requires skill

Purpose

This edge represents that the learning module requires the skill as a prerequisite. The requires-skill relationship connects learning modules to the skills students must possess before beginning the module.

Relationship Type

Edge Type: requires-skill (prerequisite requirement)

Direction: learning-module → skill (module requires skill)

Participants:

• Source: v:learning-module:<module-name> (the module with the requirement)
• Target: v:skill:<skill-name> (the skill that is required)

Meaning

This edge indicates that <module-name> cannot be successfully studied without first possessing <skill-name>. This could be because:

• The module builds directly on concepts from that skill
• The module uses techniques that require that skill
• The module's exercises assume that skill is already mastered
• The module's pace assumes prerequisite knowledge

Prerequisite Pattern

This edge defines prerequisite requirements for modules:

• Students without this skill should not attempt the module
• Syllabus charts use these edges to sequence modules appropriately
• Prerequisite faces connect students who have the skill to modules that require it
• The skill must be defined (skill vertex exists) for the requirement to be valid

Examples

Foundational Module:

# Module has no prerequisites
# No requires-skill edges for this module

Intermediate Module:

# Module requires understanding of simplicial complexes
source: v:learning-module:verification-fundamentals
target: v:skill:simplicial-complex-fundamentals
# Students must have this skill before studying this module

Advanced Module:

# Module requires multiple prerequisites (multiple requires-skill edges)
source: v:learning-module:advanced-chart-design
target: v:skill:chart-creation
# AND also:
source: v:learning-module:advanced-chart-design
target: v:skill:type-system-understanding
# Students need BOTH skills for this module

Participation in Faces

requires-skill edges participate in prerequisite faces:

type: face/prerequisite
vertices:
  - v:student:<student-name>          # has-skill edge source
  - v:skill:<skill-name>              # target of both edges
  - v:learning-module:<module-name>   # requires-skill edge source

This triangle means: Student with skill can study module requiring that skill

The prerequisite face "completes the circuit":

• Student has skill (has-skill edge)
• Module requires skill (requires-skill edge)
• Triangle: Student can study module (prerequisite satisfied)

Constraints

• Source MUST be a learning-module vertex (v:learning-module:*)
• Target MUST be a skill vertex (v:skill:*)
• Each module-skill pair should have at most one requires-skill edge
• Skill must be defined (skill vertex should exist)
• Module must be defined (learning-module vertex should exist)
• Must not create circular dependencies (module A requires skill from module B requires skill from module A)

Circular Dependency Check

Invalid:

Module A requires Skill X (gained from Module B)
Module B requires Skill Y (gained from Module A)
❌ CIRCULAR - learner can't start either module!

Valid Linear Dependency:

Module A (foundational) → teaches Skill X
Module B requires Skill X → teaches Skill Y
Module C requires Skill Y → teaches Skill Z
✅ Valid progression

Valid Branching Dependency:

Module A (foundational) → teaches Skill X
├─ Module B requires Skill X → teaches Skill Y
└─ Module C requires Skill X → teaches Skill Z
✅ Valid branching from foundation

Verification

This edge can be verified using:

python scripts/verify_template_based.py 01_edges/<edge-file>.md --templates templates

Note: This template defines the requires-skill relationship between learning modules and prerequisite skills. Multiple requires-skill edges from the same module indicate multiple prerequisites that must ALL be satisfied.