Technical Requirements
Q. What are the technical requirements to use InStage?
A. To successfully use the InStage platform and complete an assignment, students will need either of the following:
Video Call Based Assignments
A laptop or desktop computer with at least 8GB of RAM (InStage will not operate on a mobile device)
A webcam
A microphone
The Google Chrome web browser
High speed internet connectivity
Phone Call Based Assignments
A mobile phone
An active cellular data plan
Clear reception
Logistics & Verification
Q: Is there a downloadable report (e.g., PDF) for submission?
A: No. Instead, InStage provides a shareable report link that includes richer content than a PDF - such as video/audio, scoring, and feedback summaries.
Q: How do we confirm if a student completed an assignment?
A: Students are typically required to submit their report link through the LMS (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, D2L). This link gives faculty access to the student’s feedback report, audio/video recordings (if applicable), and any auto-generated scores.
Curriculum & Assignment Design
Q: What kind of feedback do students receive on resumes and cover letters?
A: Students receive both overall and section-specific feedback (e.g., Summary, Experience, Education, Skills). Feedback is content-focused and includes a match score aligned with the job posting. Aesthetic or formatting advice is not included.
Q: How are mock interviews assessed?
A: Feedback is AI-generated. Students receive ratings and suggestions on content relevance, specificity, delivery (e.g., pace, clarity, filler words), and use of structured responses like STAR. A numerical score is also provided and can be shown or hidden by faculty.
Q: Can students submit reflections to Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, Moodle, etc.?
A: Yes. Assignment completed using InStage’s phone-based system are viewable by faculty through the Assignment Portal. This dashboard shows completion status, student progress on competencies, and flags any concerning comments. Assignments completed using InStage's video-based system will generate a shareable link that can be submit via your LMS.
Best Practices
Q: Can we create different versions of assignments for different programs or year levels?
A: Absolutely. Faculty can create any number of customized assignments or use flexible templates that let students choose job postings. This allows one assignment to serve multiple disciplines or levels.
Q: Is the platform accessible for students using assistive technologies?
A: Yes, InStage has conducted internal VPAT testing and provides best practices to support accessibility needs. Faculty can also join sessions in real time to assist students if needed.
Q: What if a student runs into a technical issue?
A: Live chat support is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Students typically receive help within minutes. Messages sent after hours are responded to within 24 hours.
Q: Is there a quick-start guide or video for students?
A: Yes. InStage provides short video tutorials and step-by-step guides to help students sign up, navigate the platform, and complete assignments. These can be embedded in LMS modules or shared directly.
Q: How authentic are the AI conversations?
A: InStage’s AI avatars respond in full, natural sentences rather than short, one-word answers. Students often become more engaged once they realize the AI responds thoughtfully, leading to richer practice conversations.
Q: How are inappropriate or concerning AI responses handled?
A: All sessions are monitored for inappropriate or harmful AI outputs. Faculty can flag any unusual responses, and InStage continuously refines safeguards to prevent problematic interactions.
Grading & Feedback
Q: How do institutions typically assign grades for InStage interview assignments?
A: Many use the default scoring rubric (40% content, 40% delivery, 20% completion) and transfer the score into the LMS. Others opt for pass/fail grading to encourage participation early on. Assignment weighting can range from 2% to 20% of the overall course grade.
Q: Are there interview grading rubrics or templates we can use?
A: Yes. InStage offers a rubric upon request that explain how various question types (e.g., behavioural, situational) are assessed.
Testing & Evaluation
Q: Can instructors test the system before rollout?
A: Yes. Faculty and staff can create and complete test assignments to experience the platform from the student’s perspective before deploying it in class.
Access levels:
Admin – sees all assignments and students, with advanced controls
Faculty – sees only assignments they created and their enrolled students
Student – sees and completes their own assignments
Data Analysis
Q: Can we export student reflection or interview data for further analysis?
A: Yes. Faculty can export reports or summaries to CSV for analysis. This allows you to create charts, identify trends, and integrate data into your own reporting workflows.
Q: What kinds of trends or metrics can faculty track?
A: Faculty can view completion rates, lateness trends, competency ratings (including NACE-aligned competencies), and aggregate student sentiment. Both aggregate and individual student data are available.