TOK I – Spring Semester / TOK II - Fall Semester
Mrs. Braden

Room: 253

Homework Hotline: www.bradenstok.com
Email: cbraden@ais-r.edu.sa

Course Outline

The TOK program is composed almost entirely of questions, both ageless questions that have captured the eye of thinkers for centuries and new ones, often challenging to accepted belief, which emerge from contemporary life.  Our purpose is not to create contempt for the claims of various branches of knowledge, but, on the contrary, to foster an appreciation for the quest for knowledge, its importance, its complexities, and its implications.  In the spring semester, we begin a deepening spiral into the interrelated Issues of Knowledge.  We consider the various kinds of claims from Science to Mathematics, what they are based on, and why we might question their validity.  Our topics in the spring semester will include, but are not limited to:

• Intro to ToK/Ways of Knowing
• Natural Sciences
• Human Sciences
• Mathematics

In the fall semester, we continue our deepening spiral into the interrelated Issues of Knowledge. We consider the various kinds of knowledge claims from History to Ethics, what they are based on, and why we might question their validity. Our topics in the fall semester will include, but are not limited to:

• Spring Semester Review
• History
• The Arts
• Ethics

Assessments

In order to succeed, you need to be in class and participate in all classroom activities. The activities we do will form the basis for both your formative and summative assessments, which are all designed to help you succeed on your final IB assessments.

Formative assessments will include, but are not limited to: class discussions, in-class writing assignments, responses to readings

Summative assessments will include, but are not limited to: journals, blogs, mock presentations, mock essays

You will be provided with written feedback on both your formative and your summative assessments. And while the results of your summative assessments will form the basis of your grade, please remember that it is the formative assessments that help you practice the skills you will be graded on in your summative assessments.

At the end of each semester, you will be given the opportunity to redo one written summative assignment and one oral summative assessment.

Classroom Behavior/Management

It is your responsibility to read the school handbook and follow all school rules while you are in my class.  There are, however, a few key items to remember:

• Be respectful of the teacher and your fellow students.
• Speak only when it is appropriate.
• Attendance and completion of your work is key to your success.
• Be on time and come to class prepared to learn.
• IF you are present at school, you are expected to be in my class.  Going to the nurse’s office, speaking with another teacher, etc. does not give you automatic permission to make up any work. 
• Bring all materials to every class period, unless told otherwise.
• Turn in your work on time.
• Cheating and plagiarism are undignified and disrespectful.  Only your own work will be accepted.
• Use common sense in all matters.  If you think that your behavior is inappropriate, then it probably is!

Once you have read and understood the information above, please follow the link on the assignment page to surveymonkey.com and complete the assigned survey.  Please remember that you will be expected to abide by these policies while you are in Mrs. Braden’s class.