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Welcome to Theory of Knowledge!

Why TOK? "Because it's not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well." -rene descartes-

We're happy you're here.  TOK is an eye-opening course that will challenge what you know, and what you think you know.  It will also help you to understand how "knowers" in various disciplines think, learn and communicate their knowledge.  

 

TOK is primarily concerned with two fundamental questions:

  • How do I know what I know?

  • How do we know what we know?  

 

With dedicated effort and a willingness to take on intellectual challenges, we are confident that you will find TOK to be one of the most important classes in the IB Diploma Program.  

Personal Knowledge

Personal knowledge includes what might be described as skills, practical abilities and individual talents. This type of knowledge is sometimes called procedural knowledge. Personal knowledge also includes a map of our personal experiences of the world. It is formed from a number of ways of knowing such as our memories of our own biography, the sense perceptions through which we gain knowledge of the world, the emotions that accompanied such sense perceptions, the values and significance we place on such thoughts and feelings.

Shared Knowledge

Shared knowledge is the knowledge that we exchange and shape communally. This makes up a large part of what we know in our lives. For example, we learn our ways of communicating from others (e.g. our languages) and are brought, through communication, into our cultural, social and academic knowledge.

Key questions = what is the nature of the knowledge shared, and the methods by which it is constructed – that is, created, communicated, and evaluated?

Your Teachers

Ms. Alicia Zents



I've been at ISK for 10 years and in Kenya for 15.  I've taught in the US and Honduras and I've lived in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, the UK, Honduras and Germany. I have an academic background in history, English, and international development. Also, I will argue unto my dying days that Firefly is the best sci fi show ever.

Ms. Jill Hire



This is my first year at ISK and I'm super excited to be here!  I've taught in Denver, CO and Amman, Jordan.  I have an academic background in English, Theatre and Journalism.  I love teaching TOK because you always think you know something until the topic comes up in TOK and then you realize that you never knew anything for real in the first place.  Ever. Really.  

Mr. Mike Fisher



This is my second year at ISK, but I've previously taught in Brussels, Belgium and Heilingenhaus, Germany.  Prior to that I lived in several cities in Canada including Calgary and Kingston but began by living in my parents basement in Cambridge.  I have degrees in Education, History and Kinesiology while also have certification in coaching several sports, more specifically Baseball, Basketball and Volleyball.  I have an odd fascination with most things trivial and an unhealthy obsession with college basketball

Mr. Bill Parsons



This is my first year at ISK. Previously I've lived and worked in Boston, Caracas, Lisbon, Miami. I have an academic background in English and have taught TOK in two other schools. I enjoy teaching Theory of Knowledge because the course offers a  great opportunity to learn with students and to challenge my own biases and assumptions.  While I know very little, I am quite sure about one thing:  It's an imperative to respond to every opportunity.

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