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What are TOK objects and how to choose them? If you are looking for an answer to this question, you are in the right place! We prepared a short guide to help you with completing your Theory of Knowledge exhibition.
TOK Objects Explained
A great variety of objects can be presented in a TOK exhibition. Students are supposed to select 3 items that personally intrigue them and relate to their academic studies or experiences outside the classroom. Next, they are expected to use them to answer an exhibition prompt (a research question chosen from a list of 33 prompts uploaded for each session).
Basically, a TOK object is a real-life example applied in the exhibition to support arguments when investigating the research question. Since TOK revolves around knowledge and its acquisition, the objects should shed light on different aspects of this process.
Focusing on one of the TOK themes, whether it's the core theme or an optional one, is highly recommended. Such an approach will help you with the selection of objects and will provide you with a clear direction for your exhibition. In the selection process, you should also take into account the authenticity, variety, and depth of analysis that your items will allow for.
Form
Instead of physical items, objects should be rather digital. For instance, students can incorporate a photograph of a historical treaty if displaying the actual object isn't possible. Digital objects like a tweet from a political figure are also acceptable. However, they must be rooted in a real-world context, existing in a specific time and space (also virtual). While students can create these items themselves, they must be pre-existing rather than crafted specifically for the exhibition.
Each object included in the exhibition must be correctly referenced. If an object is the student's own creation, such as a painting, it should be clearly labeled and acknowledged. This ensures transparency regarding the origins of each object for teachers and moderators.
Context
The real-world context of each object is very important in this task. Therefore, you must use specific objects for discussion rather than resorting to generic items or images sourced from the internet. To make your objects rich in context apply the following tips:
Select specific objects: Choose personal items or ones significant within your local culture or history to offer specific contexts that can be deeply explored.
Investigate the background: Understanding where and how the object was created can reveal much about the knowledge systems and practices involved. Also, it is worth analysing how the items are perceived (in terms of social and cultural significance).
Explore multiple perspectives: Objects can be analyzed from multiple disciplinary perspectives, such as historical, artistic, scientific, or ethical viewpoints. This interdisciplinary approach deepens the analysis and understanding. We recommend making a comparative analysis - investigating how the same object is understood in different contexts to highlight the complexity of knowledge.
For instance use a scientific instrument such as an antique microscope, which can be analyzed in terms of its technological development, its role in scientific discoveries, and its impact on the advancement of knowledge.
TOK objects examples
To get a glimpse of the matter check out more TOK objects from exhibition exemplars below. Pay attention to how are they presented, what is their context and how differently they were applied to answer the research question.
What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge? The objects used were:
"Crime and Punishment" by F. M. Dostoyevsky,
a motorcycle from the student's vacation,
a coronavirus prevention mask.
What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge? The objects used were:
the highest bill in Indonesian currency (Rp 100,000),
the student's copy of NOW! Magazine, and The Bible.
How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge? The objects used were:
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launch,
an art piece generated by AI,
Microscope made by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds? The objects used were:
the first atomic bomb,
a gene-modified monkey,
a news article.
Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge? The objects used were:
the German Enigma Machine,
"Mr. Men and Little Miss" story collection,
The Bible translated into Serbian.
On what grounds might we doubt a claim? The objects used were:
Donald Trump's Tweet,
a screen-shot of a report on the Greek news SKAI,
a photo from an article on Ian Thorpe’s drug use accusation.
We are hoping that you found this article useful! More guides, for instance on the TOK exhibition marksheme or format and structure can be found on our blog but most importantly, there is a variety of free TOK coursework exemplars waiting for you on the Clastify website. Good luck!
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