TOKtober culminated with an inspiring showcase of students' exceptional critical thinking skills through the engaging TOKtiks and the compelling presentation of posters for the Collaborative Sciences Project. A group of twelve enthusiastic students stepped forward to share their profound insights into the world of TOK by responding to a single prompt within two-minutes while exploring three diverse objects. The highly coveted People's Choice Award was proudly clinched by Dante Pellegrino, who skillfully delved into the question, 'To what extent is objectivity possible in the production or acquisition of knowledge?' His contemplation of this prompt in the context of Schumann's Fantasiestücke for piano and clarinet, Nattokinase capsules, and Elon Musk's Neuralink brain chip left a lasting impression on our audience.
Our 2023 esteemed guest TOK-tikker, Ms. Julia Stryrylska, shared her valuable insights, drawing from her extensive background in Maritime law and practical experience working for the European Commission. Her thought-provoking exploration of the prompt 'What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge?' intertwined with the analysis of the IPCC graph and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch captivated and enriched the understanding of Theory of Knowledge for QAHS students.
The week drew to a close with the remarkable presentations from our Year 11 students, who skillfully debunked various scientific claims as part of the Collaborative Sciences Project. Working collaboratively in groups, students meticulously scrutinized scientific assertions using the inquiry process and their advanced TOK reasoning, ultimately determining whether the claims were factual or merely myths. We extend our congratulations to Delegation 9's, Kobe Bi, Jayden Chow, Aaron Huang, Nikki Lin and Connor Mitchell, for their outstanding exploration of the health claims associated with Kombucha, earning them the prestigious People's Choice Award for their exceptional presentation.
TOKtober has undeniably provided QAHS students with a unique platform to recognize the omnipresence of TOK thinking in their daily lives. The remarkable success of TOKtiks and the Collaborative Sciences Project underscores our students' progress towards mastering the art of critical thinking.
Tammie Gilbert
HOD Contemporary Teaching and Learning