Pages 39 and 40 of the TOK subject guide outlines three steps to the TOK exhibition. The bullet points below break down the process further.
- Step 1: Each student chooses one IA prompt and three objects. The IB also strongly recommends that students pick one of the TOK themes as a foundation for their exhibition (pg. 41 of the Subject Guide).
- Carefully read the requirements for the TOK exhibition
- Carefully read the TOK exhibition assessment instrument
- Analyze TOK exhibition samples
- Brainstorm a few different TOK exhibition ideas. If you start with a few different ideas you can choose the strongest one. If you brainstorm only one presentation you have fewer options. Make sure your exhibition is focused on knowledge.
- The IB strongly advises students use one of the TOK themes (either one of the core themes or optional themes) as a foundation of the TOK exhibition .
- Discuss your preliminary ideas with your teacher according to the guidelines / instructions your teacher has given you.
- Keep in mind that students in the same class are allowed to have the same IA prompt
- Remember that a student’s three objects must be different from the objects that other students in the class have chosen. In practical terms this is quite challenging. It is strongly advised that students get to work as soon as possible on choosing their three objects. Students who make their choices later on may find that another student in the class has already picked one (or more) of the objects that he / she is interested in.
- Make your final decision regarding your IA prompt, your three objects, and your TOK theme. Make sure your exhibition is focused on knowledge. Discuss your choices with your teacher. according to the guidelines / instructions your teacher has given you.
- Review the TOK exhibition requirements
- Review the TOK exhibition assessment instrument
- Review TOK exhibition samples
- Develop your TOK exhibition and check in with your teacher according to the guidelines / instructions your teacher has given you.
- Focus on in-depth TOK-style analysis. Make sure your exhibition is focused on knowledge.
- Step 2: Create a file for moderation
- Carefully check read the requirements for the TOK exhibition file.
- Review the TOK exhibition assessment instrument. You need to ensure that what you put in the file meets the assessment instrument.
- Carefully read TOK exhibition file samples.
- The only part of your TOK exhibition that the IB actually sees is what you put in the file. The IB does not actually moderate your TOK exhibition: it moderates the file of your exhibition. You can have a great TOK exhibition but you will only get a great score if you put together a great file.
- Develop a draft of your file and submit it to the teacher for feedback. You can submit one draft of your file to your teacher for feedback. The better your draft is the better the feedback will be.
- Carefully consider the feedback you receive and continue to develop the file.
- Submit a final file to the teacher who will mark it. Your file will also need to be uploaded to the IB candidates website.
- Step 3: Exhibition
- You will show your exhibitions to others. The IB is quite flexible about how this can be done; different schools can have very different kinds of TOK exhibitions.
- The exhibition can be done in TOK class or it could be a larger and more public event. It can also be done online.