Core Requirements
All Diploma Programme students participate in the three course requirements that make up the core of the hexagon. Reflection on all these activities is a principle that lies at the heart of the thinking behind the Diploma Programme.
Theory of Knowledge
The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) program is central to the educational philosophy of the International Baccalaureate. It challenges students and their teachers to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and areas of knowledge, and to consider the role which knowledge plays in a global society. It encourages students to become aware of themselves as thinkers, to become aware of the complexity of knowledge, and to recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected world.
As a thoughtful and purposeful enquiry into different ways of knowing, and into different kinds of knowledge, the TOK program is composed almost entirely of questions. The most central of these questions is ‘How do I, or how do we, know that a given assertion is true, or a given judgment is well grounded?’ Assertions or judgments of this sort are termed ‘knowledge claims’, while the difficulties that arise in addressing these questions are the broad areas known as ‘knowledge issues’. The program entails the application of this central question to many different, yet interrelated, topics.
Extended Essay
The extended essay is a 4,000-word, in-depth study of a limited topic within a subject. Its purpose is to provide students with an opportunity to engage in independent research. Emphasis is placed on
- the process of engaging in personal research
- on the communication of ideas and information in a logical and coherent manner
- on the overall presentation of the extended essay in compliance with these guidelines.
The subject chosen for the extended essay does not have to be one of the subjects being studied by the student, but care should be taken to choose a subject about which the student has sufficient knowledge and skills. Students should also base the choice of subject on the level of personal interest they have in that subject.
Creativity, Action, Service
All students in grades 11 and 12 must complete the CAS requirement in order to graduate in good standing from ISU. The creativity, action, service requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a counterbalance to the academic self-absorption some students may feel within a demanding school curriculum.
The creative, physical and social development of human beings can be shaped by their own experiences. Participation in CAS encourages students to share their energies and special talents while developing awareness, concern and the ability to work cooperatively with others. The goal of educating the whole person and fostering more caring and socially responsible attitudes comes alive in an immediate way when students reach beyond themselves and their books. CAS is about the education of the whole person, and the three elements are therefore interwoven.