Universal Outcome Model
The Universal Outcome Model defines a consistent way to calculate mastery across different types of student work.
Core outcome categories
Outcomes fall into types that reflect common learning goals:
- Applied Skills — hands-on abilities that improve with practice
- Knowledge — understanding and recall measured across multiple assessments
- Professional Practice — workplace or field-specific competencies
- Critical Competency — essential capabilities demonstrated repeatedly
- Creative / Portfolio-based — best represented by strong sample work
How each type is measured
Different outcome types use different calculation methods:
| Type | How it's measured |
|---|---|
| Applied Skills | Recent work weighted more heavily (improvement over time) |
| Knowledge | Average across assessments |
| Professional Practice | Weighted average (some skills count more) |
| Critical Competency | Confirmed through repeated successful demonstrations |
| Creative / Portfolio-based | Student's strongest performance |
Why this matters
Using different approaches for different outcome types ensures: - Skills are measured fairly across all disciplines - Work types (internships, exams, projects) all count appropriately - Scoring stays consistent - Teachers can use the same system for varied learning goals
When to override defaults
In some cases, teachers or schools may use a different calculation method for a specific outcome or course. When this happens: - The override must be clearly labeled in the system - Teachers should document why the change was made - Overrides should be visible in reports and auditable
Best practice
- Use the standard category-method mapping when possible
- Only apply custom calculations when the learning context clearly requires it
- Ensure any custom rule is clearly documented
Last updated: 2026-07-08