THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 11/12 (2.0 credits; 11^th-12^th grades required)

TOK asks students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know. TOK aims to make students aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases – whether these biases are retained, revised or rejected.  It offers students and their teachers the opportunity to:

• Reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge;
  consider the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world.

In addition, TOK prompts students to: 

• Be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge;
  recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world. 

TOK also provides coherence for the student, by linking academic subject areas as well as transcending them. It  demonstrates the ways in which the student can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility.  TOK is part of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP)  and is mandatory for all students.  This two-year course is assessed through an oral presentation and a 1,600-word essay.

Creativity, Activity, and Service (independent requirement; 11^th-12^th grades required)
CAS requires students to complete at least 150 hours of work in the strands of creativity, activity, and service; complete a CAS project; meet seven learning outcomes; meet outside of class with advisors, and reflect on their personal growth in their experiences.  CAS is assessed on a pass/fail set of criteria.  All UAIS students must complete CAS as part of their programme.  Students are trained near the end of their sophomore year.

Extended Essay (independent requirement; 11^th-12^th grades required)
The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word independent college-level research paper on a topic of suitable interest for each student working in conjunction with an assigned teacher supervisor.  Students receive multiple  during the junior year, develop an appropriate research question, conduct research, write an outline, construct a bibliography and draft the paper.  The essay is formally assessed by an independent IBO evaluator.