35 Theory of Knowledge Exhibition Prompts Unpacked

I have been teaching the Theory of Knowledge International Baccalaureate course and one of the components of the course involves exploring a range of knowledge questions like “Is certainty attainable” or “what counts as good evidence for a claim.” The students need to relate these knowledge questions to real life experiences of the situation and produce an exhibition.

Some teachers choose to pick about 5–10 of these questions. As a new teacher to the course, I decided to let them choose. But that meant I need to understand all 35 questions to guide them well. Here is an unpacking of these great critical thinking questions on how we know what we know. You can explore them slowly and add your reflections in the comments.

1. What counts as knowledge?
2. Are some types of knowledge more useful than others?
3. What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?
4. On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
5. What counts as good evidence for a claim?
6. How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know?
7. What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge?
8. To what extent is certainty attainable?
9. Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?
10. What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge?
11. Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?
12. Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?
13. How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge?
14. Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers?
15. What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge?
16. Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?
17. Why do we seek knowledge?
18. Are some things unknowable?
19. What counts as a good justification for a claim?
20. What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge?
21. What is the relationship between knowledge and culture?
22. What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?
23. How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
24. How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether it is accepted or rejected?
25. How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion?
26. Does our knowledge depend on our interactions with…