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TOK Exhibition Object Analysis Framework

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About This MicroSim

This interactive MicroSim helps students justify the selection of a real-world object by connecting it to specific TOK concepts, Areas of Knowledge, and knowledge questions.. It supports the learning objectives in Chapter: TOK Assessment and Synthesis.

How to Use

Use the interactive controls below the drawing area to explore the visualization. Hover over elements for additional information and click to see detailed descriptions.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

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<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/theory-of-knowledge/sims/exhibition-analysis/main.html"
        height="450px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

9-12 (High School / IB TOK)

Duration

15-20 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of the TOK Exhibition assessment requirements (selecting real-world objects linked to IA prompts)
  • Familiarity with core TOK concepts: knowledge claims, Areas of Knowledge, Ways of Knowing
  • Ability to distinguish between description and analysis

Learning Objectives

  • Evaluate the strength of connections between a real-world object and TOK concepts by systematically applying an analysis framework to justify exhibition object selection

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 min): Open the sim and select the pre-loaded object "COVID Vaccine Vial." Step through each phase of the analysis framework, reading how the object connects to TOK concepts such as trust in expertise, the role of technology in knowledge production, and ethical responsibilities. Note how the framework moves from description to TOK-specific analysis.
  2. Guided Practice (10 min): Switch to the "Social Media Feed" object. Work through the same analysis framework, this time writing your own responses at each step before revealing the sim's suggested analysis. Compare your responses with the sim's suggestions. Identify at least two TOK concepts you missed and explain why they are relevant.
  3. Assessment (5 min): Choose a real-world object from your own life (e.g., a textbook, a family photograph, a weather app). Without using the sim, write a brief analysis connecting it to at least two TOK concepts and one IA prompt. Then use the sim's framework to check whether your analysis addresses all required dimensions.

Assessment

  • Identifies at least three distinct TOK concepts relevant to a chosen exhibition object
  • Articulates a clear, justified connection between the object and a specific IA prompt
  • Demonstrates progression from surface-level description to epistemological analysis

Quiz

Test your understanding with this review question.

1. When analyzing a real-world object for the TOK Exhibition, what is the most important criterion for a strong object selection?

  1. The object should be visually interesting and easy to photograph.
  2. The object should connect to multiple TOK concepts and clearly illustrate a specific IA prompt.
  3. The object should be historically significant and well-known to the examiner.
  4. The object should be unique and never used by another student before.
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The strength of an exhibition object lies in the richness of its connections to TOK concepts (such as Ways of Knowing, Areas of Knowledge, and knowledge frameworks) and how clearly it illustrates the chosen IA prompt. Visual appeal, historical fame, or uniqueness are secondary to analytical depth.

Concept Tested: TOK Exhibition object selection criteria

References

  1. International Baccalaureate Organization. (2022). Theory of Knowledge Guide. IBO.
  2. Dombrowski, E., Rotenberg, L., & Bick, M. (2020). Theory of Knowledge Course Companion. Oxford University Press.