TOK Interactive Notebook (“Library, Laboratory, Journal”)Overview: The premise of the Interactive Notebook is to bridge the gap between the content of

the course, the class discussions, and your own independent exploration into the topics raised. Words are great—but so are graphs, charts, timelines, maps, cartoons, equations, drawings, patterns, and whatever else you might want to glue into your notebook. From Leonardo daVinci and Picasso to Lewis and Clark and Einstein, people in different fields have always used notes to think, to reflect, to explore, to record, to connect. These pages are to you what Leonardo daVinci’s sketchpad was to him, what table cloths, napkins, and blackboards were to Einstein.

Since there are no tests or quizzes in the class, the IN is a key assessment component and will be checked/graded regularly.

Required materials: composition notebook glue sticks (probably 2-4)

colored pencils/markers highlighters

Requirements: Each Reader-Writer Notebook should do or include the following: Use a standard composition notebook like the one pictured. Number all the pages. You can personalize it if you wish; not required; can also buy more

colorful versions of this type of notebook, but it should be this size (lined, unlined, graph or blank: your call).

You will have two parts to this: a “WE” side and a “ME” side. The explanation is on the back.

Professionalism While the IN is an intensely personal creation, it is still a public document and should be maintained with a keen sense of professionalism. It is one of the primary ways you will communicate the sophistication of your thoughts. Follow the guidelines below for your IN: Your handwriting must be neat and readable. Title and date each and every entry Respect the right and left margins of the page. Doodle away! “Doodling” can be a way to unlock your thoughts. Just don’t mar

the readability of your journal. Follow the rules of grammar, mechanics, and punctuation in your notebook. All

writing is practice. You must have your IN with you every day. Permission to participate is

contingent upon having your notebook each day. You may not use the notebook for other courses. Be clear and consistent in all your efforts.

Grading While it is a challenge (and a little arrogant) for anyone to adequately assess another’s “thinking,” it is not as problematic to evaluate the product of those thoughts. Your IN will be scored for a) completion, thoughtfulness, and accuracy of WE side activities and class notes b) timely completion of required number of ME side pages 3) professionalism 4) extension and sophistication of overall content. We will talk more about what these elements actually “look like” before the first collection.

Your ME- side entries are very flexible. However, simply writing a rant about why a certain teacher is wrong or just summarizing the latest episode of The Walking Dead with random pontifications about the meaning of life will not earn you any points. Look at our word wall for key concepts! Your entries should be connected to knowledge and be varied in content and focus.

--An big thank you goes to J. Hill of Carlmont HS and Jim Burke for the “bones” of the high school interactive notebook!.

Goodman 2016

Goodman 2016

“WE” side: teacher directed9/12/12

p. 14Lesson/Article title would go here

Class notes Reading response questions Seminar notes/prep work Vocabulary Data and procedure notes Worksheet information Glued-in texts/note

sheets/articles

This side is your library: the storehouse of accumulated knowledge.  There you will record what is called passive learning, receptive learning, or input, i.e. information you receive from lecture, discussion, seminar,

p.9 Questions and a discussion

about you have about something you saw on TV or in the news

quick writes about a relevant calculus concept and its relevant knowledge implications and issues

summaries/paraphrases of articles read in or outside of class with appropriate citation

a funny, relevant political cartoon.

a summary and commentary on a podcast, video etc.

names of articles or resources for a topic (or the article itself) along with commentary

reflection or extension on a class discussion

a conversation with another student in which you explore a knowledge issue

ME Side: student directed

thisisindexed.com