Graduate Attributes: Research and Enquiry

Questioning and exercising rational enquiry

‘Wisdom begins with wonder’

(Socrates)

Agree or disagree?

1. University study is all about answering questions

2. It’s not easy to ask a good question

3. Asking questions is a powerful learning tool

4. Sometimes it is more important to ask a good question rather than find the answer

Questioning the mystery

1. Work in small groups to formulate questions to potentially solve the mystery

2. Group the questions into ‘types’: your choice what the criteria should be!

So, what were your ‘types’ of questions?

Type of question Example(s) When to ask (purpose)

Closed

Open

Probing

Leading

Rhetorical

From questioning to enquiring to the culture(s) of enquiry

• What does it mean ‘to enquire’?• What is ‘rational enquiry’ and what does it

mean to ‘exercise rational enquiry’?• To what extent can you question and what

can you question in your discipline? • What is the culture of research and enquiry in

your discipline/sector?

The ability Employability

•How?•Why?

Quick reflection

• Green: anything you’ve learnt: new knowledge, understanding or skill

• Orange: anything you think you could improve on or learn more about

• Yellow: ask a (good) question relating to the content of the session