GoldCheck — Linked Data in Action
How 6 data sources become instant course intelligence on any college website
"Every college website has course codes. None of them tell you what those courses are actually worth."
Students browse college websites every day — reading course descriptions, scanning degree requirements, comparing programs. But the pages are static. A course code like ACC 111 tells you nothing about where it transfers, what career it connects to, whether the state recognizes it, or how it fits into a broader pathway.
GoldCheck is a lightweight JavaScript embed that scans any college webpage, detects course codes and program titles, and enriches them in real time by linking across 6 independent data sources. No integration required by the institution — it works on top of the existing website.
📚 Course Catalog Data
Course titles, descriptions, credit hours, and learning outcomes scraped and indexed from institutional catalogs. The foundation layer that gives meaning to raw course codes.
🔁 Transfer Equivalencies
Cross-institutional course-to-course mappings. ACC 111 at DCCC = ACCT 201 at Temple. Star ratings reflect transfer partner breadth — 5 stars means recognized by 12+ institutions.
🏛️ State Frameworks (PA TAOC)
Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee common course numbering. A state-verified badge that guarantees transfer value across all public PA institutions.
🔗 CIP / SOC Crosswalk
Federal classification linking instructional programs (CIP) to workforce occupations (SOC). The bridge that connects what you learn to where you can work.
💼 O*NET / BLS Career Data
Median wages, projected growth, regional demand from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Career context that turns course codes into earning potential.
🎓 AP / CLEP Exam Bridges
Standardized exam equivalencies that show alternative pathways to credit. If AP Macroeconomics maps to ECON 201, the student sees that option instantly.
"One course code. Six data sources. Instant context. That's what linked data makes possible."
GoldCheck links 6 independent data sources in real time. Each source contributes a different dimension of context to a single course code — transforming a static label into a rich, actionable knowledge node.
| Data Source | Type | What It Provides | Example for ACC 111 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional Catalog | Catalog | Course title, credits, description | "Financial Accounting" · 3 credits |
| Transfer Equivalencies | Transfer | Partner-by-partner course mappings, confidence scores | Temple ACCT 201 (high) · WCU ACCT 2011 (high) · 12 partners |
| PA TAOC Framework | State | Common course number, state-guaranteed transfer | PA TAOC · ACC 211 · General Education |
| CIP Classification | CIP | Federal instructional program code | CIP 52.0301 — Accounting & Related Services |
| SOC / BLS Occupations | BLS | Career pathways, wages, demand projections | SOC 13-2011 Accountants · $79,880 median |
| AP / CLEP Exams | Exam | Standardized exam equivalencies | CLEP Financial Accounting → ACC 111 (score 50+) |
| KSA Dimensions | KSA | Knowledge, skills, abilities alignment | Knowledge: Revenue recognition, GAAP principles |
"Each data source answers a different question. Together they answer the only question that matters: Is this course worth my time, money, and effort?"
A single course code — ACC 111 at DCCC — becomes the center of a knowledge constellation linking catalog data, transfer partners, state frameworks, federal classification, career pathways, and exam equivalencies.
GoldCheck transforms the college browsing experience from a static, disconnected page visit into an intelligent, linked-data-powered exploration.
❌ Browsing Without GoldCheck
✅ Browsing With GoldCheck
"The website doesn't change. The student's understanding of it does."
GoldCheck is the discovery layer. GoldPlan is the collection basket. The Performer is the pathway guide. Together they form a continuous bridge from browsing to acting.
🔎 Discover — GoldCheck Scanner
Student browses any college website. GoldCheck scans the page, detects course codes and program titles, and decorates them with transfer confidence badges. Clicking any badge opens Course Facts — a nutrition-label-style popup linking 6 data sources.
📋 Collect — My GoldPlan
Student clicks "Add to Plan" on courses they're interested in. Programs can be followed. The floating GoldPlan badge (top-right corner) shows a running count. Opening the panel shows collected courses and followed programs with removal controls.
🚀 Act — See Your Pathway
Clicking "See your pathway" in the GoldPlan panel base64-encodes the collected courses and programs into a URL hash and opens the Performer (KSAWorks GuidEX). The Performer receives the plan, stores it locally, and renders a guided pathway experience.
🎯 Follow — Guided Pathway
The Performer presents a structured checklist pathway. Each course and program from the GoldPlan becomes a step with context — transfer status, career alignment, next actions. The student moves from passive browsing to active, informed decision-making.
🔒 Privacy-First Design
GoldPlan stores everything in the browser's localStorage. No accounts, no tracking, no server-side persistence. The student owns their data. Future tiers (email bookmark, Google SSO) are additive and opt-in.
🔗 Zero Integration Required
GoldCheck works on top of any college website via a single script tag or browser extension. No API keys, no institutional contracts, no website modifications needed. The data flows from KSAWorks servers through linked data pipelines.