ib theory of knowledge class procedures [highlights] daniel w. blackmon coral gables senior high...

IB Theory of Knowledge Class procedures[highlights]Daniel W. BlackmonCoral Gables Senior High2011-2012

Objectives• The Objectives of Theory of Knowledge are (from the Subject

Guide p. 5) “candidates should be able to:• demonstrate an understanding of the strengths and limitations of

the various Ways of Knowing and of the methods used in the different Areas of Knowledge

• demonstrate a capacity to reason critically• make connections between and across Ways of Knowing and

Areas of Knowledge

Objectives

• make connections between personal experience and different Ways of Knowing and Areas of Knowledgedemonstrate an understanding of knowledge at work in the world• identify values underlying judgements and knowledge claims

pertinent to local and global issues

Objectives

• demonstrate an understanding that personal views, judgements and beliefs may influence their own knowledge claims and those of others

• use oral and written language to formulate and communicate ideas clearly.”

Objectives• All assignments will be directed towards preparing students to

successfully fulfill the portfolio requirements for Theory of Knowledge. Grading will, to the greatest extent possible, imitate the criteria set by IB.

General• Students are expected to complete each and every

assignment given during a grading period!

Uniform Policy• I intend to enforce the school uniform policy

• .I intend to enforce the school ID policy

Attendance• All school policies pertaining to excused or unsatisfactory

absences will be strictly enforced!

Attendance• .Failure to present me with a note means an absence is

automatically "Unsatisfactory".

Tardies• "Tardy" is defined as not being in one's own seat and ready to

begin work when the tardy bell begins to ring.

• Unexcused tardies will be penalized.

Make Up Work• Make up work is entirely the responsibility of the student!

Make Up Work• Class notes which are not already on the class website should

be obtained from another student

Make Up Work• If a student is absent on the day an assignment is due or on

the day an assignment is written in class, the default grade is automatically a “Z.”

• .If the absence is satisfactory, and when the assignment is made up, then the “Z” will be changed to whatever grade is earned.

Make Up Work• Assignments due the day of an absence are due upon the

student's return to class.

Make Up Work• If a student is in school at any time during the day when an

assignment is due, the student is expected to bring the assignment by before leaving school.

Make Up Work• Tests must be made up on the next make up day following a

student's return to class, unless specific arrangements with me have been made in advance.

Preparation• Each student must keep a three ring binder with at least three

sub-divisions: Class Notes, Bellringers and Handouts.

Preparation• The Class Notes section will contain each day’s class notes.

The section should always have a sufficiency of loose leaf paper for in-class assignments. Each day’s notes shall be dated. Class notes are subject to teacher review and may be graded

Preparation• The Handouts section will contain any and all hard copy

handouts that I distribute. This would include a print out of a hand out from my class website.

Preparation• The section for Bellringers will include the notes and any

other assignment which I use as a Bellringer.

Preparation• Owing to shortages of paper in the building, many if not most

hand-outs will be available to students only from the website. Students may choose to access them in class via an electronic device. Regardless of which method used, students must be able to access any relevant class handout in class

Preparation• Students are expected to have read all assignments in a timely

fashion.

Preparation

• .All assignments written in class and handed in must be in blue or black ink.

• .

Preparation• All assignments written at home must be typed and must

follow MLA style.

Preparation• Assignments not in MLA style will not be read at all! No

excuses, and no second chances. If you can’t remember MLA, create a template for yourself

Classroom Rules• I generally allow students to sit where they wish prior to

making my seating chart. But in the end, the seating chart belongs to me.

Classroom Rules• Courteous language is to be used at all times. Vulgar,

obscene, profane, insulting, or provocative language is not to be used

Classroom Rules• Generally speaking, I will tolerate food and / or drink so long

as students clean up after themselves

Academic Grades• The Dade County grading scale is:

• .4.00-3.50=A• .3.49-2.50=B• .2.49-1.50=C• .1.49-1.00=D• . .99-0.00=F

Assessment Outline• External Assessment (40 points)• An essay on a Prescribed Title (1200-1600 words) (one per

marking period)

Assessment Outline• Internal Assessment (20 points)• A Presentation (approximately 10 minutes per candidate) (One

per marking period)

Prescribed Essays• Prescribed Essays will be graded on a 40 point criterion

referenced scale using the markband descriptors used by IB for history. A copy of the descriptors will be given to you.

Prescribed Essays• The IB markbands are not to be interpreted as a percentage.

Conversion from the numeric IB mark to letter grades takes this into account

Prescribed Essays• Numeric scores for essays will converted to letter grades

based on the following scale: • 40-33 A• 32-25 B• 24-17 C• 16-9 D• 0-9 F

Internal Assessment• The Internal Assessment (Presentation) must be graded

according to a 20 point criterion referenced scale which is imposed by IB.

Internal Assessment• Numeric scores for the Internal Assessment will converted to

letter grades based on the following scale• 17-20 A• 16-13 B• 12-9 C• 8-5 D• 4-1 F• 0="Z" F

Weighting grades • Typically, a quiz grade is weighted as 1 (W=1)

• An essay is typically weighted as 5 (W=5)

Weighting Grades

• A Prescribed Essay, since it is 66% of the final Theory of Knowledge mark, is typically weighted as 24 (W=24)

• The Internal Assessment, since it is 33% of the Theory of Knowledge mark, is weighted very heavily: 18 for Content (W=18)

Participation Grade• There will be a weekly participation grade weighted as 1 (W=1)

given on the last day of each week.

Participation Grade

My default participation grade is “A.”

• A “Z” in the grade book for any assignment will result in an “F” in participation until and unless the work is made up

• An unexcused absence will result in an “F”

Participation Grade

An unexcused tardy may result in an “F”

• Chronic unexcused tardies will result in an “F.”

• A disciplinary issue, as indicated by a note in the grade book, will result in an “F.”

Deadlines• Many students have gained the impression that deadlines at

this school are optional and / or negotiable.

• .My deadlines are not optional

• .My deadlines are firm.

Deadlines• I have voluntarily changed some deadlines when students

have pointed out conflicts with other classes and if I have the flexibility within my curriculum to allow it.

Deadlines• As a school, we have always tried to see to it that important

deadlines were sufficiently spread out to give students a breathing space.

• However, the process has always been imperfect.

• If I can, I am willing to be flexible.

Deadlines• There are times when I cannot be flexible. My own deadlines

forbid it.

Deadlines• Once set (or re-set), consider that due date as firm!

Deadlines

• .If for any reason whatsoever, you believe you neede an extenstion on a deadline, you must see me first and obtain my agreement.Ex post facto doesn’t work.

Deadlines

• .Late papers, even if I mark them, will be entered into the grade book as an “F”

Over-riding a Grade• Sustained, consistent improvement over the course of the

year is the basis for all decisions on teacher over-ride of a grade.

• I have a strong preference for making such decisions only at the end of the year

Malpractice, cheating and plagiarism

• I take malpractice of any kind on any assignment of any magnitude whatsoever very seriously. Malpractice is the most serious offense a student can commit in IB History


• Society cannot continue to function if there is not some basis of trust among those who live within that society.


• Academic integrity is the foundation for the search for truth. Without it, scholarship is unreliable and our confidence in what is true is profoundly undermined.


• Ultimately, academic integrity must arise within the individual scholar; admonitions for right behavior, and punishments and threats for bad behavior are of limited use.

• No society can be held together indefinitely purely by threats of force. Without a shared value system, a society will collapse


• Students who take this course have already demonstrated, by that choice, that they are intelligent, and ambitious. I assume that they are also responsible and mature young men and women, who are fully capable of making their own ethical decisions and of standing by the consequences of those decisions.


• To the extent that the laws of the State of Florida and the rules of the Dade County School Board and of Coral Gables High permit me, I intend to treat my students as responsible young men and women. I believe that my students are capable of practicing a form of the honor code.


• At the end of each test, exam, essay, document based question, or other written assignment, students will write,

• "On my honor, I have neither given nor received assistance on this paper," and they will sign their name


• What IB calls "malpractice" that is, any form of cheating, which includes plagiarism (which includes

• submitting work that is not your own either in direct or indirect quotation, or

• false or incorrect citations, or • work copied from another student) will result in an automatic

"F" on all components of a grade.


• Please refer to the handout Definitions of Malpractice which will be posted on my page on the school website.. I expect each student to familiarize himself or herself with the definition and examples given therein.


• Ignorance is not an excuse, nor is lack of intent to deceive


• Malpractice on an assignment that forms a component of the final IB mark (such as an Internal Assessment, a Prescribed Essay or Extended Essay) is grounds for being exited from the program.


• Malpractice will be penalized by an "F" on the assignment. and a "D" in conduct for the term for the first offense.


• For a second offense (regardless of the marking period), the student will receive a failing grade for the term in both academics and conduct.


• .All instances of Malpractice will automatically be referred to the IB Coordinator

Conduct Grades• IB students do not misbehave in class. I expect very good

conduct grades.

Conduct Grades• The usual reason for conduct grades lower than "A" are

unsatisfactory absences or tardies to class• Two unsatisfactory tardies will lower the conduct grade by one

letter• Each unsatisfactory absence will lower the conduct grade by one

letter.

Substitutes• Substitutes will be supported 100% They will never be

second-guessed. A substitute's word is law.

• .Roll will be taken from the seating chart. Students not in their proper seats will be marked absent

ib theory of knowledge class procedures [highlights] daniel w. blackmon coral gables senior high...

Documents

class assignments

class website

days class notes

understanding of knowledge

days notes

workclass notes

knowledge claims pertinent

preparationeach student