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How to create a reflection assignment for students

This guide will walk you through creating and setting up reflection assignments for your class, co-op experiences, etc.

A. Overview

The Guided Reflection Assignment helps students make meaning of their co-op, internship, or work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences. It will help track growth over time and surface risks early.

The assignment has three parts:

  1. Baseline Call: Students will set goals and expectations.

  2. Check-in(s) Call: Students will reflect on key events.

  3. Final Call: Synthesize growth and guide next steps.

Best suited for:

  • Co-op / Internship / WIL programs needing scalable check-ins

  • Courses requiring repeatable, meaningful reflections

B. Step‑by‑Step Instructions to Create a Reflection Assignment

Video Instruction

  • Watch the video walkthrough.

Screenshot‑Based Instruction

  • Download the screenshot guide for detailed steps.

C. Testing Your Assignment as an Instructor

  1. Add Yourself as a Student

    • In the assignment setup, include yourself under the Assigned Students block.

    • Alternatively, edit the assignment after creation and add yourself manually.

  2. Locate the Assignment on Your Homepage

    • Once enrolled, the assignment will appear under Your Sessions on the Homepage.

    • This view mirrors what students see, allowing you to experience the workflow firsthand.

  3. Complete the Assignment as a Student

    • Open the assignment and go through the steps exactly as a student would.

    • Submit responses, upload files, or complete tasks to verify instructions and functionality.

  4. Review the Results

    • Check how submissions are displayed in the instructor dashboard.

    • Confirm that grading, feedback options, and progress tracking work as expected.
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  5. Share/Invite Students once the Assignment is ready

    After testing is complete, you have two options for inviting students to the assignment:

    1. Share Link: Within the assignment, click Share Link (top left corner) to generate a web link that can be distributed directly to students.

    2. Invite Students: Use the Invite Students button located in the Assigned Students section near the bottom of the reporting blocks.

      • For larger groups, upload a CSV file using the provided template with the required fields.

      • For smaller groups, add students individually by entering their email address, first and last name.

      • Be sure to toggle Send Invite Emails so that all added users receive a notification and can access the assignment for completion.
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  6. Note on Licensing

    • Testing the assignment does not impact your license count.

    • You can safely repeat the process as needed without consuming student seats.

Attachment icon
How to Create and Deploy a Guided Reflection Assignment on InStage.pdf
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