Research

Although TOK is not, strictly speaking, a research-based course, both of the IB assessments require the use of "real world" examples to illustrate and explore knowledge concepts. Where can you find such examples?

• From your own personal history: you have been a learner and a knower since day 1.
• From your experience as a student: as student in the IB program, you have been encountering knowledge issues in most if not quite all of the TOK Areas of Knowledge on a fairly regular basis.
• From print-based, web-based, and broadcast media: periodicals, magazines, newspapers, television and film documentaries, radio programs, blogs, think-tanks, government, special interest, and advocacy sites, and so on.   

Here are several favorites I regularly consult for TOK-related material:

• TED: "Ideas worth spreading" is the motto of this excellent site. Highly engaging, sometimes provocative, 10-15 minute filmed talks by experts from an enormous variety of fields, including the arts, business, science, public policy, technology -- often with an interdisciplinary slant: A recent talk by Dan Colby is entitled, "What Physics Taught Me About Marketing.")
• Scientific American. Wide-ranging scientific content. Often with excellent data displays that allow you to see a little bit behind the curtain of scientific methods and evidence gathering/reporting. A related magazine is Scientific American Mind, which emphasizes psychology, neuroscience, and other related brain sciences. Lots of articles directly explore TOK Ways of Knowing. A limitation is that most of their content is available in print only.
• Discover magazine. Much like Scientific American. Eclectic. Good selection of blogs.
  
• Psychology Today. For a more popular audience. Excellent and often updated slate of blogs. Good for getting ideas about possible internal assessment orals.
• The Atlantic. Along with Harper's, one of the better general interest national monthlies. Politics, business, culture, technology. Strong writing and (mostly) insightful analysis.
• On Being. Excellent site for the radio program of the same name. Krista Tippett is the host, an excellent interviewer and writer. Great source (free downloads / podcasts) for talks about big ideas, culture, spirituality, ethics, meaning.
• Radio Lab. Another radio program (obviously). Oriented towards cutting-edge science, but often deliberately blurring the boundaries (their words) between science and philosophy. Hour-long program. Interviews, discussion. Fabulous production values.
• To the Best of Our Knowledge. You'll need to go through National Public Radio's site to find this one (at school at least), because District 11 blocks most internet radio sites. Wide-ranging in topics under the heading of "new ideas." Very TOK, as its title indicates.      
• Skeptic Society and Magazine. A skeptic is someone who questions the basis of knowledge claims. This magazine and site explores all kinds of claims and the support behind them, emphasizing a rationalist approach to knowledge and critical thinking. Often takes a "myth-busting" approach to pseudo-science and the like.
• Wired. Eclectic magazine tending to emphasize current events, technology, media, and future trends. Good selection of blogs.

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