Key Points

 What is a professional inquiry?

A professional inquiry is a method of exploring what we as learners and practitioners are doing in our professional field when we are on the job. It involves us constantly asking questions to our related field of practice and critiquing what we do. A crucial method of doing so is by asking questions, and researching between theory and work based practice. It requires us to be involved with certain scenarios, be involved through our recent knowledge and understanding, research into new ideas, and present the evidence (Kahn and O'Rourke, 2004).

How does a professional inquiry link to work based learning (WBL)?

A professional inquiry links to worked based learning as we learn on the job, and our practice is the centre point for the inquiry. The sole content for the learning achieved is done through the work place and the current area of professional practice. WBL occurs more strongly when a certain change or adaptation occurs in the workplace as it requires the colleague to use problem solving skills and development strategies. Another main link between the two is the idea of three components being connected to one another (the learner, the university and that workplace). 

What is research?

Research plays a huge part in a students life, and it requires the ability to investigate and explore literature and ideas that are already out there, followed by a critical analysis of ones own opinion, backed up by theories that are discovered through research. Academic findings are most commonly found in books, e-books, journals and web pages. It is also a good idea to compare research findings in terms of the date that the literature was published, to try and find any changes or similarities between different dates. For example, changes in the curriculum and these certain changes were made.