Knowledge Issues and the TOK Presentation

1. Knowledge Issuesandthe TOK Presentation

2. Real-Life Situation Other Real-Life Situation “Real” World ----------------------------------------------------------------TOK World Other Real-Life Situation application extraction Knowledge Issue(s) developed Knowledge Issue Development Progression

3. Demonstrations in China against Japanese textbook Accounts of causes of WWI “Real” World ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOK World Other disputed explanations of history application extraction The nature of historical truth; functions of history; Who should decide what history is taught in schools? Development Progression

4. Knowledge Issues • Knowledge issues apply to any aspect of knowledge: • Acquisition • Shaping • Production • Classification • Acceptance or rejection

5. Knowledge Issues • A knowledge issue is any issue that arises with regards to a knowledge claim: • How was that knowledge claim arrived at • What ways of knowing are relevant to the knowledge claim • What evidence is there to support the knowledge claim • Who is making the knowledge claim • What are the possible limitations, biases, assumptions, and values associated with the knowledge claim • How is that knowledge claim being used • How is that knowledge claim related to other knowledge claims on that topic • What are the possible counter-claims

6. Knowledge Issues • Knowledge issues can be general: • What constitutes good evidence? • or specific: • How can we distinguish between valid and invalid arguments? • What should the role of emotion be in the justification of ethical decisions?

7. Good knowledge issues • Open-ended questions that admit more than one possible answer. Eg. “What can be achieved with stem-cell research?” • Explicitly about knowledge in itself and not subject-specific claims. Eg. “How do we know whether stem cell-research is ethical?”

8. Good knowledge issues • Framed within the TOK conception: AsofK, WsofK, and linking concepts: belief, culture, evidence, experience, interpretation, justification, truth, values. Eg. “How do we know whether abortion should be legal or not?” and “What role should emotion and reason play in justifying abortion?”

9. Good knowledge issues • Child marriage in India • Should anyone have to marry against his or her will? • How do we know if there are any universal ethical laws? • What roles do emotion and reason play in justifying ethical behaviour?

10. Good knowledge issues • “Andean nations bring ancient Inca tongue back from dead” (SCMP 12/12/09) • The revival of Quechua • Do individuals have a right to speak the language of their choice? • Why should we fight against the demise of minority languages? • How do we know that language diversity is justifiable?

11. Good knowledge issues • “Killer of baby may be spared jail term” (SCMP 12/12/09) • Criminal Law in Hong Kong • Does punishment deter crime? • How can we decide how to punish? • How can we decide the appropriate punishment for a crime? • What role should reason, culture and values play in justifying the correct type of punishment for a crime?

12. Good knowledge issues • “Fossil of early predator sheds lights on evolution” (SCMP 12/12/09) • The theory of evolution • What kind of evidence do fossils provide in support of the theory of evolution? • Should we believe in the theory of evolution? • What constitutes a scientific theory and how is it justified?

13. Knowledge Issues in the Media

14. Analysing a Newspaper Article • Selection: what is being written about and what is left out? • Emphasis: What is being highlighted? • Word choice: What type of words are being used? Are they loaded words? Are there any other options? • Context: In what context has the report been written? • Opinion: Is opinion being introduced surreptitiously?

15. Analysing a Newspaper Article • Identify Knowledge Issues (KI) • Identify the divergent claims of interest groups • Identify the Ways of Knowing employed by interest groups and the media in its representation of the issue in the newspaper • Identify the linking questions used or implied • Identify opposing interest groups and how they would employ the Ways of Knowing • Define what further research you would do to understand the issue more thoroughly

16. Analysing an Issue • Identify the knowledge issues (KI) • Consider KI in relation to the Ways of Knowing and relevant Areas of Knowledge • Identify knowledge claims, strong and weak arguments, for and against • Consider counter arguments, what opponents might argue

17. Presentation : Grade Bands May 2009 E 0-8 D 9-12 C 13-15 B 16-18 A 19-20 May 2008 As in 2009

18. A Identification of Knowledge Issue (5 points) Assessment Criteria The presentation identified a knowledge issue that was clearly relevant to the real-life situation under consideration.

19. B Treatment of Knowledge Issues (5 points) The presentation showed a good understanding of knowledge issues.

20. C Knower’s perspective (5 points) The presentation, in its distinctively personal use of arguments and examples or otherwise, showed clear personal involvement and fully demonstrated the significance of the topic.

21. D Connections (5 points) The presentation gave a clear account of how the question could be approached from different perspectives and considered their implications in related areas.

22. The Assessment Criteria

23. Sample TOK Presentations • Israel-Palestine Conflict • Religious proselytism • Use of the word "nigger"

24. The OCC and other online resources • www.ibo.org Online curriculum centre (OCC) • The philosophers' magazine Games “So you think you are logical? • Fallacies tutorial • Visual cognition lab (Basketball passes)