Open Reflection Prompts: Ask learners to think and type their thoughts
Think it through—because internal insight leads to external action.
What It Is
Open Reflection Prompts encourage learners to pause and type out their personal thoughts, reactions, or insights during a learning experience. Unlike quizzes or scored questions, these prompts invite introspection and ownership—fostering deeper emotional and cognitive connections to the content. Learners respond in their own words, in their own voice.
When to Use It
- Encouraging self-reflection after a scenario, story, or video
- Supporting mindset shifts in leadership, ethics, or DEI training
- Capturing personal takeaways in onboarding or values-driven learning
- Promoting application of learning to a specific job context
- Reinforcing growth after challenging or emotional content
Why It Works
- Activates metacognition, enhancing memory and critical thinking
- Builds personal relevance, which improves engagement and transfer
- Encourages emotional processing of complex topics
- Helps instructors or systems spot patterns in learner insight
- Fosters intrinsic motivation through self-directed responses
Impact Insight: Imagine your employees applying lessons not because they were told—but because they thought through what it means to them, in their own words.
Examples in Action
- Leadership: “What’s one conversation you’ve been avoiding—and why?”
- Compliance: “How does this policy align (or not) with your day-to-day work?”
- Healthcare: “What feelings came up for you during this patient scenario?”
- Customer Experience: “Think of a time you went above and beyond—what made it work?”
Customization Options
- Text entry with character limits or guided scaffolding
- Save, revisit, or export responses for coaching or journaling
- Optional feedback (automated, peer, or instructor-based)
- Stylized prompts with images, video, or scenario intros
- Private or shareable modes for open forums or mentoring
