Choice of TED Talks – Week of January 23rd

Paul Zak: Trust, morality — and oxytocin – What drives our desire to behave morally? Neuroeconomist Paul Zak shows why he believes oxytocin (he calls it “the moral molecule”) is responsible for trust, empathy and other feelings that help build a stable society.

VS Ramachandran on your mind – Vilayanur Ramachandran tells us what brain damage can reveal about the connection between cerebral tissue and the mind, using three startling delusions as examples.

Dan Ariely asks, Are we in control of our own decisions? – Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we’re not as rational as we think when we make decisions.

Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world – Games like World of Warcraft give players the means to save worlds, and incentive to learn the habits of heroes. What if we could harness this gamer power to solve real-world problems? Jane McGonigal says we can, and explains how.

Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology – demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data — including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper “laptop.” In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he’ll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.

Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0 – What aspects of religion should atheists (respectfully) adopt?

Second set of journal entries – formative prep for the essay

All journal entries are due by next class

1) What role does intuition play in Maths. Come up with a good KI and think of the acquisition of knowledge, explanations and methodology. THESE ARE DUE BY NEXT CLASS!

• Assigned Group 3 – Nov. 30
• Assigned Group 7- Nov. 28

Opposing Viewpoints – database

http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/?userGroupName=mis

Grade 12 TOK – first set of Journal Entries DUE: Nov. 7, 2011

1) Can we apply the methodology from one discipline  in another discipline in order to improve the weaknesses? 
Group 7: Aug. 29
Group 3: Sept. 1
2) Open blog (include the usual TOK elements: KI, links to WOK/AOK, CC, Perspectives, implications) about the Ben Goldacre: Battling bad science TED Talk – think about linking it to your oral presentation. In other words, how was the knowledge acquired?

• Assigned on Oct, 21 to both groups
• http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

Instructions for June 29 – Exam handback

Read through the feedback on your exam (in your personal dropbox)

Read the exam subject report that corresponds to your titles

Read the example essay which received 40/40 – to see how you should be writing next year:-)

Write a brief reflection on your blog considering the following guiding questions:

• How do you think TOK furthered your critical thinking skills this year?
• What elements of the class did you like in particular?
• Do you have any suggestions for next year?

Instructions for May 23, 2011

Class Work:

1. Download the article and document on Happiness.
2. Read the article and answer the questions.

Homework:

• When you are finished. Start reading the chapter on the Human Sciences from your IB Book on TOK and take notes.
• Half of the chapter should be read for next class.

Third Set of Journal Entries – Due May 6th

1) Write an open blog about the short Friend’s montage you saw in class.

• Group 7 – Feb. 3rd

2) Write an open blog about the four plays by Samuel Beckett

• Group 3 – Feb. 24

3) Comments on the process of your oral presentation (optional – could be on the iMovie itself)

4) What makes something a piece of art? Who Decides? Is there criteria? Is it possible to be objective about art? Are all judgments 
equally valid?

Group 3: March 25
Group 7: March 28

5) Are all judgments of art 
equally valid?

Group 3: March 28
Group 7: March 31

6) Choose one of the following questions to write about.

Group 3: April 14
Group 7: April 14

1. History: Do judgments on works of art change over time?
2. HOW MUCH CAN WE LEARN ABOUT THE PAST FROM THE HISTORY OF ART?
3. Religion: HOW IS ARTISTIC CREATION SIMILAR TO AND DIFFERENT FROM DIVINE CREATION?
4. WHAT ROLE DOES CREATIVE IMAGINATION PLAY IN THE SCIENCES?
5. Ethics: What are the moral responsibilities of the artist?

 

The ToK Diagram with knowledge links

TOK diagram and links

Second Set of Journal Entries Grade 11 – Due December 20th, 2010

1) Can something be true for you and not for someone else? Provide an example  from the Matrix and/or your life.

Assigned:

• Group 3- Sept. 24th
• Group 7 – Sept. 27th

2) Map out the school with a blindfold on. Scan it in and upload it to your blog and comment on the experience while making links to WOK. Explore a knowledge issue. Refer to the ToK diagram.

Assigned:

• Group 3- Sept. 27th

3) Is there a difference between rationality and reason?

Assigned to group 3: Oct. 11th
Assigned to group 7: Oct. 11th

4) Is reason purely objective and universal, or does it vary across cultures? Make sure that you identify a knowledge issue.

Assigned to group 3: Oct. 22
Assigned to group 7: Oct. 21

5) If knowledge claims cannot be rationally defended, should they be renounced? Refer to your subject areas (AOK) to answer this.  The focus is on knower’s perspective and counterclaims.

Assigned to group 3: Nov. 4
Assigned to group 7: Nov. 4

6) Has the politically correct movement influenced the way people think? Can you think of examples of double speak in another language that you may speak? What are related knowledge issues? Perspectives?

Assigned to group 3: Dec. 2
Assigned to group 7: Dec. 2

• Doublespeak – Source Watch

• Life under the Chief Doublespeak Officer

Dance & arts performance Eurydike 2012 – Catch Me If You Can!

If you want to join us, we can meet at 19:45 in front of the theater.

http://www.tanzphilosophie.de/companie/index.htm

Eurydike 2012 – Catch Me If You Can!
A contemporary arts & dance project Performance 20. Okt | 20:00 Uhr | € 15.00

Kunsthalle whiteBOX Kultfabrik | Grafingerstr. 6 | 81671 München