Inside the LDC Awards: The 3 categories that celebrate Learning Design excellence

The Learning Design Community Awards (LDC Awards) recognize innovative ideas and celebrate the educators and designers who transform those ideas into learning experiences that truly impact students.

The awards focus on 3 categories that capture the essence of meaningful learning design. Each submission is carefully evaluated by a panel of experts in pedagogy, educational technology, and curriculum innovation.

Here’s a closer look at each category, the criteria used to assess submissions, and why they matter.

1. Innovative Assessment Design

Assessments are more than a way to measure learning, they’re an opportunity to inspire, challenge, and spark deeper understanding. This category celebrates creative approaches that go beyond conventional formats, encouraging reflection, critical thinking, and student ownership of learning.

Submissions in this category are evaluated on:

• Originality of assessment format – Is the assessment innovative and distinct from traditional tests or essays?
• Depth of student insight – Does it foster meaningful understanding, reflection, and application?
• Alignment with learning goals – Are learning outcomes clearly defined and effectively measured?
• Engagement and motivation – Does it actively involve students and spark curiosity?
• Scalability and reusability – Can it be adapted or applied in other courses or contexts?

Why it matters: Well-designed assessments shape what and how students learn. When approached creatively, they become tools for growth, not just grading.

2. Collaborative Learning Excellence

Learning is social. This category celebrates designs that foster meaningful peer interaction, feedback, and teamwork. Activities are assessed on their ability to engage students collaboratively, encourage peer-to-peer learning, promote reflection and support interpersonal skill development.

Key evaluation criteria:

• Quality of peer interaction – Are interactions rich, purposeful, and well-structured?
• Clarity of collaborative workflow – Are steps and roles clearly defined and easy to follow?
• Promotion of critical thinking and reflection – Does collaboration encourage insight and knowledge-building?
• Inclusivity and accessibility – Does the design support equitable participation for all learners?
• Impact and transferability – Can the approach be applied in different contexts with meaningful results?

Why it matters: Collaboration mirrors the real world, where teamwork drives innovation. Meaningful peer interactions deepen understanding and help students develop essential skills for life and career.

3. Outstanding Engagement Experience

Students learn best when actively engaged with content. This category celebrates learning activities that spark curiosity, motivate participation, and create memorable connections to the material.

Submissions are evaluated on:

• Initial motivation & curiosity – Does it capture attention and spark enthusiasm?
• Sustained attention & flow – Does it maintain focus and momentum throughout the activity?
• Meaningful connection to content – Does it make learning relevant and impactful?
• Active participation – Are students actively involved in discussions, problem-solving, or creation?
• Lasting impact – Does the experience leave a memorable and meaningful impression?

Why it matters: Even the most insightful content can fall flat without engagement. This category recognizes designs that make learning interactive, enjoyable, and impactful.

The jury’s role

Each submitted learning activity is first classified into the category that best fits its design. Our panel of expert judges then evaluates each entry based on innovation, impact, and alignment with best practices in learning design. From these evaluations, the jury selects the shortlisted activities, which are subsequently shared with the global learning community for public voting. This process ensures that recognition comes not only from experts but also from educators and learners around the world.

To find out more about the voting process, visit our website.

Do you think your learning activity fits a category?

If your learning design is innovative, collaborative, or exceptionally engaging, now is the time to showcase your work. Share your ideas, inspire others, and gain recognition from the global education community.

Submit your template now via your FeedbackFruits environnement. Need help? We’ve got you covered here’s a short step-by-step video showing exactly how to submit.

Join the Learning Design Community

At FeedbackFruits, we proudly host the Learning Design Community (LDC), a global space where educators and designers share ideas, collaborate, and celebrate innovation.

The LDC Awards are your chance to showcase your most impactful work, inspire peers, and gain global recognition.

Submissions for the 2025 LDC Awards are now open until October 15, 2025. Learn more about the LDC here and explore the LDC Awards here.

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