Core theme: Knowlege and the Knower - where did we start? what did we explore?

 Our first official class-class was a tech-mediate experience, as we are in distance learning mode. So, in the timeframe we had - 60 minutes - and with the bodies/minds present - 23 students, 2 educators, we began unpacking the role of facts and option-based statements when looking at TOK as a DP course, and then TOK as a school-based class. Students were asked to provide 3 statements they knew as facts, and 3 statements they recognized as opinion-based claims. As we moved through the exercise, in a dialogic way, I was most struck by the following:

• Students still recognize/adhere to the role of authority in second-hand knowledge acquisition (for example, you as a teacher told me x, y, z, therefore it must be factual);
• Students can make a really clear-cut distinction between highly emotionally-laden opinions, and their own reality, though not necessarily interested in pursing the connections further;
• Students are open to a mediated-discussion, though not always ready or interested in taking the lead.

This week, we further dive into the underlying differences in "knowing that" vs. "knowing statements", and I look forward to our pathway into hearing from all voices, and building on a student-centered discussion.