AT A GLANCE: Essential Resources, Class Resources, Related Resources, Journal Topics & Readings
Website links and documents compiled by W. Collazo for Use in TOK Classes at Deerfield Beach High School
Disclaimer: I have very carefully inspected and included sites that are educational in nature, offering a wide range of information on topics. However, given the complexity of some of these sites (especially those that are updated daily), I have not been able to follow all the links and examine every single article associated with them. Students must act in accordance with the Broward County Use of Technology and the Internet Policy they agree to and sign at the beginning of each school year with regard to materials that may not be viewed by minors.
Essential Resources
TOK Curriculum Guide (2015) - This IB-published guide (pdf file) is intended for teachers, but is full of information and questions useful for students. Find the complete explanations of and assessment criteria for both the External Assessment (TOK Essay) and the Internal Assessment (Presentation) in this document. Click here for the TOK Guide website.
ESSAY FILES (EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT)
Essay Packet for 2013-2014: This downloadable PDF file includes the Prescribed Titles for practice, the 2015 Curriculum Guide explanation for assessing the essay, and the essay assessment tool (chart).
TOK Essay Template for Submitting Essays - This is a Microsoft Word document (.doc file) that you should use for submitting your essay; change the information in the header and insert your essay in the writing space provided. Don't forget to check the word count without the title prompt before printing!
PRESENTATION FILES (INTERNAL ASSESSMENT)
PPD Form: This downloadable and editable pdf file should be typed up (only pages 1 & 2) and submitted before or on the day of your presentation. All students in a group should sign it.
Presentation Assessment Tool: This downloadable pdf file describes how to score the presentation, according to the criteria set forth by the IBO in the TOK Curriculum Guide.
Presentation (Details & Assessment Criteria) - This downloadable pdf file contains the guide's complete explanation as well as the assessment criteria and achievement level descriptors for the TOK Presentation (Internal Assessment).
Presentation Class Evaluation: This downloadable pdf file explains the 5 parts of the evaluation required in your journal for the 5 point grade. It also explains what students should do if they are absent on the day of a presentation.
Class Resources
TED Talks Online - This website is a treasure trove of "great talks to stir your curiosity."
Writing a Good TOK Essay (compliments of Pearson College)
Writing Philosophy Papers (Peter Horban, Simon Fraser University, 1993)
Writing Counter Arguments (PDF File)
Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary - An online dictionary to provide definitions for discussion, NOT for citation as THE definition used in your TOK writings & essays!
Online Etymology Dictionary - This is a great site for learning about the origins of English words, NOT their definitions.
Turnitin.com - This site will be used for an additional measure of anti-plagiarism.
National Public Radio - This is a great site for Knowledge-at-Work source material.
The Essential Guide to Academic Integrity at Cornell (Cornell University's New Student Programs, Office of the Provost & Office of the Dean of Students, 8/2013)
Ethical Practice - Published by IBO
Philosophy and Mathematics - Click on the MP3 download on the right of the page for the lecture to which it refers.
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - This is an online peer-reviewed academic resource on major topics in philosophy.
Philosophy: An Online Resource Guide (Wise Old Sayings) - This site is a one stop shop of useful links for background information on philosophy.
The Philosophy of Logic - This is an interesting and useful resource that summarizes key points related to our discussions on logic.
Skeptic Online - This website dedicated to promoting the publication and features numerous interesting articles that make you question some of the conventional wisdom in these scientific fields.
Related Resources
IB Notes - This site is useful for ALL IB courses, with online resources for all IB courses.
International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) - This site provides an overview of the IB program at all levels -- PYP, MYP and DP.
Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (1787)
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JOURNALS - Prompts by Entry # and Date
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Unit #1: KNOWLEDGE & THE KNOWER
How does your perspective affect what you know or think you know about the world?
8/22/14 & 8/25/14 : JOURNAL #1
Who are you and how do you know?
8/27/14 & 8/28/14: JOURNAL #2
How do you distinguish between what you believe to be true versus what you know to be true?
8/28/14 & 8/29/14: JOURNAL #3
Distinguish between the following: information, data, opinion, belief, faith knowledge and wisdom.
9/3/14 & 9/4/14: JOURNAL #4
What are the advantages of using intuitive over rational knowledge and vice versa?
*****Class Reflection (Based on Rational v. Intuitive Knowledge)
How do you feel about the Eastern versus Western evaluations of rational and intuitive knowledge?
9/5/14 & 9/8/14: JOURNAL #5
What is insanity? What do you consider to be ‘insane’? How do we, as knowers, draw the line between sanity and insanity?
*****Class Reflection (Based on Climbing The Tower)
What does it mean to say that behavior is caused? If behavior is caused, are we responsible for our actions?
9/22/14 & 9/23/14: JOURNAL #6
Compare and contrast Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, “The Experience Machine”, and The Matrix. Identify the primary knowledge claims of each work and discuss key knowledge issues associated with these works.
READINGS - KNOWLEDGE & THE KNOWER
*** NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE - KNOWLEDGE CLAIMS & LINKING QUESTIONS (Van de Lagemaat)
*** BASIS FOR KNOWLEDGE READING (Compilation of Abel & Russell)
*** TRUTH THEORIES READING (Notes)
*** TRUTH & WISDOM - KNOWLEDGE CLAIMS & LINKING QUESTIONS (Van de Lagemaat)
*** INTRODUCTION TO BLINK (Malcolm Gladwell)
*** RATIONAL AND INTUITIVE KNOWLEDGE (Fritjof Capra)
*** THE UNCERTAINTY OF KNOWLEDGE (Edward Harrison)
*** ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE (Plato)
*** TO MYSELF (W.S. Merwin)
*** CLIMBING THE TOWER (Harry Crews)
*** GENESIS (Chapters 1-3)
*** YOUR BRAIN LIES TO YOU (Sam Wang & Sandra Aamodt)
*** LOOK TWICE (Susan Fiske)
*** WHO'S THE ODDBALL? (Laura Spinney)
*** KNOWLEDGE ISSUES (IB Publication)
*** INQUIRY & KNOWLEDGE ISSUES (Dombrowski, et al)
*** PROBLEMS OF KNOWLEDGE - KNOWLEDGE CLAIMS & LINKING QUESTIONS (Van de Lagemaat)
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Unit #2: WAYS OF KNOWING - SENSE PERCEPTION
9/24/14 & 9/26/14 : JOURNAL #7
To what extent do our senses give us knowledge of the world as it really is? If humans are sensitive only to certain ranges of stimuli, what consequences, including limitations, might this have for the acquisition of knowledge?
*****Class Reflection (Based on In the Mind's Eye)
How does technology extend & modify the capabilities of the senses?
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