Lesson 2.
1 Introduction to BQ 2
1. BQ 3. Activities & assessment
What is the purpose of 1. Starter Write/pair/share What is knowledge
for? Is some knowledge more valuable than other
knowledge, and how can
knowledge, and what makes it different?
we assess its value?
2. Discussion Table groups What does society
2. Lesson objective do with the data and information it collects? Why
does he say that its terrifying the way we Horowitz argues that we use data and information primarily to
I can write a TOK essay- approach knowledge? - do you agree?
style introduction that
explains how we will 3. Design task Table groups What is the purpose
explore the big question of knowledge within your AOK? What makes
knowledge in your AOK valuable? Gallery walk -
how does your WOK/AOK compare to others?
4. Exit Write/submit TOK essay-style introduction
to the Big Question
4. Lesson notes
1. Starter question can lead on to discussion of what we use
knowledge for, and how we value it - such as professions that are
well paid (or not).
2. Class to watch video of Damon Horowitzs TED talk on We
need a moral operating system from 55 seconds - 5.00 minutes.
control peoples behaviour and make money. Yet we dont use it
to deepen our ethical knowledge. He says its horrifying that we
can say whether we prefer an iPhone to an Android phone, yet
we dont know anything about Kant or Mill, and the approaches
they had to ethics. Extend this to a bigger discussion about
knowledge - do we use it properly?
3. Assign different AOKs to tables. Suggest anything except
natural sciences and indigenous knowledge. Each table to
discuss and write down what the purpose of knowledge is within
their AOK. Answers presented on big paper. Gallery walk
afterwards; groups should jot down contrasts between their AOK
and 2 others on their own display.
4. Students have 60 seconds to remember the outline of the BQ
in slide 5. They may write down 4 words to remind themselves.
Students to write a 100-150 word introduction to the big
knowledge question, as they would for an essay - slide 6 shows
the elements they should include.