Tok Exhibition Prompt 6 – How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know?

TOK EXHIBITION Object 1: Personalized Learning Pathway in an Educational App

• Theme: Knowledge and the Knower
• Rationale: A personalized learning pathway, created by an educational app based on the learner’s performance and preferences, challenges traditional, one-size-fits-all educational models. It exemplifies how the classification and organization of knowledge can be tailored to individual learning styles, potentially enhancing understanding and retention. This object encourages TOK students to reflect on how personal biases, previous knowledge, and the context of the knower influence the organization of learning content, affecting what is known and understood. It raises questions about the implications of personalized learning for equitable access to knowledge.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 2: A Curated News Feed Based on Past Reading Habits

• Theme: Knowledge and the Knower
• Rationale: This curated collection of news articles, selected based on the user’s past reading habits, illustrates how information is filtered and presented to individuals, shaping their view of the world. It prompts discussion on how such personalization can create echo chambers, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives and potentially affecting the knower’s ability to critically evaluate information. Students are encouraged to consider how their preferences and biases influence the organization of knowledge they receive and what impact this might have on their understanding of global events.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 3: A Mind Map of a Student’s Personal Knowledge Framework

• Theme: Knowledge and the Knower
• Rationale: A mind map created by a student to organize their understanding of a complex topic demonstrates the subjective nature of knowledge organization. It provides insight into the student’s thought process, highlighting how personal experiences, biases, and the context of the knower influence the structuring of knowledge. This object offers a tangible example for TOK discussions on the individualized nature of knowledge organization and its effect on what is emphasized, understood, or overlooked in the learning process.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 4: A Diary with Password Protection

• Theme: Knowledge and the Knower
• Rationale: A personal diary, especially one protected by a password, symbolizes the private organization of personal knowledge, experiences, and reflections. It serves as a basis for exploring the intimate relationship between the knower and their knowledge, including how individuals classify and prioritize personal experiences. This object encourages students to reflect on the ways in which personal context, privacy, and subjective value judgments affect the organization of knowledge and the construction of personal identity.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 5: An Annotated Bibliography for a Research Project

• Theme: Knowledge and the Knower
• Rationale: This annotated bibliography, representing a student’s selection and organization of sources for a research project, highlights the critical role of the knower in classifying information based on its perceived relevance and credibility. It provides a platform for discussing how the knower’s judgments, academic discipline conventions, and the pursuit of knowledge claims shape the organization of research. Students can explore the influence of personal biases, methodology preferences, and the evaluative criteria used in determining what sources are deemed worthy of inclusion and how this affects the overall understanding of the research topic.

TOK EXHIBITION Prompt 6: “How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know?”

TOK EXHIBITION Object 1: A Library’s Dewey Decimal Classification Guide

• Theme: Knowledge and Language
• Rationale: The Dewey Decimal System, as a method for organizing books and resources in a library, serves as a tangible representation of how classification systems in knowledge repositories influence access to and perceptions of knowledge. This guide can spark discussions on the implications of categorizing knowledge according to a predefined system, including how such systems might prioritize certain types of knowledge over others, potentially shaping the knower’s exploration and valuation of information. It prompts consideration of how language and classification interact to structure our understanding of the vast landscape of human knowledge.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 2: An Algorithm Code for Content Recommendation Systems

• Theme: Knowledge and Technology
• Rationale: Content recommendation algorithms, like those used by streaming services or social media platforms, exemplify the technological organization of knowledge and its impact on individual consumption patterns. Students can explore how algorithms analyze user data to classify and recommend content, reflecting on how such systems might create echo chambers or filter bubbles that affect what we know and perceive about the world. This object encourages a TOK analysis of the relationship between technology, knowledge organization, and the shaping of personal and collective knowledge landscapes.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 3: A World Map Centered on the Pacific Ocean

• Theme: Knowledge and Indigenous Societies
• Rationale: Traditionally, world maps are often Eurocentric, but this Pacific-centered map challenges conventional geographical perspectives and invites students to consider how different ways of organizing geographical knowledge can influence our understanding of the world. It raises TOK questions about the impact of cultural viewpoints on knowledge classification, especially in how we conceptualize space, territory, and cultural significance. This object encourages reflection on the diverse ways knowledge can be structured and the implications for cross-cultural understanding and knowledge inclusivity.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 4: Object: A Social Media Newsfeed Algorithm Description

• Theme: Knowledge and Technology
• Rationale: The algorithm that dictates the organization and display of posts in a social media newsfeed exemplifies how digital platforms classify and prioritize knowledge. This description can illuminate the impact of technological filters on our access to information and how we come to know the world around us. It challenges students to consider how algorithms reflect and reinforce certain perspectives, potentially shaping our understanding based on engagement metrics rather than balanced or comprehensive views. This discussion encourages students to reflect on the ways technology mediates our interaction with knowledge and the implications for individual and collective understanding in a digitally connected era.

TOK EXHIBITION Object 5: A Personal Health Tracking App Interface

• Theme: Knowledge and Technology
• Rationale: Health tracking apps organize and classify personal health data in ways that influence users’ perceptions of their well-being and health knowledge. This object invites a TOK discussion on how the classification of health metrics (like steps walked, calories consumed, and sleep quality) shapes our understanding of health and influences decision-making. It prompts reflection on the implications of quantifying and categorizing personal health information through technology, exploring the benefits and limitations of such knowledge organization for individual well-being.