TOK (Theory of Knowledge)

Theory of Knowledge - INFORMATION THEORY

TOK, or “Bilgi Kuramı” in its Turkish translation, is a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on different ways of thinking about how we should examine what we claim to know and accept as knowledge. In other words, it is a course that aims to examine the nature of knowledge in various fields or disciplines. 

How TOK (Theory of Knowledge) is structured?

TOK, as a thoughtful and purposeful inquiry about different forms of knowledge and different types of knowledge, is among the prerequisites for obtaining a diploma in the IB program. TOK consists almost entirely of questions. The most central of these is "How do we know?"

What is considered evidence for X?

How do we decide which Y-model is which?

What does theory Z mean in the real world?

By discussing these and other questions, students develop a greater awareness of personal and ideological assumptions as well as the diversity and richness of cultural perspectives.

TOK Assessment

TOK course is evaluated with a ten-minute oral presentation and a 1600-word essay. The subject of the essay is determined by the IB. The student writes an essay of a maximum of 1600 words about (1) of the published (6) titles.

The student submits the presentation and essay with a planning document. The TOK course in our school is conducted in German. Therefore, both the presentation and the composition should be made in German, which is the language of the course. While the presentation assesses the student's ability to apply TOK thinking to their real-life situation, the composition requires a more conceptual perspective. For example, without experimenting, students may be asked to discuss the argument that the methodologies used to generate knowledge depend on how that knowledge will be used.

What is the significance of TOK?

TOK aims to make students aware of the interpretative nature of information, including personal ideological biases. While critically directing students to various learning styles and fields of knowledge, it makes a critical and analytical perspective important along with it.

Students are expected to question the role and nature of Knowledge in their own culture, the cultures of others, and the wider world. As a result, TOK aims to raise individuals who know themselves better, strive to better define the complexity of information, and take responsibility, think, and question in an increasingly globalized world.