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Understanding Theory of Knowledge
A New Eight-Part Series
February 20th, 2026
One of the things I have seen repeatedly through my work with schools around the world is that many IB teachers do not fully understand what exactly happens in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course.
It actually frustrates me quite a bit.
This gap makes it nearly impossible to integrate TOK ideas, concepts, and practical connections into our classrooms.
That is why I am excited to announce a new eight-part series designed to share what we see as the Eight Essential Elements of the Theory of Knowledge course.
Sofia Elizalde, who will be co-hosting the Theory of Knowledge New Teacher Training with me in July, will be co-authoring this new series to help all of us better understand what Theory of Knowledge actually is, what the coursework looks like, and what the expectations are for students and teachers.
Sofia brings over a decade of experience as an IB educator, IB examiner, and currently teaches Theory of Knowledge teacher here in Bulgaria. She has an incredible ability to simplify the complex and make the abstract nature of TOK feel manageable and teachable. I am thrilled to collaborate with her moving forward!
Here's why this is so important...
While it is explicitly stated in nearly all IB documentation that it is an obligation for us as IB teachers to integrate Theory of Knowledge into our courses, many schools do not train teachers to do that. So, Sofia and I hope that this eight-part series will empower you to feel more confident integrating Theory of Knowledge into your IB course. It's that simple.
Beginning next week, and then every other week after that, we’ll be sharing one part of the eight-part series designed to break down the Eight Key Elements every IB educator needs to understand about the Theory of Knowledge course in order to effectively integrate it into their classroom
The Eight Key Elements...
Part 1: Knowledge – Content of the Course - This part will focus on knowledge itself, which is the content of the course. Theory of Knowledge is about knowledge. It is about the process of knowing. It asks students to reflect on knowledge, beliefs, and opinions, and it is intended to be challenging, thought provoking, and ultimately empowering. That is where we will begin next week.
Part 2: Knowledge Questions - This part will focus on knowledge questions. The course is built on knowledge questions, and they are one of the most distinctive and interesting creations of the IB. They are essential tools for both teachers and students. At their core, knowledge questions must be contestable and must be about knowledge itself. That may sound like fancy language, which is exactly why we will dedicate an entire newsletter to unpacking what knowledge questions really are and how they work.
Part 3: Five Themes - This part will explore the themes of the TOK course. There is one core theme and five optional themes. Each Theory of Knowledge teacher chooses two of the five optional themes, and those two, combined with the core theme, make up the three required themes that must be taught in the course.
Part 4: Five Areas of Knowledge - This part will break down the five areas of knowledge: History, the Human Sciences, the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts.
Part 5: The Framework - This part will focus on the framework, which provides the four lenses through which students explore the themes and areas of knowledge. The framework includes scope, perspectives, methods and tools, and ethics.
Part 6: The Twelve Concepts - This part will digest the twelve concepts that run throughout the course. These concepts are evidence, certainty, truth, interpretation, power, justification, explanation, objectivity, perspective, culture, values, and responsibility.
Part 7: The TOK Exhibition - This part will break down one of the most innovative assessments in the TOK course, the TOK Exhibition.
Part 8: The TOK Essay - The series will conclude with a focus on the TOK Essay, the long standing capstone writing component of the course. This involves students writing a 1600 word essay based on one of the six prescribed titles referencing two of the five areas of knowledge, which by the way, is the direct link between IB courses and the TOK curriculum.
The series will kick off next Friday and will run every other week after that.
In between, I will continue to share other topics related to the IB Diploma Programme, the Extended Essay, IB Economics, and anything else that pops into my head that I hope will be useful or timely.
Our hope is that you will feel more informed, more confident, and better supported in your role as an IB Diploma teacher.
And if you are going to be teaching Theory of Knowledge next year, or even think you might teach it at some point in the future, all of this connects directly to our upcoming Theory of Knowledge New Teacher Workshop on July 23rd and 24th.
We officially launched this new workshop this past Monday, and there is an Early Bird Discount available through April 1st for those who enroll early. If you would like more details, you can click below.
We’re really excited about sharing this series with you and we hope you are too!
See you next week.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities...
Theory of Knowledge New Teacher Workshop - July 23rd & 24th, 2026 - Designed for teachers new to Theory of Knowledge, this two-day training co-taught by Brad Cartwright and Sofía Elizalde offers a clear, practical roadmap for teaching TOK with confidence. Together, we will explore the core components of the IB Diploma Programme, the purpose and structure of the TOK course, key assessment criteria, the TOK Exhibition, the TOK Essay, and classroom strategies that support thoughtful discussion, meaningful reflection, and strong student writing. An Early Bird Discount is available--use coupon code EARLYBIRDTOK at checkout.
IB Economics New Teacher Training - July 25th & 26th, 2026 - Designed specifically for teachers new to IB Economics, this two-day teacher training program will give you a practical roadmap to begin your IB Economics teaching career feeling confident, prepared, and calm.
Brad Cartwright
Educator | Speaker | Workshop Leader | Course Creator