Core concepts - Learning Commons Docs

How Knowledge Graph is structured

Concept	Definition
Entities	Each entity (or node) represents a distinct concept in the domain, such as an academic standard or learning component. These entities define the core elements of the dataset.
Relationships	Each relationship (or edge) represents a directed connection between two entities (or nodes). These relationships define how entities relate to one another within the graph. Relationships are expressed as a triple: Source entity’s UUID Relationship UUID Target entity’s UUID
UUID	Every entity and relationship carries a UUID — these UUIDs link entities together in relationships. Conceptually, this is similar to how foreign keys are used to `JOIN` tables in a relational database. UUIDs make it easy to deterministically join files, reference entities, and preserve links across datasets. It makes connections explicit without relying on schema-level constraints and avoids tight coupling to any one database system. Some UUIDs come from external sources such as the CASE Network ↗, which ensures interoperability.
Dataset	Thematic collection of related entities and relationships that cover a specific educational domain, such as U.S. academic standards or Math learning components Datasets share a unified schema and can reference entities across one another (e.g., learning components align to specific academic standards).

What Knowledge Graph contains

Knowledge Graph is organized into thematic datasets.

Standards

The U.S. academic standards dataset represents official learning expectations as a hierarchy. The U.S. academic standards crosswalks dataset connects state standards to their closest matching standards. It measures how many learning components various academic standards have in common in order to calculate a similarity score.

Concept	Definition
Standards frameworks	Complete academic standards document published by an official body, such as a state department of education (e.g., 2023 North Dakota Mathematics Content Standards); modeled as `StandardsFramework` entities Each standards framework serves as the root node that organizes all standards groups and individual academic standards within a given jurisdiction and subject.
Standards groups	Organizational groupings within a standards framework – i.e., domains, clusters, strands, or grade bands (e.g., Operations and Algebraic Thinking or Number & Operations—Fractions); modeled as `StandardsFrameworkItem` entities with a `normalizedStatementType` of Standard Grouping
Academic standard	Individual statement that specifies what students should know or be able to do at a given grade level (e.g., 3.NF.A.1); modeled as `StandardsFrameworkItem` entities Academic standards often connect to other datasets — e.g., they’re supported by learning components and aligned with curriculum.

Concept	Definition
Standard alignment	Evidence-based match between a state academic standard and a standard based on shared learning components (e.g., NY 3.NF.1 → 3.NF.A.1). Modeled as `hasStandardAlignment` relationships. Similarity is expressed with a Jaccard score and learning component counts — not as sequence or dependency.
Jaccard score	Similarity score from 0.0 to 1.0 that measures how much a state standard and a Common Core standard overlap in Learning Components — 0.0 means no overlap and 1.0 means complete overlap. Calculated as shared learning components ÷ total unique Learning Components, and stored as the `jaccard` property on `hasStandardAlignment` relationships. See Understanding the Jaccard score.

Learning components

The Math learning components and ELA learning components datasets represent granular skills or individual concepts that operate at the instructional level. They break academic standards down into teachable parts.

Concept	Definition
Learning component	Single, well-defined skill or concept that students are expected to learn (e.g., Use place value to add two two-digit numbers); modeled as `LearningComponent` entities Learning components `support` one or more academic standards.

Learning progressions

The Math Coherence Map dataset represents how students traverse learning paths to develop understanding over time. It connects academic standards through directional buildsTowards relationships.

Concept	Definition
Prerequisite standard	An academic standard whose proficiency supports the likelihood of success in a later standard (e.g., 3.OA.A.1 is a prerequisite for 4.NBT.B.5). In a `buildsTowards` relationship, this is the source `StandardsFrameworkItem`.
Successor standard	An academic standard that students are progressing toward after gaining proficiency in an earlier standard (e.g., 4.NBT.B.5 is a standard that 3.OA.A.1 builds towards). In a `buildsTowards` relationship, this is the target `StandardsFrameworkItem`.

Curriculum

Curriculum datasets include IM® v.360 (K–12 Math) and OpenSciEd (K–12 Science).

Any curriculum entity can connect to an academic standard through the hasEducationalAlignment relationship (e.g., a Lesson may point to a StandardsFrameworkItem such as 3.NF.A.1 with alignmentType: teaches, indicating that the lesson teaches that standard).

Concept	Definition
Course	Structured sequence of instructional content designed to teach specific skills or knowledge over a defined period (e.g., Illustrative Mathematics® Grade 2); modeled as `Course` entities
Lesson grouping	Grouping of lessons within a course, such as a unit, module, or section (e.g., Unit 3: Adding and Subtracting within 100); modeled as `LessonGrouping` entities
Lesson	Single teachable unit within a lesson grouping, typically covering 1 class session and made up of one or more activities; modeled as `Lesson` entities
Activity	Smallest instructional unit (e.g., warm-up, task, exit ticket, or discussion) that a teacher or student engages with inside a lesson; modeled as `Activity` entities
Assessment	Evaluation of a student’s mastery of knowledge, skills, or competencies through structured tasks or questions; modeled as `Assessment` entities
Material	Instructional content (e.g., readings, videos, worksheets, images, or digital resources) that supports learning activities; modeled as `Material` entities

Instructional guidance

The Learner Variability Navigator dataset connects student context and learning goals to research-backed instructional practices. The English Learners Success Forum Guidelines dataset describes what instructional materials should do to support learners.

Concept	Definition
Learner model	Grade band and academic subject pair that describes a specific learner profile (e.g., Math 3–6 or Literacy 4–6); modeled as `LearnerModel` entities Each learner model has relevant factors and strategies that help contextualize what’s important for student success for that grade and subject.
Factor	Research-backed characteristic that influences learning or performance (e.g., Working memory or Algebraic reasoning); modeled as `Factor` entities Factors can `interact with` other factors and may be `relevant to` specific academic standards.
Strategy	Instructional practice that supports learning for a variety of factors and learner models (e.g., Peer teaching); modeled as `Strategy` entities Strategies `target` one or more factors they support or improve.
Guidance framework	Root of a subject-specific instructional guidance tree (e.g., ELSF Guidelines for Improving Mathematics Materials for English Learners); modeled as `GuidanceFramework` entities Each framework organizes Areas of Focus, Guidelines, and Specifications for one academic subject.
Guidance framework item	Individual statement or structural element within a guidance framework — an Area of Focus, Guideline, or Specification; modeled as `GuidanceFrameworkItem` entities Items nest under a framework through `hasChild` relationships: Framework → Area of Focus → Guideline → Specification.

Standards schema reference

Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Academic Standards.

Learning components schema reference

Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Learning Components.

Learning progressions schema reference

Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Learning Progressions.

Curriculum schema reference

Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Curriculum.

Instructional guidance schema reference

Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Instructional guidance.

​How Knowledge Graph is structured

​What Knowledge Graph contains

​Standards

​Learning components

​Learning progressions

​Curriculum

​Instructional guidance

​Related topics

Standards schema reference

Learning components schema reference

Learning progressions schema reference

Curriculum schema reference

Instructional guidance schema reference

How Knowledge Graph is structured

What Knowledge Graph contains

Standards

Learning components

Learning progressions

Curriculum

Instructional guidance

Related topics