IB Theory of Knowledge Exhibition: How Do We Know What We Know?

Each year the Grade 12 WIS students organize their Diploma Programme Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Exhibition. 

The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course is a compulsory element of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It teaches students to question how we know what we know by exploring different perspectives across the world’s cultures, challenging personal and ideological assumptions and developing critical thinking.

Students must each write a 1,600 word essay and prepare an exhibition to obtain a successful pass in IBDP TOK.  For the TOK Exhibition, each student selected three objects in response to their chosen question about knowledge, from a range of 35 different prompts provided by the IB. Amongst the favored options could be ‘What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?’, ‘How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge?’ and ‘How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether or not it is accepted or rejected?’  

Rick Fitzpatirck, IBDP Coordinator, notes: “This event was an opportunity for students to talk to parents, fellow IBDP students and staff about why they chose their objects. It was interesting to see how varied their choices of objects are and how these are linked to the TOK prompts!"

Mr Rick Fitzpatirck, IBDP Coordinator