Synthesis Log
A structured, multi-stage reflection journal designed to surface Knowledge Questions, map Ways of Knowing, and build a living curriculum from lived experience — purpose-built for IB Theory of Knowledge.
Each concept sphere orbits the central topic through its reflection stages — pulsing at each recording, then drifting away. At the end of the spiral, all spheres return, grown with insight.
"Spiral out. Keep going." — Tool, Lateralus
Download Animation (standalone HTML)Zero dependencies · open in any browser · GitHub-ready
IB TOK Alignment
Synthesis Log is structured around the same epistemological architecture that underpins the IB TOK course. Each reflection stage maps directly to a layer of TOK inquiry — from personal knowledge and lived experience, through concrete and abstract analysis, to cross-concept synthesis and proposed action. The built-in TOK Spiral term bank (30 terms, 33-day cycle) uses paired contrasting concepts — Knowledge/Belief, Truth/Justification, Perception/Reality, Emotion/Reason — that mirror the core tensions the IB curriculum asks students to explore.
Reflection Stages → TOK Layers
- History / Context — Personal knowledge, lived experience, origin of understanding
- Concrete / Abstract — Real-world examples and theoretical frameworks
- Amalgamation — Cross-concept connections; the core TOK synthesis move
- Motion — Knowledge in action; proposed application or Knowledge Question
TOK Spiral Term Bank (30 Terms)
Submitting to Canvas
Synthesis Log stores all reflections locally in your browser. To submit your work to Canvas — or to transfer your journal between devices — use the JSON Export feature. The exported file contains your complete spiral state: all term lists, every reflection, your settings, and your progress. It is the single source of truth for your journal.
Export your journal as a JSON file
In the app header, click Export JSON. This downloads a file namedsynthesis-log-YYYY-MM-DD.jsonto your Downloads folder. This file contains everything — do not rename or edit it.
Upload the JSON file to Canvas
In your Canvas assignment, use the File Upload submission type and attach the .json file directly. Your teacher can open it to review your full reflection history, or load it back into Synthesis Log to read your entries in context.
Loading on a different device
Open synthlogai-hpenl2r8.manus.space on the new device. On the start screen, click Import JSON and select your exported file. Your entire spiral — all reflections, all term lists, your current day — will be restored exactly. You can then continue journaling from where you left off.
Browser storage is local only
Your reflections are stored in your browser's localStorage — they do not sync automatically between devices or browsers. Always export before switching devices or clearing browser data. Treat your JSON file as your journal backup.
Your data stays private
All reflection content is processed and stored locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server. The AI assistant uses a secure API call but does not store your reflections. You own your data entirely.
Using Synthesis Log in TOK Class
Synthesis Log is designed to function as a primary TOK journal. Rather than producing disconnected entries, the spiral structure ensures that concepts revisit students across multiple days and stages — building the kind of iterative, layered understanding that TOK assessment rewards.
Suggested Canvas Assignment Prompt
TOK Synthesis Log Entry (Weekly)
Complete one full spiral entry using Synthesis Log. Your entry must include:
- A History / Context reflection: personal connection or origin story for the term
- A Concrete / Abstract reflection: one real-world example and one theoretical framing
- An Amalgamation reflection: at least one connection to another term in today's set
- A Motion reflection: one Knowledge Question this term raises for you
Export your journal as a JSON file (Export JSON button in the header) and submit it here.
| Score | Reflection Quality | TOK Connection | Knowledge Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | Deep, personal, specific | Named WOK/AOK, cross-concept link | Original, genuinely open-ended |
| 3.0 | Solid, some specificity | Implicit TOK connection present | Present and relevant |
| 2.0 | Surface-level, general | Weak or missing connection | Vague or missing |
| 1.0 | Minimal effort | No TOK connection | Absent |
From Journal to Assessment
The spiral structure is designed so that by mid-semester, students have a rich archive of personal examples, philosophical framings, and Knowledge Questions — the exact raw material needed for the TOK Exhibition and Essay.
TOK Exhibition
Students can mine their Amalgamation and Motion entries for real-world objects and personal connections that demonstrate how a TOK concept manifests in lived experience. The spiral's cross-concept structure naturally surfaces the kind of unexpected links the Exhibition rewards.
TOK Essay
History/Context entries provide personal anecdotes and origin stories. Concrete/Abstract entries supply both real-world examples and theoretical frameworks. By the time students reach a prescribed title, they already have a bank of developed ideas to draw from — reducing the blank-page paralysis that plagues TOK essay writing.
How the Spiral Works
The Spiral Queue
Terms from your chosen list enter a rotating window. Each day, terms at different stages of the reflection cycle are presented together — creating a cross-section of old, current, and new concepts every session. No two days are the same combination.
Variable Reflection Depth
Choose from 2-step (Quick Synthesis), 3-step (Balanced), 4-step (Deep Dive), or 5-step (Maximum Depth) models. The 4-step model maps most cleanly to the four TOK inquiry layers above and is recommended for classroom use.
The Four Reflection Stages
History/Context — where did this come from? Personal origin story.
Concrete/Abstract — real example, then theoretical principle.
Amalgamation — connections to today's other terms.
Motion — what action, question, or creation does this inspire?
AI-Assisted Reflection
Each reflection stage has an embedded AI assistant that generates stage-specific prompts, sparks ideas, and engages in dialogue about your terms — without interrupting your flow or leaving the page. The AI is a thinking partner, not a ghostwriter; all reflection content is authored by the student.
Reflection Depth Models
| Model | Stages | Best For | Cycle Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Step Quick | Foundation → Application | Reviews, familiar material, fast-paced learning | N + 1 days |
| 3-Step Balanced | History → Analysis → Synthesis | Standard learning pace, most subject areas | N + 2 days |
| 4-Step Deep ★ | History → Concrete/Abstract → Amalgamation → Motion | TOK classroom use, cross-domain synthesis | N + 3 days |
| 5-Step Maximum | History → Concrete → Abstract → Amalgamation → Motion | Research-level analysis, extended inquiry | N + 4 days |
★ Recommended for IB TOK. N = number of terms in your list. The spiral runs for N + (depth - 1) days total.
All Features
JSON Export / Import — Cross-Device Save
Export your full spiral state (term lists, all reflections, settings, current day) as a JSON file. Import it on any device or browser to resume exactly where you left off. This is the primary mechanism for Canvas submission and device transfer. The file is human-readable and can be reviewed by instructors without loading the app.
Multi-List Spiral
Select multiple term lists and combine them in Sequential (lists in order), Shuffled (randomized within each list), or Blended (all terms interleaved) modes. Each list has a signature color hue that appears throughout the interface.
Perpetual Spiral
When a list completes, you're prompted to add a new list and continue seamlessly. The spiral never ends — it just evolves. The progress bar shows color-coded segments for each list in the queue.
AI Assistant per Stage
Each reflection stage has an embedded AI chat panel. Click 'Spark an idea' for a stage-specific prompt, or type your own question. The AI maintains context across the conversation and persists state even after saving reflections. The AI prompts thinking — it does not write reflections for the student.
Reflection History Calendar
A collapsible monthly calendar shows all days with saved reflections. Color-coded dots indicate which lists were active. Click any day to navigate directly to it and review or edit past reflections.
Printable Daily Worksheet
Generate a print-ready 8.5" × 11" worksheet for today's reflection set. Includes a month calendar, DNA strand spiral progress graphic, and lined writing boxes for each active stage. Useful for analog journaling or class handouts.
Google Calendar Export (.ics)
Export your entire spiral as a Google Calendar-compatible .ics file. Each day generates two events: a morning event with context/history prompts and an evening event with synthesis/motion prompts — keeping your reflection practice on your phone, watch, and calendar.
Custom Term Lists
Upload your own terms via CSV, or choose from built-in preset lists covering Music Theory, Art & Design, Computer Science, Physics, Biology, Geography, Philosophy, and the full TOK Spiral (30 terms).
Built-in Term Lists
Synthesis Log ships with curated term lists across disciplines. Mix and match lists from different fields to discover unexpected cross-domain connections — a core TOK skill.
The Philosophy
Most learning tools ask you to master one domain at a time. Synthesis Log asks a different question: what happens when you force two unrelated ideas to sit in the same room?
The app is built around the conviction that the most generative insights emerge not from depth alone, but from the collision of depth across domains. A musician studying counterpoint alongside a programmer studying recursion will find that both are expressions of the same underlying pattern — voices that maintain independence while contributing to a unified whole.
This is the core purpose of Synthesis Log: to build a daily practice of forced adjacency. By rotating through a curated term bank using a spiral queue, each day presents a unique cross-section of concepts at different stages of reflection — some freshly encountered, some being analyzed, some being synthesized into action. The result is a living web of connections that grows richer with each pass.
The name and structure are a tribute to Tool's music — particularly Lateralus — and its invitation to spiral outward, to embrace complexity, and to find the pattern that connects all things.
The Vision: Spirals in Dialogue
The current version of Synthesis Log is a personal practice tool. But the deeper vision is a commons — a place where you can browse the spirals of others as they weave their own intricate paths through the land of the new.
Imagine reading someone else's Motion proposals from Day 14 of a spiral combining Music Theory and Quantum Mechanics. Or discovering that a designer's Amalgamation notes for "negative space" and "recursion" mirror your own synthesis from a completely different starting point.
For TOK specifically: imagine a class-wide concept map, built from 30 students' spirals over a semester, showing where personal knowledge converges and diverges — a living demonstration of shared and personal knowledge in action.
Ready to Spiral Out?
Start with the TOK Spiral list. The connections will find you.