · Essay work
24 / · Discussion of essay construction problems and technique

Term 3: Areas of knowledge – history, the arts, ethics

Hour / Content / Website/Coursebook reference
1 / · Area of knowledge: History 1 / Chapter 10 summary
2 / · Area of knowledge: History 2
3 / · Area of knowledge: History 3
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 322–7
4 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 322–7
5 / · Area of knowledge: The arts 1 / Chapter 11 summary
6 / · Area of knowledge: The arts 2
7 / · Area of knowledge: The arts 3
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 356–62
8 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 356-–62
9 / · Area of knowledge: Ethics 1 / Chapter 12 summary
10 / · Area of knowledge: Ethics 2 / Chapter 12 summary
11 / · Area of knowledge: Ethics 3 / Chapter 12 summary
12 / · Area of knowledge: Ethics 4
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 396–402 / Chapter 12 summary
13 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 396–402
14 / · Setting of presentation topics
· Group work 2–5 people (2–3 works best) / Use discussion questions from Chapters 7–9
15 / · Group work and homework / The TOK assessed presentation
16 / · Group work and homework
17 / · Group work and homework
18 / · Presentations
19 / · Presentations
20 / · Presentations
21 / · Review TOK essay construction skills and content
· Set essay topics: use past TOK essay topics available on the IB website / The TOK assessed essay
22 / · Essay
23 / · Essay
24 / · Essay

Term 4: Conclusion and review

Hour / Content / Website/Coursebook reference
1 / · Truth and wisdom 1 / Chapter 14 summary
2 / · Truth and wisdom 2
3 / · Truth and wisdom 3
· Homework: Reading resources pp. 463–7
4 / · Discussion of reading resources / pp. 463–7
5 / · Discussion of TOK essay titles released for assessment / IBO website
6 / · Discussion of TOK essay titles released for assessment
7 / · Review of TOK essay construction
· Set school internal deadlines for TOK essay submission / The TOK assessed essay
8 / · Essay plan preparation
9 / · Essay plan discussion with students
10 / · Start group work for presentations
· Review what is expected / The TOK assessed presentation
11 / · Group work for presentations
· 2–5 people (2–3 works best)
12 / · Group work
13 / · Group work
14 / · Group work
· Essay progress discussion with individuals / The TOK assessed presentation
15 / · Group work
· Essay progress discussion with individuals / The TOK assessed presentation
The TOK assessed essay
16 / · Group work
· Essay progress discussion with individuals
17 / · Group work
· Pre-presentation reviews with groups / The TOK assessed presentation
18 / · Group work
· Pre-presentation reviews with groups
19–23 / · Presentation filming
24 / · Essay submission discussion: due at start of next term / The TOK assessed essay

Note: An additional four hours are available for individual/group guidance and discussion.