What Is Tok In Ib Program

So How Important Is It

It is very important! Students TOK grades can directly impact their final IB diploma grades.

Relying on the subjects alone, students can only score a maximum of 42 out of 45 points. The missing 3 points are awarded according to the students TOK and Extended Essay grades. The number of bonus points students receive is determined using the following matrix.

It is not important only for its bonus points. As an IB core, the TOK is a compulsory subject for all IB students. So, if students want to receive their diplomas, passing the TOK is a must.

Putting academics aside, the TOK is important as it broadens a students horizons. By recognising that the world is not monochromatic but in vivid technicolour, TOK nurtures students to be global citizens. One that is sensitive, understanding and respectful to the perspectives held by others.

The Underlying Principle Of Ib Tok

All of the investigation done in IB TOK is just to answer one question. That question is, ‘How do we know‘. This question is expanded by integrating different Areas of Knowledge and studying them through the Ways of Knowing. Essentially you take a fact or an opinion from an Area Of Knowledge, determine the way that fact/opinion was established , and then investigate if the fact or opinion will change if a different way of knowing was applied to it. You can also explore that fact/opinion under the light of a different Area of Knowledge altogether and see how that fact/opinion changes .

To understand the points mentioned above, let’s revisit the famous example that most TOK teachers like to use:

‘People believed that the Earth was flat until the Greeks proved otherwise’.

The Earth being flat was treated as a universal truth until the Greeks disproved it. So was Flat Earth was a fact that belonged to the natural sciences. Greek Empire was an establishment for which religion was of paramount importance. Perhaps then the ‘Flat Earth’ was Religious Knowledge that was promoted to accentuate the existence of the Gods and Heaven. Now that this ‘fact’ has been disproved, does it still belong to any of the aforementioned areas of knowledge, or does it now fall under History?

Tok Retreat Postponed Due To Covid

Our first ever TOK Retreat took place on September 21-22, 2016 at YMCA Camp Cedar Glen in Schomberg, Ontario. This yearly retreat is a way for us to connect while we question our existence, challenge our bodies and minds and come together through perseverance and sharing.

See a few tableaux demonstrating some of the TOK Ways of Knowing below.

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How Is Tok Structured

As a thoughtful and purposeful inquiry into different ways of knowing, and into different kinds of knowledge, TOK is composed almost entirely of questions.

The most central of these is “How do we know?”, while other questions include:

• What counts as evidence for X?
• How do we judge which is the best model of Y?
• What does theory Z mean in the real world?

Through discussions of these and other questions, students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions, as well as developing an appreciation of the diversity and richness of cultural perspectives.

What Are The 6 Core Courses In The Ib Program

To earn the full IB Diploma, you have to take courses from six subjects, one each from groups 1-5, and either one from group 6 or a substitute from groups 1-4:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature

• Group 2: Language Acquisition

• Group 3: Individuals and Societies

• Group 4: Sciences

• Group 5: Mathematics

• Group 6: The Arts

Between three and four subjects must be taken at the Higher Level and the rest at the Standard Level in order to earn the Diploma. Higher Level courses are more challengingIB recommends a minimum of 240 hours of instructional time for HL courses, and 150 hours for SL courses.

Some schools handle the HL requirements by having students take the SL or AP version of a course first and the HL version second, thereby forming a two-year sequence. For example, you might take AP English Literature as a junior, and then HL IB English as a senior.

Also, note that many high schools with IB programs have recommended four-year plans to help students fit in all the requirements, since there’s a lot to keep track of. Therefore, you won’t necessarily have to do a bunch of schedule-planning on your own.

If your school or a school you’re interested in has an IB program, get in touch with the guidance counseling office to find out whether they have recommended IB class sequences. This can help you if you’re deciding which high school to attend, or if you can’t decide whether you want to take IB classes or not.

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Why Should You Take Ib Classes Or Pursue An Ib Diploma

On top of the opportunity for college credit, I truly think the IB program is the best preparation for collegeeven better than the community college classes I took in a dual enrollment program. IB prepares students to think globally and write about a variety of topics. I really believe in the IB program.

It provides students with more creative opportunities than do AP classes. Students are allowed to choose topics for their reports and are not typically assigned a specific area to research.

For example, I am very passionate about film and theatre. I got to explore that passion through my Extended Essay, and I also got to explore it in my oral presentation for my Spanish B class, in which I talked about Pedro Almodovar and Spanish cinema.

Also, I am very interested in my family history. As I mentioned. I wrote a report on Allied prisoners of war in Europe in WWII for my IB history class. My own grandfather was a prisoner of war. I got to track down details of his experiences and include it in my report.

Overall, IB is a fantastic program for students who love to read and learn about the world. It truly allows students to pursue their biggest interests and identify their passions.

What Is The Ib Program And What Are Ib Classes

One factor some students consider when choosing a high school is whether it has an International Baccalaureate program. Often compared with the Advanced Placement program, the IB program allows students to take college-level courses while in high school.

So what is International Baccalaureate? What is the IB Program and an IB Diploma, and why are IB classes worth taking? In this article, we introduce all things IB, including the Diploma requirements and features of the exams. We also explain whether you have to get an IB Diploma in order to earn college credit for your IB classes.

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What We Dont Know We Dont Know

Interestingly enough, this is exactly how the brain is structured. There is a conscious part that can be compared to the things we know. Then there is the subconscious part, almost matching the second category of knowledge. And finally, there is the unconscious part, that is, what we dont know we dont know. This far fetch analogy is to point out that knowledge is a fundamental concept. The way it is acquired and stored is ubiquitous and recurring. Even in a Computer, there are three different memories: Random Access Memory, Read-Only Memory, and Secondary Memory!

Why should you read this blog?

This blog discusses the essence of Theory Of Knowledge . It analysis different Areas of Knowledge and Ways of Knowing . Towards the end of the blog, you will better understand IBOs intention of adding TOK in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Make sure you read the entire blog to understand better the 8 Ways of Knowing and 8 Areas of Knowledge for IB TOK.

Before you read on, you may want to listen to Alan Watts to understand what knowing is.

Ib Core: Theory Of Knowledge And Extended Essay

The Theory of Knowledge course is assessed in two parts: Essay and Presentation.The Presentation is completed either individually or in a group and is videoed and assessed internally by a panel of three TOK specialists including the IBDP Coordinator and the TOK Coordinator. The TOK Essay is completed during the course and is graded externally by IBO examiners. The TOK Handbook is available to all students and parents on managebac.

The Extended Essay is an independent research project culminating in a 4000 word research paper. All extended essays are externally examined by IBO examiners.The EE Handbook is available to all students and parents on managebac.

The EE and TOK are worth a maximum of 3 IB points, depending on the grades obtained overall in each course.

For example, a candidate who achieves level B for Theory of Knowledge and level C for the Extended Essay will be awarded two IB points.

Candidates who achieve level E for either Theory of Knowledge or the Extended Essay will fail their diploma.

The combination of points for subjects and core points means that the maximum possible points score for the Diploma is 45.

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What Are The Areas Of Knowledge In Ib Tok

Areas of Knowledge refer to the different disciplines from which knowledge can be acquired. AOK can be considered as various ponds with different tasting water. Each pond quenches IB students thirst for intellect in a different way. This is to highlight that each AOK is to enhance the understanding of the world. Fundamentally, an AOK broadens your perspective and helps you learn. Does that mean every Area of Knowledge is a different entity and thus completely independent? Absolutely not! Quite the contrary, the disciplines offered in the form of AOKs are connected to each other in a very subtle way. To become a holistic scholar, a student should be able to spot this subtle connection and draw parallels between different Areas of Knowledge.

How Is Theory Of Knowledge Scored

Your TOK scores come from two different assessments:

• An in class presentation
• Externally assessed essay

Scoring in TOK isnt as simple as a letter grade because TOK is a third of what IB calls its core, with the other parts being Creativity, Activity, Service and the extended essay. Scoring well in all three of these can give you up to three of the attainable 45 points in IBDP.

The following table details how the three points are attainable from the core:

Remember, if you get an E for either TOK or CAS, youre not eligible to get the diploma.

While IB scores are important to receive the diploma, your actual scores dont determine your chances of college admissions as much as you think. Instead, its more about taking the IB classes pertaining to your future major, and showing work ethic by signing up for hard classes. For more insight into college admissions and your chances, use CollegeVines admissions calculator!

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What Is The International Baccalaureate Program

You’ve probably heard of this thing called IB, or International Baccalaureate. You might have heard that it’s kind of like the Advanced Placement, or AP, program.

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma from Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, Florida. I know the program from the inside out. In this article, I’ll give you a factual overview of IB as well as my opinions.

Higher Level And Standard Level Courses

The IB awards the same number of points for higher level and standard level courses, reflecting the IBs belief in the importance of achievement across a broad range of academic disciplines.

HL and SL courses differ in scope but are assessed against the same grade descriptors, with HL candidates expected to demonstrate the various elements of the grade descriptors across a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills.

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What Is Theory Of Knowledge

The term theory of knowledge may sound intimidating to students when first confronted with it. In fact, it is not just a subject on its own but is one that is based on all the other learnings that the student has accomplished. That being said, it is a core element in the IB curriculum and must not be taken for granted. A student receiving an E in TOK will not receive his/her diploma.

The Curriculum And Its Parts

The TOK curriculum comprises of three parts: the core theme, five optional themes, and five Areas of Knowledge

The core theme investigates how individuals, and communities, acquire knowledge. It invites students to examine the relationship culture and communities have with knowledge. Through introspection, it also encourages students to consider how perspectives, especially their own, are gained and shaped.

Next are the optional themes. There are five optional themes in the TOK syllabus, however students will only learn two. The five optional themes are: Knowledge and technology, Knowledge and language, Knowledge and politics, Knowledge and religion, and Knowledge and indigenous societies

The optional themes give students insight into factors with a significant influence on the world. Exposure to these themes widens the focus beyond themselves.

The last component of the TOK is the areas of knowledge, or AOK for short. Each AOK has a unique nature and may use different means to acquire knowledge. IB students are likely to be familiar with the AOKs as they mostly correlate with the six subject groups in IB.

The five areas of knowledge IB students will study are: history, human sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and the arts.

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Ib Exam Changes Due To Covid

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IB has decided to extend the adaptations which were put in place for 2021 to 2022. May 2022 IB assessments will have two routes, exam and non-exam, depending on which your school chooses. Stay up to date with the latest information on what this means for IB diplomas, course credit for IB classes, and more with our our IB COVID-19 FAQ article.

Core Requirements And Subject Groups

Theory of knowledge Creativity, action, service

To be awarded an IB diploma, candidates must fulfill three core requirements, in addition to passing their subject examinations:

Subject groups

Students who pursue the IB diploma must take six subjects: one each from Groups 1â5, and either one from Group 6 or a permitted substitute from one of the other groups, as described below. Three or four subjects must be taken at Higher level and the rest at Standard level . The IB recommends a minimum of 240 hours of instructional time for HL courses and 150 hours for SL courses.

While the IB encourages students to pursue the full IB diploma, the “substantial workload require a great deal of commitment, organization, and initiative”. Students may instead choose to register for one or more individual IB subjects, without the core requirements. Such students will not receive the full diploma.

The six IBDP subject groups and course offerings are summarised below. More information about the subject groups and individual courses can be found at the respective subject group articles:

Environmental Systems and Societies SL is an interdisciplinary course designed to meet the diploma requirements for groups 3 and 4, while Literature and Performance SL meets the requirements of Groups 1 and 6.

Online Diploma Programme and pilot courses

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Can You Get College Credit For Ib Classes Or An Ib Diploma

Yes! Though each school has slightly different qualifications for earning credit for IB classes, most colleges will give you credit for IB HL classes with an exam score of 5 or higher.

Some colleges will even waive your General Education requirements for those students with an IB Diploma. Others, such as the University of Southern California , will give you a full year’s worth of credit if you have an IB Diploma.

You can look up colleges’ individual IB college credit policies by searching ” IB credit policy.” Most universities have a dedicated web page for explaining their IB credit policies.

What Are Ib Exams

For each of those six core classes, you also have to take an IB exam.IB exams are given in May . They have two parts: an external assessment and an internal assessment.

The external assessment is the more traditional exam portion and consists of two or three “papers,” typically done on the same day or a few days in a row. A paper is essentially an exam section, and they usually have a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer, extended-response, and data- or case-analysis questions.

You won’t spend much time bubbling in answers on an IB exam.

The papers are graded by independent examinerssimilar to how AP exams are graded by certified AP graders.

The internal assessments, however, are done by the teacher. These can include oral presentations, practical work , or other written work. Around 5% or more of the internal assessments will also be graded by a moderator appointed by the IB, and based on this moderation, the grading curve of that subject at the school will be set.

IB exams are graded on a scale of 1-7, with 6 and 7 considered an A, and anything 4 and up generally considered a passing score . Most colleges give IB credit for scores of 5 and higher.

To earn the IB Diploma, you need to score an average of 4 on each exam to get the minimum 24 needed points. You can learn more about IB exams on the IB website.

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