The 2025 Learning Design Community Awards

A look back at a landmark celebration of innovation in education

The first edition of the Learning Design Community Awards brought together educators, learning designers, innovators, and institutions from across the world to celebrate learning experiences that truly make a difference.

What began in June 2024 as an initiative to spotlight creative and effective teaching practices has grown into a global community of practice. Today, the Learning Design Community includes more than 60 learning design templates created by 27 experts across 21 institutions worldwide.

On 11 December 2025, this momentum culminated in a live ceremony streamed from Amsterdam. Educators shared their learning designs, an expert jury reflected on emerging trends, and FeedbackFruits unveiled what lies ahead for 2026. The event was not only a celebration, but also a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when the education community collaborates with intention and care.

“Today is all about celebrating creativity, impact, and innovation in learning design.
Maria Uglvig, Host of the Learning Design Community Awards and Product Manager

If you missed the event, you can watch the full ceremony replay here
👉 https://bit.ly/4j1WCSw

Below, we look back at the highlights, insights, and learning activities that defined this first edition of the Learning Design Community Awards.

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A global community dedicated to advancing learning design

The Learning Design Community has grown far beyond a template library. In just one year, it has evolved into an international hub where educators share learning activities, exchange ideas, and explore new approaches to teaching and assessment together.

As shared during the ceremony, the community now includes:

• More than 60 learning design templates
• 27 contributing experts
• 22 institutions across multiple regions

“We created the Learning Design Community to give educators a space to come together, share their most innovative designs, and inspire one another.”
Grace Pulsford, Community Manager at FeedbackFruits

From the United States and Europe to Hong Kong and beyond, the Awards reflected the diversity of voices shaping the future of learning design. Across submissions, educators demonstrated how thoughtful design can strengthen student reasoning, enable authentic dialogue, and create learning experiences rooted in real world relevance.

You can explore the Learning Design Community and templates library here
👉 https://feedbackfruits.com/learning-design-community-ldc

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Why learning design matters more than ever

Throughout the ceremony and jury panel, one message stood out clearly. Learning design is no longer an optional enhancement. It is a strategic necessity.

“Exceptionally well designed courses can transform student lives. That is why high quality learning design matters.”
Ewoud de Kok, CEO and Founder at FeedbackFruits

Jury members reflected on how learning design has shifted over time. Rather than focusing primarily on content delivery, educators are now designing for connection, collaboration, and meaning.

“We have moved from designing content to designing connection. That shift is critical as we enter the age of AI.”
Gilly Salmon, Learning Design Expert and Jury Member

The panel also highlighted that the biggest barriers institutions face are often cultural rather than technological.

“The biggest barriers in institutions are not technological. They are cultural.”
Neil Greenley, University of Hertfordshire Business School

These reflections reinforce why communities of practice and shared learning spaces are essential to the future of education.

Celebrating excellence across three learning design categories

Category 1: Innovative Assessment Design

This category recognized approaches that rethink how learning is assessed, placing emphasis on reasoning, clarity, and feedback rather than traditional high stakes formats.

The winning template, Clarity Through Feedback: A Physics Peer Review Workshop, was created by Fanny Tsai from the University of California Irvine.

“Students often understand the concept, but struggle to explain their reasoning clearly. This design helps make thinking visible.”
Fanny Tsai, Award Winner

By combining team based learning principles, transparent rubrics, and feedback driven revision cycles, the activity shifts assessment from a single submission to a continuous learning process. Students gain confidence through revision, while instructors reduce grading friction and gain clearer insight into student understanding.

You can view and reuse this learning design template here
👉 https://bit.ly/4oTuBOa

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Category 1: Collaborative Learning Excellence

This category highlighted learning designs that foster meaningful peer interaction and shared sense making at scale.

The winning template was developed by Claudia Carrone from EDHEC Business School. Her interactive case study explored ethical dilemmas around AI powered surveillance using FeedbackFruits Interactive Documents.

“Real innovation is not the tool itself. It is the pedagogical structure that turns technology into genuine dialogue.”
Claudia Carrone, Award Winner

Students committed to a position, examined peer perspectives, and revisited their assumptions through structured dialogue. Collaboration was intentionally designed, supported by clear prompts, visible contributions, and guided facilitation.

You can explore this collaborative learning activity here
👉 https://bit.ly/4pJ2QJp

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Category 3: Outstanding Engagement Experience

This category celebrated learning designs that create exceptional engagement and connection for students.

The winning template, created by Sebastian Pahs from Hong Kong Baptist University, centered on a service learning game design experience developed in collaboration with the Centre for Refugees in Hong Kong.

“I wanted students to engage with real stories, not just abstract concepts. The goal was learning with impact.”
Sebastian Pahs, Award Winner

Through structured reflection, peer review, and team based collaboration, students created empathy driven games grounded in lived experience. The project resulted in real, playable games with social impact beyond the classroom.

You can discover this engagement focused learning design here
👉 https://bit.ly/4aRSFxo

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Key insights from the jury panel on the future of learning design

During the jury panel discussion, several themes consistently emerged:

• Learning design is fundamentally cultural, not just technological
• AI should reduce administrative burden and elevate human connection
• Collaboration must be intentionally designed
• Learning design should be seen as strategically essential

“AI should act as a catalyst for human growth, not a replacement for educators.”
Neil Greenley, University of Hertfordshire Business School

These insights reflect the shared challenges and aspirations educators face across institutions worldwide.

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What this year’s submissions reveal about the future of learning design

Across all categories, clear trends emerged:

• Feedback is most effective when it becomes a cycle rather than a single moment
• Structured collaboration deepens reasoning and understanding
• Authentic, real world contexts increase engagement
• Technology works best when it supports dialogue, creativity, and autonomy

These trends will continue to shape the evolution of the Learning Design Community in 2026 and beyond.

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What comes next for the learning design community

As the community looks ahead to 2026, several initiatives are already underway:

• Expanded Community of Practice events across the UK, USA, Europe, and APAC
• A new Community Platform for global connection and knowledge sharing
• Deep dive interviews with award winners and finalists
• Downloadable and reusable learning design templates
• Practical resources based on jury insights

“The best way to advance learning design is to connect experts and build together.”
Grace, Community Manager at FeedbackFruits

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Watch the Learning Design Community Awards ceremony replay

Whether you joined live or are discovering the Awards for the first time, the full ceremony recording is available on demand.

The replay includes:

• Presentations from each finalist
• Full jury panel discussion
• Community stories and insights
• A preview of FeedbackFruits’ 2026 product roadmap

🎥 Watch the full Awards replay here
👉 https://bit.ly/4j1WCSw

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Building the future of learning design together

The first edition of the Learning Design Community Awards demonstrated that innovation in education is not only alive, it is accelerating.

“By sharing high quality learning designs, we can help every learner develop the competencies to positively impact society.”
Eva de Kock, CEO at FeedbackFruits

As we celebrate what has been achieved, we also look ahead to what educators can build together when time, tools, and community align. Stay tuned for more stories, insights, and resources from this year’s awardees.