Please copy and paste your two-or-three paragraph “Challenge I Overcame” essay into the comments section of this post.

“@simunderhill: A colleague came up with this #IBTOK diagram. V. useful in early weeks of the course. #TOKChat pic.twitter.com/iPrWNg7HgW”

— Larry Ferlazzo (@Larryferlazzo) August 31, 2014

Theory Of Knowledge Schedule 2014-15

Mr. Ferlazzo’s Email Address: mrferlazzo@aol.com

Homework:

You must have a binder that is kept up to date and divided into the different Ways of Knowing and Areas of Knowledge.  You should keep separate “Warm-Up” sheets for each of them, too.   I will periodically check binders.

Read assigned chapters.  For each one, write what you think are the three most important points and why you think they are important (two sentences for each one is sufficient), two short key quotes and at least a sentence explaining why you chose each one, and two questions you have.  In addition, you must choose one “linking question” at the end of each chapter and write an “ABC” paragraph responding to it.  “A” means answer the question; “B” means back it up with at least one piece of evidence from the chapter; “C” means make a comment/connection — share an informed opinion based on what you learned from the chapter and connect it to something else you know from something you read or experienced.  Homework will be shared in class.  Most of this will be done between September and January, and then the focus during the second semester will be the group presentation and essay.

Occasional assignments on TOK Class Blog (https://theoryofknowledge.edublogs.org/)

Group TOK Presentation – It will be videotaped. Substantial time in class will be provided to prepare, but outside time will also be needed.  Your grade on this group presentation will be one of the two primary components of your official grade from IB.  You may make two group presentations on two different topics .  The one with the higher grade will count.

TOK Essay – At least one essay where substantial time in class will be provided (assuming we can get access to computer lab), but outside time will also be needed.

If you are an IB Diploma candidate or are seeking an IB TOK Certificate, you will also have to write a TOK essay in the fall of 2015 during your senior year that will be submitted to IB and will comprise the second component of your official IB grade (the Group Presentation will be the other portion).

This schedule is subject to change in consultation with the class.

SEPTEMBER:

• Introduction to TOK
• The Problem and Nature Of Knowledge, p. 3-40 — two chapters (homework due 9/15)
• CAS Plan developed
• Knowledge Issues
• Allegory of the Cave
• Perception p. 88 -105 (homework due 9/22) – also, do the assignment on the blog titled “Why Do People Believe What They See?” by the same date.

 

OCTOBER

• Language p. 47-79 (homework due October 6th)
• Reason and Logic  p. 111-141 (homework due Oct. 13th)
• Emotions p. 145-169 (homework due Oct. 20^th)
• Imagination, Faith, Intuition & Memory (no homework)

 

NOVEMBER:

• Math p. 187-213 (homework due November 3rd)
• The Arts p.328- 356 (homework due Nov. 10th)
• CAS Review
• History p. 300-322 (homework due Nov. 17^th)

 

DECEMBER:

• Ethics p. 363-396 (homework due Dec. 8th)
• Natural Sciences p. 220-250 (homework due December 15th)

 

 

JANUARY:

• Human Sciences p. 256-288 (homework due January 12th)
• Religious Knowledge Systems p. 403- 431 (homework due January 19th)
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems (no homework)
• TOK Presentation Planning – Decide on topic and group by January 26th. Assuming we can get access to the computer lab or laptops, you will have four class periods each week to work on it for four weeks. Your written plan will be due on February 10th.

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FEBRUARY

• You will make your presentation in early March.  Presentations will be video-recorded
• CAS Review
• The class will decide if it wants to move immediately into preparation for the second Presentation or if it wants to spend the first two weeks of March “teaching lessons.”

For teaching lessons, small groups will pick from a wide choice of materials for each Way of Knowing and Area of Knowledge.  Each week, groups will prepare short lessons on the material they chose to present to a small group.  You will be provided a guideline, and creativity will be encouraged.  You will have one class period to chose and  prepare; there will be one-to-two class periods to present.

 

MARCH/APRIL:

• First two weeks of student-created lessons or immediately begin preparing second presentations.
• Begin work on TOK Essay in late April

 

 

MAY:

• Work on Essay
• Essay due on June 8th

Save

Schedule – Last Month Of TOK

May 16^th & Week of May 19^th

Go through steps in TOK class blog about writing an essay

Review Instagram Assignment

 

Week of May 26^th

Research and prepare outline

San Francisco Field Trip – on the day of the field trip and the next day, class will be watching a movie

Essay Outlines For Seniors are due on Wednesday, May 28^th

Seniors going on the field trip will NOT have to do the photo assignment

 

Week of June 2^nd

Essay Outline due on Monday,  June 2nd for All Juniors – No Exceptions!

Essays by Seniors due on Wednesday, June 4^th

Instagram assignment due on Wednesday, June 4^th from Seniors

 

Week of June 9^th

I believe that our final will be on Wednesday.   You will have the first hour to work on your essay and/or your Instagrams or, if you went on the field trip, your slideshow.  All are due one hour after the start of class.

We will show the Instagrams and field trip slideshow during the last hour of the two-hour final.

REVISED TOK SCHEDULE — 2014

JANUARY:

• History p. 300-322 (homework due January 6th)
• Ethics p. 363-396 (homework due January 13th)
• Semester Final Exam — Essay

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FEBRUARY
• Natural Sciences p. 220-250 (homework due February 3rd)
• Human Sciences p. 256-288 (homework due February 11th)
• Religious Knowledge Systems p. 403- 431 (homework due February 18th)
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems (no homework)
• TOK Presentation Planning – Decide on topic and group by February 24th. Assuming we can get access to the computer lab or laptops, you will have four class periods each week to work on it for three weeks. Your written plan will be due on March 5th.
MARCH

• You will make your presentation in late-March. Presentations will be video-recorded
• CAS Review
APRIL
• Everyone will spend one week “teaching lessons” & then groups will decide if they want to make a second presentation (which will be done in late April).

For teaching lessons, small groups will pick from a wide choice of materials for each Way of Knowing and Area of Knowledge. Each week, groups will prepare short lessons on the material they chose to present to a small group. You will be provided a guideline, and creativity will be encouraged. You will have one class period to chose and prepare; there will be one-to-two class periods to present.

MAY:
• Work on TOK Essay, which will be due on June 6th
• One or two weeks “teaching lessons”

Explore the different videos and sites at The Best Sites For Walking In Someone Else’s Shoes.

After thirty minutes of exploring the different sites, please answer the following questions:
”
* Which site or video there do you think provided you with the most accurate experience of “walking in someone else’s shoes”? Please provide the reasons behind your choice.

* How close do you think we can come to truly experiencing what someone else experiences? Please provide a percentage — 10, 20, 30, etc. percent, and provide the reasons for your answer.

* What are the benefits — if any — to trying to put yourself in someone else’s shoes?

If you can, please try to use TOK language, particularly what we’ve learned about the Ways of Knowing (language, reason, emotion, perception, memory, imagination,faith, intuition) in your responses.