Outstanding Journal Article Award

Outstanding Journal Article Award

SELF-NOMINATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED.

Purpose

This award recognizes an outstanding peer-reviewed journal article that advances research or practice in learner engagement.

Eligibility

  • The work must be a peer-reviewed journal article.
  • The publication date must fall within a specific recent timeframe (for instance, for the 2026 Award, it will be in the 2025 cycle, between January 1 and December 31, 2025). Early online publications are acceptable if they fall in the date window.
  • Published works must be original and peer reviewed.
  • The primary author must be a current AECT member. If there are co-authors, not all of them need to be AECT members.

Review Criteria

The LED provides a rubric with the following major dimensions (scored, e.g., 1–4 scale)

  1. Relevance to Learner Engagement

    • The work should address a significant problem or research question in learner engagement and connect to current discourse or practice.

    • Strong submissions make explicit how their focus links to engagement theory, measurement, or practice.

  1. Creativity

    • Novel framing, theoretical/conceptual insight, or innovative approaches in methodology, modeling, or interpretation.

    • This might include novel uses of technology, new engagement dimensions, or creative operationalization.

  1. Originality

    • Adds something new: new constructs, extensions, contexts, or combinations that have not been well studied.

    • Avoids simply repeating or incremental work.

  1. Importance / Impact

    • Potential to influence research or practice, e.g. implications for how engagement is measured, designed, or enhanced.

    • Impact on the field: theoretical, methodological, or pedagogical.

  1. Methodological Rigor

    • Sound research design, clear justification of methods, appropriate data collection and analysis, validity, reliability, or trustworthiness (depending on method).

    • Transparency in limitations, robustness checks, triangulation, etc.

  1. Clarity & Scholarly Quality

    • Assesses the clarity, coherence, and organization of the writing, including logical flow of ideas, scholarly tone, and precise use of terminology.

    • Evaluates the quality of scholarly presentation, including integration of relevant literature, appropriate citation practices, and effective use of tables, figures, or visuals (if included).

Rubric

Criteria

Excellent (4)

Good (3)

Satisfactory (2)

Needs Improvement (1)


1. Relevance to Learner Engagement

Addresses a clearly significant and timely problem or research question in the area of learner engagement. Makes explicit and well-articulated connections to engagement theory, measurement, or practice, and situates the work within current scholarly or professional discourse.

Addresses a relevant learner engagement topic and shows reasonable connection to theory, measurement, or practice, though connections may be implicit or uneven.







The topic is related to learner engagement, but the problem, research question, or linkage to theory/practice is weak or underdeveloped.





Relevance to learner engagement is unclear or minimal; lacks meaningful connection to engagement discourse or practice.






2. Creativity








Demonstrates highly creative thinking through novel framing, conceptual insight, innovative methodology, or inventive interpretation. Introduces creative uses of technology, new engagement dimensions, or original operationalization.

Shows some creative elements (e.g., adaptation of existing models, moderately innovative methods, or thoughtful reinterpretation).






Limited creativity; relies largely on conventional frameworks or methods with minimal adaptation.





No evidence of creativity; approach is routine or formulaic.







3. Originality








Makes a clear and meaningful original contribution (e.g., new constructs, contexts, combinations, or extensions). Goes beyond incremental replication and advances knowledge in a substantive way.

Provides a modest original contribution, such as applying existing concepts in a somewhat new context or extending prior work.





Contribution is largely incremental or confirmatory, with limited novelty.






Repeats existing work with little or no original contribution.







4. Importance / Impact







Demonstrates strong potential to influence research and/or practice. Clearly articulates theoretical, methodological, or pedagogical implications that could shape how learner engagement is measured, designed, or enhanced.

Indicates potential impact on research or practice, though implications may be somewhat general or underdeveloped.





Impact is limited, narrowly scoped, or weakly articulated.







Little to no discernible impact on research or practice.








5. Methodological Rigor



Research design is sound, well-justified, and appropriate to the research questions. Data collection and analysis are clearly described and methodologically robust. Demonstrates strong attention to validity, reliability, or trustworthiness, with transparent discussion of limitations, robustness checks, or triangulation.

Methods are generally appropriate and adequately described, with some attention to rigor and limitations.






Methodological weaknesses are present (e.g., limited justification, unclear analysis, insufficient attention to validity or trustworthiness).



Serious methodological flaws or lack of clarity undermine confidence in the findings.





6. Clarity & Scholarly Quality






Writing is clear, coherent, and well-organized. Arguments are logically developed and well-supported by relevant literature. Uses appropriate scholarly tone, terminology, and citation practices. Figures, tables, and visuals (if applicable) effectively support the text.

Writing is generally clear and scholarly, with minor issues in organization, clarity, or citation. Literature engagement is adequate but could be strengthened.






Writing lacks clarity or coherence in places; arguments may be difficult to follow or insufficiently supported by the literature.




Writing is unclear, poorly organized, or does not meet scholarly standards; significant issues with argumentation, structure, or citation.





Selection

The LED awards committee, composed of members approved by the LED Board, coordinates and reviews nominations, and recommends finalists. The LED Board approves the award committee’s recommendation of the winners who will be notified before AECT's annual convention, where the award is presented. The LED Board reserves the right not to select an awardee.

Nomination Procedures

To submit a nomination, use the nomination form linked below. Complete the form and provide any additional information that may assist the awards committee. Name supporting files using the year (e.g., 2026), nominee's last name (e.g., SMITH), award name (Article), and a number (e.g., 1), separated by underscores (e.g., 2025_SMITH_Article_1). Acceptable file formats are .doc and .pdf.

You may nominate yourself or another individual for this award, and the same individual may be nominated for other AECT or division awards. However, an individual cannot receive multiple awards from LED. For questions or technical issues with the nomination form, contact the designated person from the LED Board. 

Nature of Award: Plaque or Certificate

Funding and Support: AECT

Timeline:

  • Submission Deadline. May 1
  • Committee Review Period: May 1-31
  • Board Final Deliberation: June 1-15
  • Decision: June 30
  • AECT Award deadline: July 31
  • Award Winner Notification: August 1

Award Management on behalf of AECT: Learner Engagement Division

Approved by the LED Board on February 20, 2026