Beginning next fall, the IB Theory of Knowledge course, or TOK, will become a required two-year course for all current sophomores wishing to earn a full IB diploma. The change comes after the International Baccalaureate Organization require Inglemoor to have two years of continuous TOK immersion, which it does not currently.
“We’ve got to figure out what it looks like, but it’s not going to be a class that meets daily,” TOK teacher Amy Monaghan said.
Although many of the sophomores do not know what the course will entail, they are staying open-minded.
“If they believe that [TOK] will help us with our lives, then I feel like they have good reasons, but they have to take into account the students that do extracurricular activities outside of school,” sophomore Bao Tang said.
Other students have been more uneasy towards the new changes, voicing their worries.
“What I’m concerned about is that it will really impact class scheduling for the next year because you’re essentially adding a new required class for IB students,” said sophomore Brian Xie. “Because of the way that junior year works, I don’t think it’s the easiest option for students to add a whole new required course to their already stressful schedule.”
However, the IB coordinators are confident that requiring students to take the course during their junior year will prepare them to finish their IB criteria before their senior year.
“In some ways, it’s going to be very helpful because we are going to be able to get students more focused with their diploma requirements. We think there is an opportunity at the end of junior year where we can take advantage of good time,” Monaghan said.
