What is the point of Oxplore?

Success and well-being often come down to how well a young person can solve everyday problems, read between the lines and handle disagreements.

Created by the University of Oxford, Oxplore helps your child look at situations from multiple angles, helping them to build confidence to express their thoughts clearly and listen to others. These are practical life skills that they need to thrive in a fast-changing world and are key skills that employers and universities look for in applicants.

The website is completely free of charge.

What makes a Big Question?

An Oxplore Big Question is really just a conversation starter. A Big Question doesn't have a single, neat answer that you can find in the back of a textbook.

Here are the four main ingredients that make an Oxplore Big Question special:

1. There is no single ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer

If you ask, ‘What is the capital of France?’, there is only one correct response. But if you ask an Oxplore Big Question, like ‘Should we clone extinct animals?’, people can argue brilliant points for both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. It takes away the fear of being wrong and opens the door for interesting discussions.

2. They connect different subjects together

Big Questions are a bridge between completely different worlds. A single question might force a young person to think like a scientist, a historian and a lawyer all at the same time.

For example: ‘Could we live on Mars?’ isn't just about space science. It can also be about:
 

  • politics: who rules Mars?
  • ethics: how would we decide who would go?
  • psychology: how would humans cope?
3. They tackle real-world, relevant issues

These aren't dry, dusty academic puzzles. They are massive, thought-provoking topics that young people actually care about, ranging from climate change and artificial intelligence to animal rights and fairness in sport. They are designed to make learners pause and think about real big issues from different points of view.

4. They are designed to build a ‘Thinking Toolkit’

At school, students are often taught what to learn to pass exams. An Oxplore Big Question encourages students to explore questions from different angles. Learners naturally practise critical thinking skills, by analysing evidence, spotting flaws in arguments and considering other viewpoints.

Building life skills

We spend our lives protecting our children, from holding their hands to cross the road to worrying about who they meet online. But we can’t be there every second. When they face the real world’s peer pressure, scams, and targeted ads, how do you ensure they make the right choices?

You don’t teach them what to think; you teach them how to think.

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Critical Thinking?

'Critical thinking' sounds a bit heavy and academic, but it’s simply the life skill of not taking everything at face value.

It’s the inner voice that stops us and asks: Is this true? Why should I believe it? What's the proof? Being able to ask these questions will be increasingly important to deal with fake news and clever scams.

But being able to think critically can also help navigate relationships and everyday interactions. When emotions run high, young people tend to react instantly. Critical thinking acts as a mental 'pause button'. It helps them step back from a stressful situation, look at the facts instead of just their feelings, and make a logical choice rather than an impulsive response.

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Why does it matter?

The world is changing faster than ever. Many of the jobs your child will apply for in 10 or 15 years haven't even been invented yet!

Because of this, schools and employers no longer just value children who can memorise facts for a test. A search engine can find a fact in 0.1 seconds. What employers are looking for are young people who can solve problems, spot biases and think creatively. Critical thinking is an essential skill that sets a child apart from the crowd.

The best part?

You are already an expert

You don't need a university degree or hours of free time to teach this to your child. You practise critical thinking every single day. You’re doing it whenever you compare prices at the supermarket, work out how to settle a family squabble or question a news headline.


No desk, textbook or hours of free time are needed to help your child to think critically. You can do it at home, while cooking dinner, watching TV, giving a lift, in fact anywhere when you have at least a few minutes to talk.

Portrait of man shopping and buying consumer goods

Spark big thinking at home

Using Oxplore and encouraging critical thinking
Group of young african males discussing a project while using their laptop and phones

Choice

Choice

There are over 50 Big Question modules. Following their curiosity and exploring topics that interest them builds essential independent learning skills.
Teacher and young student being focused

Thinking time

Thinking time

It’s so tempting to give your opinion, but sitting back and allowing your child time to think for themselves signals that their reasoning matters, not just the conclusions they reach.
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Praise

Praise

Your child’s opinions and how they express them is the important thing. If they start to discuss a topic with you aim to praise the reasoning over correct answers.
No extra time or money needed

Oxplore asks questions and encourages learners to ask questions. Having a questioning approach to life is key to developing a rich way of thinking and interacting with the world. It’s an important skill in our fast-moving world and one that employers value.

Supporting your child’s critical thinking skills doesn’t require you to put in extra time or money. You are already using these skills every day, when you're troubleshooting a problem or organising a busy week.

You can pass this superpower on to your child during everyday moments you already share, like when you’re in the kitchen, or watching TV, or in the bus or the car together. By simply pausing to ask open questions like ‘What do you think?’ or ‘Why do you think that?’ instead of giving immediate answers, you help your child build the confidence to form their own reasoned opinions.

An adult and child smile together while doing homework

What do you think?

After reading this, are you excited to use Oxplore to help develop a critical thinking approach with your child?

By sharing your insights, you can actively help us design practical, real-world tools that work for you.

PARENT FEEDBACK

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