September 4, 2024

Agenda

1. Starter: What do you think the point of TOK is? Respond on Canvas.

2. Assignment: The 4 Aims of TOK (Tasks 1-4)

• Task #1: Covid Stories

  • In pairs: Read your story about Covid-19.

  • Not all of the stories assigned are true.

  • After you and your partner have read your assigned story, decide whether or not you think it is true.

  • Signal you are ready for the class discussion by tilting your Chromebook screen downwards.

  Articles

  • Chinese court to seek permission to kill 20,000 Covid-19 patients(debunk)

  • Garlic can prevent the spread of Covid-19 (debunk)

  • Corona beer sales have been affected by the pandemic (debunk)

  • 5G towers help spread of Covid-19 (debunk)

• Task #2: David Hoffman Video

  • Watch the video until 3:10.

  • Answer the corresponding questions on the worksheet.

• Task #3: Time-Telling Instrument

  • In groups: Design an instrument for telling the time

  • Make it original

  • It does not have to be 100% accurate

  • You will have 15 minutes

  • You will then present/explain to the rest of the class how your design works and the name you created for it

  • For inspiration: Design for all 5 senses

• Task #4: The Atlantic article

  • Look at The Atlantic article on Thomas Edison. 

  • Focus on paragraphs 10 - 12 (“But comparing them… pear-shaped bulb”)

    • How was Edison’s approach to science and innovation different to Tesla’s?

    • What was the result of this - for both men?

• Task #5: Putting it All Together

  In pairs - for each of the four tasks we have just done, identify the skill, or type of thinking, that was involved.

• Our 4 Aims in TOK

  • Which of these 4 aims do you think is most important - why?

  • Why do you think these have been identified as the most important skills in education (more than, say, learning content)?

  • Given that TOK aligns so well with the ‘4Cs’ (more, arguably, than any of the other DP subject), does this mean that it is the most important element of the DP?

• Processing This

  • In groups of 4, create a ‘living statue’ to represent the aims of TOK.

  • You have 8 minutes to prepare this.

  • You must NOT move when you present your statue.

  • Groups will peer assess the other living statues.

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TOK Journal

Respond to the prompt in your TOK Journal!

Related exhibition prompt: Why do we seek knowledge (IAP-17)?

Refer to the ideas from this lesson to answer this question.

• For example, why are we studying this course - and trying to improve our understanding of what knowledge is? How could this help us to navigate the world more effectively?

• Which objects could help to illustrate your answer?

What to include:

• A description of a real-life situation (RLS)

• Link to one or more of the AOKs

• The question it prompts us to ask about how we know something (the ‘knowledge question’)

• An evaluation of the importance

• Discussion of how different perspectives might affect the way you answer