Recently I met with Naomi Chevannes who teaches Design Technology here in Hong Kong. We discussed TOK Exhibition Prompt 15: What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge? Breaking this down we discussed constraints such as access, tools, time, language, personal experience, motivation, perspectives, funding… We found possible divisions of these constraints such as inner and outer constraints, as well as an elegant distinction between constraints to the pursuit of knowledge which are within or without our control. We talked about knowledge as a buffet, and contrasted that with a famine (we may have gotten a little carried away with our food metaphor, as we were meeting just before lunch!! I really enjoyed this conversation, so thank you so much to Naomi for taking time out of a busy day to sit down and talk TOK with me.

Guest: Naomi Chevannes

Constraints On Pursuit Of Knowledge

歷史是什麼？我們多大程度上可以探尋到歷史的真項？如果歷史真相難以證實,這是否意味著有關該歷史事件的各種版本都具有同樣的可接受性?哪些因素會影響你接受對歷史事件的解釋？帶著這些問題，我們特意邀請了張瓊老師、苗曉龍老師、李曉熙老師參與了這一期的知識論清談。期間老師們胸懷大志、腹有良謀、指點江山，有包藏宇宙之機，有吞吐天地之志，慾知如何，敬請收聽。能夠完成這一話題的討論與後期製作，離不開Ms OSANN、苗曉龍老師的大力支持。鞠躬、致謝。

Mandarin speakers, this is the second episode just for you! In this podcast, Sun Laoshi asked, "What is history? To what extent can we explore the truth of history? If historical truth is difficult to verify, does that mean that various versions of that historical event are equally acceptable? What factors influence your acceptance of an interpretation of a historical event?”
 
With these questions in mind, we invited teachers Zhang Qiong, Miao Xiaolong, and Li Xiaoxi to contribute to this Episode of TOK Talk - our second Chinese Podcast in our growing effort to share bilingual resources about TOK. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Once again, I would especially like to thank Wang Mei Tyng Laoshi for the beautiful original musical composition especially prepared for this podcast.

Hosts: 孫秀東 Xiudong Sun & Emily Osann
Guests:  張瓊老師、苗曉龍老師、李曉熙老師
Music: 王美婷老師

歷史真相 Truth & History

In this episode, I met with Bill Kyzner (IB Teacher of Global Politics) and Garrett McKee (IB Teacher of Design Technology) to discuss Prompt 10: What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge? We explored the relationship between the communicator, the message, and the audience along with the challenges raised in each of these stages. We first unpacked the assumption that there will be misinterpretation: what is said is not what will be received. Some of the many challenges we discussed include: the layered meaning of words, translation, media of dissemination, perspectives that shape our understanding, language, expectations, context (everything is relative to the context!). We also discuss the challenges when a message requires action on the part of the listener: convenience or desire to act, fatigue and lack of tools or methods to act upon a message, lack of a singular clear authority, not knowing who to trust, vetting sources, knowing what knowledge is valid when faced with conflicting information or ideas, especially when they go against existing beliefs. We agreed that it is always a challenge (though absolutely necessary) to set our own perspective aside in order to develop sincere understanding.

We also discuss when less is more to make a message clearer and less open to interpretation, but also in a very Orwellian way, how this can also go entirely wrong. What authorities supersede our own independent search for truth? From a Global Politics perspective, an important idea raised was that “just because the more powerful perspective dominates the landscape doesn’t mean that the less powerful perspective is less meaningful.” From a Graphic design perspective, to communicate messages, raise awareness, what is the best way to communicate so that it is not misinterpreted? How can we avoid adding to misinformation? What are the basics of communication to begin with? This was a challenging question and (as many knowledge questions) we ended with even more questions than we started with! Thanks for listening, I hope you found it thought provoking.

Host: Emily Osann
Guests: Bill Kyzner, Garrett McKee
Music: Emily Osann

Challenges raised by communication of knowledge

With a perfect score of 45/45 in the recent IBDP examinations, our Alumni from GIIS SMART Campus, Singapore, Shraddha Praveen, has earned a spot as an IB World Topper!

But that's just the tip of the iceberg! From as early as Grade 6, Shraddha has been bagging numerous accolades for her academic prowess and talents, stretching beyond the classroom! Her achievements paint a vivid picture of her well-rounded personality - excelling in academics and in diverse endeavours like basketball and podcasting.

In this episode, Shraddha shares her fond memories at GIIS and exciting future plans with our host, Ditipriya. She also discusses her challenges of making the unconventional switch from CBSE to IBDP while juggling various extracurricular activities and how the school’s holistic learning approach helped her reach the pinnacle of an IB World Topper!

GIIS' SMARTCast Podcast is a platform hosted by our students and teachers to speak their minds on all matters close to them. You can listen to engaging discussions on curricula, student achievements, NextGen workshops, exam tips and more!

For more information on GIIS,
https://www.globalindianschool.org/

Shraddha Praveen - GIIS Student’s Unconventional Route to IB World Topper!

With an outstanding score of 44/45 in the 2023 IBDP examinations, our Alumni from GIIS SMART Campus, Singapore, Prakamya Singh, has catapulted himself into the ranks as an IB Near Perfect Scorer!

Beyond the scorecard, Prakamya Singh is a tech wizard - renowned for his award-winning app, UNI-C. He’s also a natural leader and well-rounded superstar, racking numerous accolades in various clubs and sports during his time at GIIS.

In this episode, Prakamya recounts his time at GIIS and his future plans in the field of computer science with our host, Anahita. He also shares the holistic learning opportunities that fueled him to develop his UNI-C app and how prioritising mental health helped him crack the code to ace his IBDP examinations!

GIIS' SMARTCast Podcast is a platform hosted by our students and teachers to speak their minds on all matters close to them. You can listen to engaging discussions on curricula, student achievements, NextGen workshops, exam tips and more!

For more information on GIIS,
https://www.globalindianschool.org/

Prakamya Singh - GIIS Student Cracks the Code to Ace IBDP!

With a brilliant score of 44/45 in the 2023 IBDP examinations, our Alumni from GIIS SMART Campus, Singapore, Mannyaa Mishra, has earned herself the title of an IB Near Perfect Scorer!

But Manyaa's brilliance stretches beyond the classroom! From dominating debates to being a dazzling dance champion, she is a multi-talented prodigy. Plus! Manyaa has also secured a prestigious scholarship at the renowned National University of Singapore (NUS).

In this episode, Mannyaa shares her holistic learning experiences at GIIS and her exciting new chapter as an NUS scholar with our host, Sunehri. She also delves into her unique approach of writing an extended essay in Hindi Literature and how the GIIS teachers were the biggest cheerleaders on her scholarly steps towards excelling in the IBDP Examinations.

GIIS' SMARTCast Podcast is a platform hosted by our students and teachers to speak their minds on all matters close to them. You can listen to engaging discussions on curricula, student achievements, NextGen workshops, exam tips and more!

For more information on GIIS,
https://www.globalindianschool.org/

Mannyaa Mishra - GIIS Student’s Scholarly Steps to Excellence!

Today we talked about TOK Exhibition prompt 14: Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers? This is a good one with links to religious knowledge, and secret knowledge only shared by communities… We discuss the idea of preserving some knowledge, why some knowledge does (and perhaps should?) only belong to particular communities, and the blurry line where protecting knowledge becomes gatekeeping. This is a really good one, and left me with a lot more questions than answers. An interesting link to this year’s TOK Essay titles too!

Guest: Dr. Rachel Oser
Music: cover of Taylor Swift Love Story from Grade 9 students around a campfire.

Does Some Knowledge Belong to Communities Of Knowers?

With an outstanding score of 42/45 in the 2023 IBDP examinations, our Alumni from GIIS SMART Campus, Singapore, Jay Shah, has showcased his unwavering dedication and quest for excellence. 
 
As Jay Shah prepares to embark on his educational journey at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for mechanical engineering, specialising in aeronautics, he shares his experiences and insights into his 14-year journey at GIIS.
 
In this episode, Jay discusses the reasons for choosing the IBDP curriculum to gain a holistic learning experience with our host, Sukriti. He also shares the equation for success and how he matched his enthusiasm for maths as President of the GIIS Maths Club with academic responsibilities.
 
Don’t miss this enlightening conversation with Jay Shah, an exceptional individual whose journey exemplifies the transformative power of education and the pursuit of excellence beyond the classroom with his experience teaching underprivileged children.

GIIS' SMARTCast Podcast is a platform hosted by our students and teachers to speak their minds on all matters close to them. You can listen to engaging discussions on curricula, student achievements, NextGen workshops, exam tips and more!

For more information on GIIS,
https://www.globalindianschool.org/

Jay Shah - GIIS Alumni’s Equation for Success!

With an exceptional score of 44/45 in the 2023 IBDP examinations, our Alumni from GIIS SMART Campus, Singapore, Vishesh Gauhar, has joined the ranks of the IB Near Perfect Scorers Hall of Fame!

Vishesh's journey, however is not confined to his academic pursuits; it extends to a diverse range of passions and talents. From martial arts to contributing to medical research with his father, Vishesh embodies the true spirit of a holistic superstar.

As Vishesh Gauhar gears up for the next chapter of his adventure, he's got his sights set on the National University of Singapore (NUS) to dive headfirst into the exciting world of Computer Science.

In this episode, Vishesh discusses with our host Ksheeraja, the strategies and study techniques contributing to his academic success. He emphasizes the importance of setting personal deadlines and staying focused on one's passions while maintaining a steady pace, which he adhered to closely throughout his holistic learning journey at GIIS.

GIIS' SMARTCast Podcast is a platform hosted by our students and teachers to speak their minds on all matters close to them. You can listen to engaging discussions on curricula, student achievements, NextGen workshops, exam tips and more!

For more information on GIIS,
https://www.globalindianschool.org/

Vishesh Gauhar - GIIS Alumni Mastering More Than Just Books!

May 2024 TOK Essay Title 1: Is subjectivity overly celebrated in the arts but unfairly condemned in history? Discuss with reference to the arts and history. 

Be careful with this title: you need to really interrogate assumptions about the role of subjectivity in both arts and history. Think about instances where subjectivity may be overly celebrated in the arts and where objectivity could be of value. Likewise, think about where subjectivity is condemned and where it might also have value in history. I really like this title and look forward to hearing your thoughts on it (and reading your essays!)

Guests: Kevin Hoye, Robert Scheer

Subjectivity in Arts & History: 2024 TOK Essay Title 1

May 2024 TOK Essay Title 2: How can we reconcile the opposing demands for specialization and generalization in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge. 

This is a tough one that requires some confidence to write about examples with confidence in mathematics. A good investigation would offer an exploration of ways that the demands are reconciled. Why do the demands oppose? Are they really opposing demands? Why do we need both specialization and generalization? If one way to reconcile these demands is to create systems and improve communication within and across knowledge communities, what does this actually look like in the real world? Are we (knowledge communities) actually able to reconcile these demands?

Link from our discussion: 
Clay Mathematics Institute Millennium Prize Problems: https://www.claymath.org/millennium-problems/ 

Guest: Martin Brown
Music: random sounds that could be so much better. Do you have music you'd like featured? Please contact me through the form at www.TOKTalk.org

Specialization vs. Generalization: 2024 TOK Essay Title 2

May 2024 TOK Essay Title 5 Do we need custodians of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. 

I met with Kevin and recorded this, but I had a technical malfunction so the recording was lost. I’ve tried to recapture the essence of our conversation as best as I could. We unpacked some really interesting questions: How does one become a ‘custodian’ of knowledge? Who has the authority or right? Who decides what is protected? What about knowledge that has been lost or discluded? What other great truths and insights are we not hearing because of the selectivity? As custodians, how do we weigh up this choice? What if we didn’t have custodians of knowledge? What about knowledge that might be dangerous? 

Links from our conversation:

CNN interview - last of a family of Peruvian Potato farmers https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/10/25/potato-custodians-peru-spc-intl-c2e.cnn

Académie Française: https://www.academie-francaise.fr/

How to contribute to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contributing_to_Wikipedia

Guest: Kevin Hoye (though as the original episode was lost, his actual voice is not featured, only his ideas as I have tried to faithfully represent them)

Music: Jingle Bell Rock as recorded by the Brown School Shoes in December 2018… no it's not the holidays yet.

Do we need custodians of knowledge? 2024 TOK Essay Title 5

May 2024 TOK Essay Title 3 Nothing is more exciting than fresh ideas, so why are areas of knowledge often so slow to adopt them? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge. 

What is the difference between an idea and knowledge? What is slow or fast in terms of ideas? What contexts affect the timeframe? Slow for what? Who?
What does it mean to “adopt” an idea? How is that different from acceptance? When does an idea become a theory or law? What makes an idea fresh? What about the possibilities they represent is both exciting and causes disciplines to pause before adopting them?

Guests: Brett Fisher and Garrett McKee
Sounds from rice fields in Bali

Nothing more exciting than fresh ideas? 2024 TOK Essay Title 3

I met with Jon Rees, another TOK Teacher (as well as teacher of Human Technologies and IB English) here in Hong Kong, and we discussed TOK Exhibition Prompt 23: How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge?

It was a fascinating discussion! Students, you need to be careful in this question about the difference between producing knowledge and producing things. While there is a connection (knowledge is needed to produce things), it is not an obvious connection so an exploration of the knowledge being produced (not just the thing) is required here. I think it would be very hard to argue that material tools (and conceptual tools by extension?) are not essential - and yet there’s room for exploration as you can hear from our conversation. I hope to talk with Mr. Rees again soon, as it was a very interesting and thought provoking conversation. 

Books & Resources that we referenced and discussed in relation to this talk (for links to all of these, check out www.TOKTalk.org):

‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari - this book is essentially an exploration of the role of material tools in the development of humankind, but is especially interesting when he talks about “fictional realities”.  

‘Techno Feudalism’ by Yanis Varoufakis - he does a great job from a Marxist perspective explaining how his father taught him the concept of historical materialism, how technological development creates the tools/conditions for the advancement of the socio-cultural context. Then who controls the means of production, power/authority. 

‘How to Understand E= MC2’ by Christophe Galfard

‘The Sane Society’ by Eric Fromm - criticism of our focus on consumption in a nuclear age where we can annihilate ourselves 

‘Song of the Cell’ by Siddhartha Mukherjee - deep exploration of our understanding of biology - the first chapters are specifically focused on development of the microscope and its influence on the entire field of microbiology and beyond

‘Guns Germs Steel’ by Jared Diamond outlines the theory of geographic determinism, and thus the access to materials and the tools we can therefore make are everything in the development of humankind

‘Knowledge Illusion’ by Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach - the illusion of explanatory depth, mistaking shared knowledge for our own

Justice with Michael Sandel 

Little Museum of the World in Chai Wan - A time machine for building peace

‘The Vanishing Face of Gaia’, by James Lovelock - essential wake-up call for humankind

‘Donut Economics’ by Kate Raworth - a hopeful perspective! Nibbling away what we need (not beyond our planetary boundaries)

Special Guest: Jon Rees
Music from the ISF Student Brass Band playing outside the school gate one morning in December 2023

How important are Material Tools?

This is one that I could discuss endlessly. Who doesn’t love imagination? I actually recorded this (and a few more episodes) nearly a year ago and have been waiting for the right time. Now seems like the right time for this one, especially as we’re talking about the role of imagination in allowing us to understand and empathize with circumstances outside of our own world.

We did go down a little LOTR rabbit hole in this one, let me know if you agree with what we said! But to bring it back to TOK, we talked about imagination in arts, literature, science, history... But we also just discussed the nature of imagining - how do we all imagine differently? Is your imagination a blank canvas? An audio box? Is it a recreation of senses in your mind? How much does it infiltrate your daily narrative? What is imagination? How is it different from reasoning or brainstorming? Are logic and imagination different versions of a similar way of thinking? Is it enough that imagination plays the role of fun and entertainment in producing knowledge about the world? Does it just make things more real and more fun?

I really enjoyed this conversation and am immensely grateful for my guests on this (and all episodes) as well as the musicians that help me to put these together. If you’re interested in joining me, please contact me via www.toktalk.org and fill out the contact form.

Links we discussed can be found on www.toktalk.org

Guests: Brett Fisher, Monica Wahl
Music: Hilary Ng playing in the hallway at school

Role of Imagination!

Prompt 29. Who owns knowledge?

LY’s first response: “Those who study, those who learn, those who share” is not a bad start. I wish this were the world we lived in, but somehow I think the answer is far more complicated and often influenced by power (for good and for bad) more than we care to acknowledge.

What is ownership? That it ‘belongs’ to you? Can knowledge even be owned? 

Pioneers, inventors, artists, discoverers of new knowledge - do they own the knowledge they produce, create or discover? If whoever was first gets the credit, does that mean they own the knowledge? Once knowledge is shared, does it belong to other knowers that know it too? What knowledge belongs to the common good? Is knowing something the same as owning it? This discussion raised Issues of social responsibility that comes with creating and sharing (or not sharing) new knowledge.

After we think about the question: Who owns knowledge? So many other important questions get raised: What do we do with it? How do we care for it?  …LY asks but “so what”? We discussed the ways we value original ideas in different cultures. Zooming out, thinking about the implications of ownership and access, but also the responsibility for protection and upkeep that comes with ownership. Is the onus on the creator or user of knowledge? In a sense, are both ‘owners’? 

Links in this talk can be found at www.TOKTalk.org

Guests: Donna Gee, Liu Yu 
Music: Hilary Ng playing in the hallway at school

Who Owns Knowledge?

GIIS' SMARTCast Podcast is a platform hosted by our students and teachers to speak their minds on all matters close to them. You can listen to engaging discussions on curricula, student achievements, NextGen workshops, exam tips and more!

For more information on GIIS,
https://www.globalindianschool.org/

an original podcast talking about Theory of Knowledge for teachers and students of TOK and other curious people...

New tracks tagged #IBDP