"The power to question is the basis of all human knowledge." - Indira Ghandi
The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) requirement is central to the educational philosophy of the Diploma Programme; the course provides students with an opportunity to explore and reflect on the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing. Students reflect on the knowledge, beliefs and opinions that they have built up from their years of academic studies and their lives outside the classroom. The course is intended to be challenging and thought-provoking—as well as empowering—for students.
| 1. | Encourage students to reflect on the central question, “How do we know that?”, and to recognize the value of asking that question. |
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| 2. | Expose students to ambiguity, uncertainty and questions with multiple plausible answers.
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| 3. | Equip students to effectively navigate and make sense of the world, and help prepare them to encounter novel and complex situations.
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| 4. | Encourage students to be more aware of their own perspectives and to reflect critically on their own beliefs and assumptions. |
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| 5. | Engage students with multiple perspectives, foster open-mindedness and develop intercultural understanding
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6.
| Encourage students to make connections between academic disciplines by exploring underlying concepts and by identifying similarities and differences in the methods of inquiry used in different areas of knowledge. |
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Beyond its curriculum, TOK is also a transdisciplinary concept that
provides coherence to all Diploma Programme academic and core studies.
Students are challenged to recognize knowledge claims and to pose
knowledge questions as they learn and grow in all disciplines.
