Theory of Knowledge is an integral part of the IB Diploma Program.
TOK essentially is a course that looks at how we know what we know. It is a course on epistemology, or simply put, the philosophy of knowledge. As the IB puts it, it gives students an opportunity to “reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know.”
For those interested, here is the subject guide for IB TOK subject guide: https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/core-tok-2022-en.pdf
All DP students must complete the TOK course and along with it, an essay and an exhibition that demonstrates students' understanding of TOK.
The curriculum of TOK is as follows:
And the assessments for TOK are as follows:
From my experience as a teacher, students at times may find TOK to be a daunting course because it explores question such as:
What counts as knowledge?
On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?
Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?
Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?
What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?
How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion?
TOK focuses on developing critical thinking in students, and creating individuals who question knowledge, beliefs and ideas.