Recently, we had a discussion in class on ethics that resulted in me rethinking and modifying certain beliefs.
We were given certain scenarios on which a character was faced with an ethical dilemma. In one the persona 'had' to steal to get to his friends wedding at which he was supposed to be the best man. In another an IB teacher was torn between reporting a student he caught cheating and destroying his life, and letting the situation go (or take some other kind of action).
There are certain values i hold dear, like honesty and intergrity but I have recently also had to consider scenarios... If the situation was such that the bride would die of cancer the next day, and it was unequivicably imperative that the bestman was present, and his only means of getting there was by stealing..., as far as I'm concerned right and wrong becomes muddled up. I believe that there is no right or wrong, only scenario...not completely, otherwise we would not have a credible world, but to a large extent (maybe 70%).
What would you say?
Showing posts with label TOK aims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TOK aims. Show all posts
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
knowledge, fascination and empowerment
Hi Everyone,
It's been a bit quiet around here for a week or two. Maybe the internet downtime has had a role in this.
Anyway, thanks to the 33 of you who contributed to our poll on the TOK aims. I'm particularly interested in the 5/33 score for the first one (I suspect that we would have got a higher score for the last one on responsibilities if we had already spent time on ethics). Actually, what we put up there as the aims was a compressed version of what the actual aims are, so here is the first one in its full glory:
To develop a fascination with the richness of knowledge as a human endeavour, and an understanding of the empowerment that follows from reflecting upon it.
Doesn't that sound grand? I think some discussion on this aim would be great - what you think it means, whether where and when you have become fascinated or felt the force of this empowerment, why you perhaps don't always feel fascinated or empowered, whether it is worth promoting this aim and if so how...
I know - exams, extended essay, CAS evaluation - but that's the lot of the IB student, you need to be a juggler, keep all those plates spinning, don't let the TOK plate fall...
It's been a bit quiet around here for a week or two. Maybe the internet downtime has had a role in this.
Anyway, thanks to the 33 of you who contributed to our poll on the TOK aims. I'm particularly interested in the 5/33 score for the first one (I suspect that we would have got a higher score for the last one on responsibilities if we had already spent time on ethics). Actually, what we put up there as the aims was a compressed version of what the actual aims are, so here is the first one in its full glory:
To develop a fascination with the richness of knowledge as a human endeavour, and an understanding of the empowerment that follows from reflecting upon it.
Doesn't that sound grand? I think some discussion on this aim would be great - what you think it means, whether where and when you have become fascinated or felt the force of this empowerment, why you perhaps don't always feel fascinated or empowered, whether it is worth promoting this aim and if so how...
I know - exams, extended essay, CAS evaluation - but that's the lot of the IB student, you need to be a juggler, keep all those plates spinning, don't let the TOK plate fall...
Thursday, April 23, 2009
on the right, on the right!!!
4 days to go - 20 votes cast; 70 votes missing. How has the course met the aims?
METHOD:
Read aims, engage memory, reflect a little, click boxes - you CAN do it!
METHOD:
Read aims, engage memory, reflect a little, click boxes - you CAN do it!
Monday, April 20, 2009
school's in session: welcome back!
Welcome back (physically) everyone!
Tomorrow we will be looking at another exemplar essay in class, so that you can get a few more dos and don'ts for your own essay due next week. So please make sure to bring your copy of the assessment criteria to your lesson.
Secondly, despite the reminders, our poll on the aims of the course has received replies from only 16 of you. What about the other 74? Don't you have any opinion about the course? One of the goals (if not a specific aim) of what we are doing is to try to develop informed and supportable opinions. So please take a few minutes to reflect on your experiences to date and add your view.
Next week, we will start a section of the course on the Arts. I don't know anyone who has no views on the Arts - you all study literature, I have evidence that suggests that many of you like certain kinds of music, then we have the visual arts, and performing arts... So get those ideas and examples ready...
Tomorrow we will be looking at another exemplar essay in class, so that you can get a few more dos and don'ts for your own essay due next week. So please make sure to bring your copy of the assessment criteria to your lesson.
Secondly, despite the reminders, our poll on the aims of the course has received replies from only 16 of you. What about the other 74? Don't you have any opinion about the course? One of the goals (if not a specific aim) of what we are doing is to try to develop informed and supportable opinions. So please take a few minutes to reflect on your experiences to date and add your view.
Next week, we will start a section of the course on the Arts. I don't know anyone who has no views on the Arts - you all study literature, I have evidence that suggests that many of you like certain kinds of music, then we have the visual arts, and performing arts... So get those ideas and examples ready...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Our Poll on TOK Aims
Here is a funny thing. The number of votes in the poll on the right is GOING DOWN! The other day there were 11 votes; yesterday it was 10, now it is 9. What's going on? Are people "unvoting"?
In any case, 9 out of 90 is not great. Precisely 90% not great. Please think carefully and add your views - your contribution would be much valued. Thanks.
In any case, 9 out of 90 is not great. Precisely 90% not great. Please think carefully and add your views - your contribution would be much valued. Thanks.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
TOK aims
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please take a few minutes to vote in our new poll on the blog. It's important that you think carefully before you respond because accurate feedback is valuable to us and will help us to adjust anything that needs it.
Don't be influenced by how others have voted (there's a good human sciences knowledge issue here!). And you can vote for as few or as many of the aims as you like.
Thanks in advance.
Please take a few minutes to vote in our new poll on the blog. It's important that you think carefully before you respond because accurate feedback is valuable to us and will help us to adjust anything that needs it.
Don't be influenced by how others have voted (there's a good human sciences knowledge issue here!). And you can vote for as few or as many of the aims as you like.
Thanks in advance.
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