What happens after the paper is done, the speech is completed, or the video is shared? Information literacy requires that learners can also reflect on what they have created, including the process itself. We appreciate this summary of the benefits of reflective skills in learning from Marina Harvey et al:

These “soft” or professional skills help students build cognitive bridges between classroom learning, practical application of that learning in an unpredictable, all-too-human world, and personal insights that deepen the learner’s understanding (Harvey et al, 2014). This, in turn, increases their resourcefulness, mental and emotional flexibility, problem-solving skills, and ability to critically interrogate complex issues and questions. (Harvey et al, 2020).

In terms of information literacy, reflection can help learners prepare to transfer what they've learned to new circumstances, identify what they'd like to try in the future, and see where they still have room to grow. It can also help you as the teacher to identify areas where students could use extra support, or to get ideas for how to tweak assignments the next time you teach them.

The following pages offer some tools you may try with your students.

Minute paper: At the end of a class session or activity, you can ask students to spend 1 minute writing a reflection in response to some prompt. Even if students do not put their names on them, it can be helpful to to get a broad sense of what stuck, where there are issues, and how people feel about the activity.
- Information literacy questions for a minute paper will depend on the activity, but could include the following:
  - What do you want to learn more about?
  - What sources did you find most useful?
Exam/paper wrappers: While students may assume that their grade evaluates the effectiveness of their assignment, you can build in self-evaluations that encourage reflection. A wrapper is a worksheet that students fill out after completing an exam or essay -- the idea is that it is the wrapper around their assignment. This site includes examples from college-level courses, but the questions could be adapted to your school level. It invites students to consider their own research and writing process, in the case of the essay, and test prep and completion in the case of an exam.
- Information literacy questions for a wrapper could include:
  - How much time did you spend finding or evaluating resources for your project?
  - What would support you the next time you do research like this?
Group and self-evaluation: For group projects in particular, you can try a tool like this one from the NCTE, which gives students a chance to evaluate both themselves and each of the other members of their group.
- This example evaluation includes "Finding appropriate materials for the project" as an information literacy element to evaluate.