My Goal Builder | B Optimal

Learn With Purpose

Meet Students Where They Are

Not every student is ready for a rigid SMART goal — and not every goal needs a tight deadline. My Goal Builder offers two research-informed frameworks so students can work in the approach that fits their actual situation, with a guided chooser to help them decide.

Two Frameworks, One Tool

The Right Approach for Every Goal

Students choose — or use the built-in Framework Chooser to find the right fit through three quick reflective questions.

DYB Goal

Do Your Best

For goals that are still forming — where effort, flexibility, and progress matter more than hitting a fixed target. Built around personal investment and adaptive strategies.

Goal — What am I working toward?

Actions — What will I do to get there?

Challenges — What might get in the way?

Adaptations — How will I adjust when needed?

Success Indicators — What does doing my best look like?

Open-ended goals Growth-focused Flexible timelines

SMART Goal

For goals with clear targets and deadlines — where specificity, measurability, and a committed timeline will drive success. Built for purposeful, time-bound planning.

Specific — What exactly do you want to accomplish?

Measurable — How will you track your progress?

Achievable — Is this realistic given your situation?

Relevant — Why does this matter to you right now?

Time-Bound — By when? What are your milestones?

Clear deadlines Measurable milestones Specific outcomes

Not sure which framework fits?

The built-in Framework Chooser guides students through 3 quick reflective questions — then recommends the approach that best fits where they are right now.

My goal is fuzzy — I'm still figuring things out → DYB Goal

I know what I want — I just need a plan → SMART Goal

There's a specific deadline I'm working toward → SMART Goal

How It Works

Every Challenge Has a Built-In Solution

Goal-setting sounds simple — but most students struggle to move from vague intention to a clear, committed plan. My Goal Builder addresses the core breakdown points.

The Challenge

Students set goals that are too vague to act on — or too rigid to sustain when life gets in the way.

The Tool Solution

Two framework options — DYB for flexible, effort-based goals and SMART for specific, deadline-driven ones — meet students where they actually are.

The Challenge

Students don't know which goal-setting approach to use — or default to SMART goals even when their situation calls for flexibility.

The Tool Solution

The built-in Framework Chooser guides students through 3 reflective questions and recommends the right approach — so the tool does the metacognitive heavy lifting upfront.

The Challenge

Students set goals but don't think through what might get in the way — so the first obstacle derails them completely.

The Tool Solution

The DYB framework includes dedicated steps for identifying challenges and planning adaptations — so students build resilience into their goal from the start.

The Challenge

Students set a goal, finish the conversation, and have nothing to reference — making follow-up and accountability hard for both student and advisor.

The Tool Solution

Auto-save and print/export let students keep a formatted copy of their completed goal — creating a portable artifact for follow-up sessions, advising notes, or personal reference.

The Challenge

Abstract prompts about goals leave students staring at blank pages — especially early in their academic journey.

The Tool Solution

Built-in examples (academic, career, and leadership scenarios) at every step show students what a strong response looks like — reducing blank-page paralysis and raising the quality of thinking.

The Challenge

Staff supporting goal-setting don't have a shared reference — conversations vary in quality and miss key elements depending on who's in the room.

The Tool Solution

The Coaching Companion gives staff a situational guide, quick reference for both frameworks, and facilitation prompts — so every conversation is grounded and consistent.

Staff Resource

Includes a Coaching Companion

My Goal Builder isn't just a student tool — it comes with a dedicated resource for the staff who guide the conversations. The Coaching Companion helps tutors, advisors, coaches, and instructors facilitate goal-setting with consistency and confidence.

Situation-Based Guidance

Common student scenarios mapped to the right framework — with recommended conversation starters and facilitation prompts for each situation.

Framework Quick Reference

Side-by-side comparison of DYB and SMART — when to use each, how they work, and what each step is designed to surface for the student.

Facilitation Prompts

Coaching questions for each step of both frameworks — so staff can deepen the conversation and help students think more precisely about their goals.

What's Included

Everything You Need to Implement and Support

Student Goal Builder Tool

Interactive browser-based tool. Ready to embed in your LMS or share directly via link. Works on any device, no installation required.

Coaching Companion

Separate staff-facing resource with situational guidance, framework quick reference, and facilitation prompts.

DYB & SMART Frameworks

Two complete, step-by-step goal frameworks with hints, examples (academic, career, and leadership scenarios), and guided prompts at every step.

Built-In Framework Chooser

Three-question reflective flow that recommends the right framework — reducing friction and raising the quality of the goal-setting process.

Auto-Save & Print/Export

Students' progress saves automatically in the browser. Print-ready export creates a portable artifact for follow-up sessions, advising notes, or personal reference.

Privacy-First Design

No accounts required. No student data collected or stored externally.

Compliance Documentation

VPAT and HECVAT reports available on request for institutional procurement.

Built for Real Learners & Learning Contexts

Why Schools Choose This Toolkit

Research-backed design that drives purposeful goal-setting — all without the implementation headaches. This toolkit doesn't replace your staff's expertise — it amplifies it.

Meets Students Where They Are

Two frameworks — DYB and SMART — mean the tool works whether a student has a clear goal in mind or is still figuring it out. No single-size-fits-all approach.

Accessible & Responsive Design

Accessible-first, privacy-first design. Built to WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Works across devices — desktop, tablet, and mobile screens.

Builds Metacognitive Skill

Goal-setting becomes a reflective practice — not just a form to fill out. Students develop the habit of thinking about their goals, not just stating them.

Supports Meaningful Student Outcomes

Helps students develop self-direction and purpose. Goals that are thought through, written down, and exported become commitments — not just intentions.

Meet Students Where They Are

The Right Approach for Every Goal

Do Your Best

SMART Goal

Not sure which framework fits?

Every Challenge Has a Built-In Solution

Includes a Coaching Companion

Situation-Based Guidance

Framework Quick Reference

Facilitation Prompts

Everything You Need to Implement and Support

Student Goal Builder Tool

Coaching Companion

DYB & SMART Frameworks

Built-In Framework Chooser

Auto-Save & Print/Export

Privacy-First Design

Compliance Documentation

Why Schools Choose This Toolkit

Meets Students Where They Are

Accessible & Responsive Design

Builds Metacognitive Skill

Supports Meaningful Student Outcomes

Ready to Explore My Goal Builder?