Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Yr I

Thomas Edison High School

2017-2018

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Yr I

Max Athorn ()

Jacque Belisle ()

Tara Ferguson ()

Peter Hagenson ()

E-mail is our preferred method of correspondence. We promise to return all messages within 24 hours during the school week.

IB Learner Profile

As IB learners, teachers and students work together to bring out the best in ourselves and in one another. We aspire to the following Learner Profile traits:

CaringPrincipledCommunicatorInquirerOpen-Minded

Risk-TakerKnowledgeableReflectiveBalancedThinker

Course Description

This course is a requirement of IB Diploma and IB Medallion Candidates. The course is two years, completed during the Academic Advisory period of the student’s junior year and during an elective class period of the fall of the student’s senior year.

In this course, we will…

- Identify the differences and overlaps between shared and personal knowledge.

- Analyze the eight ways of knowing (WoK) and the eight areas of knowledge (AoK), observing and discussing the many ways that they interact with one another.

- Evaluate knowledge claims made inside and outside of academia, and analyze validity and soundness across the areas of knowledge.

- Develop and respond to our own knowledge questions, deeply exploring our relationship to the world around us.

- Use our time together to ensure that all students are up-to-date on CAS portfolios (Medallion/Diploma candidates) and Extended Essay deadlines (diploma candidates).

This course is intended to supplement the IB SL and HL coursework as we work to make global connections and become IB Learners as laid out in the IB Learner Profile. The primary objective of this course is to deepen and contextualize the learning that is occurring in all of the other courses of IB Diploma Programme students. Aside from the work done during our time together in the classroom, our “TOK” discussions will move across the curriculum, and across the school day, with holistic learning experiences in all of the other IB classes.

The other major objective of the course is to prepare students to complete the TOK Essay and TOK Presentation in twelfth grade. Those are the two major pieces of assessed work that are submitted for credit towards the IB Diploma. A large part of our in-class work will be discussions and writing labs to prepare for those assessments.

Overall, we work daily to answer the two questions that are central to “Theory of Knowledge”:

1. What do we know?

2. How do we know that we know it?

Weekly Schedule: We will meet every day, but each day will look a little bit different:

Quarterly Overview of Performance Assessments:

Quarter I Assessments:

- Demonstration of understanding of one way of knowing and detailed application to real life.

- Demonstration of mastery of the concepts of the areas of knowledge and the differences between them, and application of that mastery to shared and personal knowledge.

- CAS Checkpoint: Completed CAS Planning Document; at least three experiences proposed in Managebac

- Extended Essay Checkpoint (for DP candidates only): Topic Brainstorm Sheet

Quarter II Assessments:

- Creation of a Knowledge Question

- TOK Mini-Presentation

- CAS Checkpoint: Managebac portfolio includes approved experiences for all outcomes; first CAS interview is complete.

- Extended Essay Checkpoint (for DP candidates only): Preliminary Research Question

Quarter III Assessments:

- TOK Dictionaries: The role of language for complex ideas

- Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Research Report

- CAS Checkpoint: A total of ten reflections have been entered, and there is evidence of all completed activities.

- Extended Essay Checkpoint (for DP candidates only): Advisor Conference

Quarter IV: Assessments:

- TOK Prescribed Title Worksheet (Essay Pre-writing)

- TOK Practice Essay

- CAS Checkpoint: CAS Project Proposal is complete, including Investigation/Preparation reflections.

- Extended Essay Checkpoint (for DP candidates only): Research

Throughout the Year: Academic advising, peer support, lockers, planners, college discussion, future planning, hopes and dreams, discussion of current events, CAS workshop time, Extended Essay workshop time.

Texts and Resources: There is no textbook for Theory of Knowledge. We will read excerpts from a variety of printed materials, view films and recordings, and seek out our own resources in researching individual topics.

Grading Policy: You will be assigned a letter grade (A-F) for this course. The course will be graded according to the Edison High School proficiency based grading scale.

The breakdown of the percentage points is as follows:

80% Performance Assessments (Theory of Knowledge Objectives, CAS and Extended Essay Checkpoints)

20% Daily Practice Work as assigned, Online Contributions, Weekly Grade Checks

Homework Policy: All practice work assignments and online contributions will have a due date. Assignments must be submitted on time to qualify for full credit. If you need extra time in order to complete an assignment, please see us in advance of the due date to discuss a possible extension without penalty.

If you are absent from class for any reason, you are responsible for missed assignments by reviewing the assignments on the student portal and/or managebac. Written work may be submitted electronically via e-mail.

Class Expectations and Discipline

Class expectations are articulated in the Classroom Engagement Plan (attached).

Attendance and Tardy Policy: A large majority of our class will be discussion-based, and if you are not present and punctual in spirit, mind and body, you will be denied the experience of our shared learning. Attendance is mandatory, and persistent tardiness will result in administrative referral.

Academic Honesty Policy: We will adhere to the Thomas Edison High School Academic Honesty in all matters.

The citation method for all IB DP courses is MLA.

Due to the college preparatory nature of this class, we expect all students to adopt a college mindset with regards to academic integrity. In college, if you are caught cheating, you are often dismissed from school. Not just the class period, not just given an automatic “F” for that assignment or that course. Commonly, one single act of academic fraud will cost you the opportunity to earn a degree at that institution. There are no second chances, no mediation, no excuses.

If you are doing written work for Theory of Knowledge, it is our expectation that it is 100% yours. In this class, if you are found to have committed an act of Academic Dishonesty, you will be referred to the academic deans. The school policy states that the first offense will result in a three-day suspension from athletics and activities and a phone call home.

If you have the temptation to pull something off of the internet or copy from a classmate because you are at a loss, you should come and talk to your teacher and we can discuss why the assignment is difficult. We are willing to accommodate reasonable requests for extended time on a written assignment or project and will work with you individually to ensure that you have the resources and expertise that you need to do quality work!!

Classroom Engagement Plan Theory of Knowledge I2017-2018

Looks like:Response:

• Entering the room respectfully and proceeding to assigned area.
• Reading the instructions on the board and doing the assigned task.
• If you are late and it is not immediately clear what you should be doing, go to your seat and wait for an invitation from classmates (or the teacher.)

• If a student receives five tardies, his/her advisor will call home.
• After eight tardies, students will be referred to the academic dean and, eventually, administration.

• Group work

• Individual

• Whole class

• Working willingly and with full energy with classmates.
• Managing the group’s time so that tasks can be completed in a timely way.

• Industrious, independent thinking and writing.
• Willingness to ask questions of teacher and classmates without being disruptive.

• Contributing to class discussions with speaking and/or active listening
• Engaging in difficult discussion topics with grace and tact.

• If students miss class, they should refer to the online gradebook to determine what was missed. Consult with classmates or the teacher for additional guidance.

• Cell phones are quiet and out of sight during instructional time.
• Students may use phones only when specified by the teacher.
• Students who need to leave the room for any reason should request permission, not during direct instruction.

• First, a teacher warning
• Second, teacher will confiscate the phone and return it at the end of the class period.
• Next offense, the phone will be given to the academic dean and returned at the end of the day.

• The teacher dismisses the class (not the bell).
• The students should not pack up things early and wait by the door.
• The room should be left cleaner than it was when we arrived.

• Advisors will revoke classroom privileges if the room is treated disrespectfully.

• Cite ideas that are not your own
• Demonstrating your own learning/ideas in your own words
• Working as a group on group assignments only.
• Use MLA for citation.

• Teacher will ask for a re-write or to re-do assignment
• Instances of academic dishonesty will result in a referral to the academic dean.

• Seating Chart (sit in assigned seat)
• No passes during the first ten or last ten minutes of class.
• Tardiness and absenteeism will be tracked according to school policy.