Well-Graded Knowledge Structures

Abstract

The knowledge state of an individual may vary over time. For example, the following learning scheme is reasonable. A novice student is in the empty state and thus knows nothing at all. Then, one or a few items are mastered; next, another batch is absorbed, etc., up to the eventual mastery of the full domain of the knowledge structure. There may be many possible learning sequences, however. Forgetting may also take place. More generally, there may be many ways of traversing a knowledge structure, evolving at each step from one state to another closely resembling one, and various reasons for doing so.