This workflow shows how to build an assessment using your own phenomenon and questions (instead of starting from InnerOrbit’s pre-made content).

When you might use this:

You already have an assessment (Google Doc, PDF, or district document) and want students to take it in InnerOrbit.
You want to write your own phenomenon and questions that better match what you’re teaching.
You want to use a different phenomenon than what’s in InnerOrbit (a photo, GIF, graph, data set, short passage, or local example).

⚠️ Copyright Reminder: Please only upload content that you created yourself or have permission to use. That includes phenomenon images, passages, and questions. If you’re not sure whether something is okay to upload, it’s safest to choose a different resource or create your own version.

Step 1: Open the Assessment Builder

💡 Tip: Build in one sitting. Leaving the assessment builder page may result in lost work.

1. Navigate to the "Build" tab and select the "Uploaded" tab.

2. Click "Upload Your Own Phenomena and Questions".

Step 2: Add Your Phenomenon

1. Enter a title for your assessment.

2. Select the relevant NGSS Performance Expectation(s) from the dropdown.

⚠️ Important: If you skip selecting relevant performance expectations, you will not be able to complete Step 4 (Standards Tagging).

3. Begin typing your phenomenon. You can also upload a PDF or image, but please note that InnerOrbit’s text-to-speech feature does not read text embedded in a PDF or image.

4. To add an image or GIF to your phenomenon:

Drag and drop a .jpg, .png, or .gif file into the upload box on the right.
Then drag the uploaded image from the gray box into the white phenomenon space on the left.

5. Click "Save Phenomena and Continue".

You will now move to the Questions tab!

Step 3: Add Your Questions

1. Copy and paste your questions into the text box on the left.

2. Format your questions using InnerOrbit’s guidelines. Click the "How-To Import Guide" on the right-hand side to review the formatting rules. You can also refer to the Question Formatting Guidance section below for additional guidance.

Question Formatting Guidance

Formatting for Multiple Choice Questions

Directions

Place the question on its own line.
List answer choices directly below the question.
- Put one answer per line.
- Start each answer with:
  - a lowercase letter + period → a.
  - a lowercase letter + parenthesis → (a)
  - OR a dash → -a

Formatted Example

What is the main job of the mitochondria?
a. Make energy for the cell
b. Store DNA
c. Carry oxygen
d. Break down bones

What Your Formatted Question Should Look Like

ℹ️ Don’t worry about marking the correct answer yet — you’ll choose it in the next step.

Formatting for Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

Directions

Place the question on its own line.
Use 3 or more underscores (___) to create the blank.
Do not include answer choices below the question.

Formatted Example

Evaporation happens when a liquid turns into a ___.

What Your Formatted Question Should Look Like

ℹ️ Don’t worry about marking the correct answer yet — you’ll choose it in the next step.

Formatting for Matching Questions

Directions

Include blanks (___) in the question text where students will respond.
List all possible answer choices directly below the question.
Put one possible answer per line.
Use dashes or letters to format the list.

Formatted Example

Match each term to its description ___.

-evaporation

-condensation

-precipitation

What Your Formatted Question Should Look Like

ℹ️ Don’t worry about marking the correct answer yet — you’ll choose it in the next step.

Formatting for Free Response or Drawing Questions

Directions

Place the question on its own line.
Do not include answer choices.
You can also add grading criteria that can be used when scoring student responses
You will choose whether the question is Free Response or Drawing in the next step.

Formatted Example

Using scientific reasoning and evidence, explain why the ice cube on the metal tray melted faster.

What Your Formatted Question Should Look Like

(Optional) Add words or phrases that should automatically highlight in student responses.

3. Click the checkbox to confirm you have permission to use the questions, then click "Import Questions and Continue" to move to the next step.

Step 4: Tag Standards to Each Question

1. Click on a performance expectation to open a dropdown of each of the standards within the performance expectation.

2. Drag and drop specific elements from the NGSS that align to each assessment question, including:

Disciplinary Core Ideas (orange)
Science and Engineering Practices (blue)
Cross-cutting concepts (green)
Evidence Statements (purple)

ℹ️ Missing one of the three dimensions? Return to Step 2 (Adding Questions) and confirm your selected Performance Expectation(s).

3. Once you have tagged each question, click "Preview" to continue.

Step 5: Preview Your Assessment

1. Click "Preview Cluster".

2. Carefully review:

Question wording
Formatting
Images
Answer choices

3. After review, click "Publish" tab.

Step 6: Publish Your Assessment

1. Go to the "Publish" tab.

2. Choose visibility:

Private (just you)
Your school
All InnerOrbit users

3. Click "Publish My Cluster". Your assessment is now live!

Looking for Assessment Feedback?

The team at InnerOrbit is also happy to give you feedback on your NGSS assessment uploads. To opt-in to receiving feedback, click "Yes, please give me feedback."