Graduate Quality - Knowledgeable

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) states that “graduates of a Bachelor Degree will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning” (AQF 2013, p.48).

Knowledgeable as a graduate attribute encapsulates this description. UniSC graduating students have an opportunity to develop an integrated understanding of the structure and relationships between discipline knowledge areas and know the core principles, concepts, theory and content informing those areas.

Knowledge is the foundation of the other Graduate Attributes (e.g. applications of knowledge (Empowered), analysis and synthesis of knowledge (Creative and Critical Thinking) and ultimately evaluation of knowledge (Engaged, Sustainability-focussed).

A knowledgeable person:

• Can work with multiple conceptualisations of knowledge, including factual, conceptual, cultural, procedural and metacognitive.
• Constructs and reflects on new knowledge and understanding through an enquiry process involving research, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of current information.
• Demonstrates proficiency with the key threshold concepts, theories, approaches and principles of the disciplinary area.

Learning-centred activities for Knowledgeable

Problem and inquiry based learning, collaboration, discussion, expert groups, case studies, debate, scenarios, using multi-vocal texts, small group reading tasks, questioning and research projects.

Words associated with learning outcomes for Knowledgeable

Know, select, describe, identify, evaluate, state, assess, analyse, define, explain, expound, indicate, show, communicate, research, review, summarize, and comprehend.

Example of aligning with criteria

Course learning outcome: Identify and describe key political and institutional bodies and their functions, roles, relationships and responsibilities in the global world order.

Criteria example:

• Identification of …
• Explanation of ….

Introductory

• Can articulate basic facts, concepts, and rules of discipline practice.
• Demonstrates basic comprehension of discipline content.
• Can follow scholarly methods of analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
• Develops an understanding of types of knowledge, e.g. factual, conceptual, procedural or metacognitive.

Developing

• Comprehends more complex theories, knowledge, practices, skills, and constructs.
• Makes linkages between knowledge types.

Graduate

• Develops and applies deep knowledge of theoretical underpinnings through a process of metacognition and self-reasoning to identify knowledge gaps.
• Collaborates within and across disciplines, and with external practitioners, in researching identified global and regional problems relevant to practice.
• Makes deeper connections between knowledge, concepts and processes (knowing what, why and how) and seeks to construct and contribute new information to further develop knowledge and understanding.
• Demonstrates a sophisticated level of understanding of the knowledge domains for the specific discipline.

An experienced knowledgeable person knows their field. They understand the technical, procedural, functional and theoretical knowledge domains of their discipline. A knowledgeable student demonstrates a coherent and sound understanding while appreciating that knowledge is contestable, has multiple origins and can be evaluated.