1EdTech Presents Three 2026 Learning Impact Awards

 

BURLINGTON, Mass., June 4, 2026 — Three groundbreaking initiatives advancing teaching, learning, and institutional effectiveness were named 2026 Learning Impact Award winners at 1EdTech’s Learning Impact Conference in San Francisco.

Top honors were awarded in each of the program’s three categories:

Educational Insight, Attainment, and Planning

  • Osaka Kyoiku University’s OZONE-EDU earned recognition for creating a university-led micro-credentialing platform that supports training and lifelong professional development for educators, connecting career preparation with ongoing professional development.

Teaching and Learning Innovation

  • Learnvia, submitted by Carnegie Mellon University and Unicon, was honored for its freely available AI-powered tutoring platform that combines learning science research and adaptive instruction to help students succeed in gateway mathematics courses.

Learning Environment Infrastructure

  • Penn State University’s Panorama Instructional Analytics platform received recognition for providing a centralized platform that transforms learning tool and accessibility data into actionable insights, enabling more informed decision-making across a large and complex academic ecosystem.

"This year's winners demonstrate how thoughtfully designed digital ecosystems can expand opportunity, improve outcomes, and enable continuous improvement, from supporting lifelong educator development and student success to empowering institutions with actionable insights," said 1EdTech CEO Curtiss Barnes.

The Learning Impact Awards program, led by 1EdTech, recognizes projects that harness the power of collaboration and open standards to improve access, equity, and student success across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning environments. A complete list of finalists and more information on the winners can be found on the Learning Impact Awards page of the 1EdTech website.

In addition to recognizing and celebrating innovations through the Learning Impact Awards, 1EdTech also recognizes contributions by individuals and organizational members throughout the year.

The 1EdTech Leadership Awards recognized individuals who went above and beyond in promoting and contributing to 1EdTech’s work. The awards went to:

  • Suzan Brandt, Chief Technology Officer for Mountain Brook Schools, for her service on the 1EdTech K-12 Advisory Council and commitment to promoting interoperability standards and certification across the ecosystem.

  • Loren Malm, Vice President for Information Technology and CIO of Ball State University, for his service on the TrustEd Apps Advocacy group and promoting 1EdTech interoperability standards through national presentations related to data-driven procurement, trusted applications, and responsible management of edtech tools.

  • Mike Mast, Principal Program Manager for Microsoft, for his service on the 1EdTech board and being a champion of new 1EdTech initiatives, including the Student Safety Working Group and CASE Global Ecosystem, in an effort to address urgent needs in the educational ecosystem.

Viktor Haag from D2L received the annual Technical Excellence Award, recognizing a member’s significant and sustained participation in 1EdTech’s technical work. Over the years, Haag has been actively involved in the development and evolution of LTI, Caliper, Privacy, Security, and many other 1EdTech standards and initiatives.

The Community Excellence Awards went to member organizations that are working tirelessly to overcome challenges with innovations and strategies that improve teaching and learning.

The awards went to:

The University of Michigan was one of the first higher education institutions to launch the TrustEd Apps Management Suite (TAMS) and serves as an exemplar of using rich data on instructional use and grade passback to provide transparency into learning ecosystem decisions.

Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Digital Hub created a collaborative framework that enables districts to work together, leveraging 1EdTech membership, sharing best practices for student data privacy, and engaging with solution providers on state-level initiatives.

ClassLink shared their insights and solution patterns as members of the 1EdTech and Ed-Fi Alliance Rostering Steering Committee to shape the OneRoster Support in the Ed-Fi ODS/API.

The Ed-Fi Alliance also received 1EdTech’s Partner Advocacy Award for the collaborative effort integrating OneRoster support directly into the Ed-Fi ODS/API, demonstrating what is possible when standards organizations align around the real needs of districts and institutions.

Finally, 1EdTech recognized individuals who achieved personal growth over the past year.

Twenty-three individuals completed the TrustEd Apps Certified Leader (TACL) Program, a professional certification designed for education and technology leaders to develop a high-level understanding of the effective implementation of 1EdTech open standards and their impact on instruction.

1EdTech also celebrated the first cohort of the Women in Data in EdTech Network (WIDEN). WIDEN aims to empower women in data roles within the education technology sector through professional development, networking, and mentorship. Thirty-four mentors and mentees were recognized for their dedication to uplifting emerging professionals, creating meaningful connections, and opening doors for the next generation.

1EdTech will also host the 2026 Learning Impact Europe Conference, September 15-17, in Thessaloniki, Greece, and the 2027 Learning Impact Conference will be in San Antonio, Texas, February 8-10, 2027.

About 1EdTech

1EdTech® is a global community committed to building an integrated foundation of open standards that make educational technology work better for everyone. Our mission is to reduce complexity, accelerate innovation, and expand possibilities for learners worldwide. Our members represent K-12, primary, secondary, and postsecondary education organizations, workforce and corporate education providers, and technology providers. Together, we create and evolve community-developed technical standards and practices that support learner success throughout the lifelong learning continuum. Our organization gives a voice to all stakeholders working to improve education. 1EdTech hosts the Learning Impact Conference in the United States and Europe, as well as other engagement opportunities to advance the leadership and ideas that shape the future of learning. Visit our website at 1edtech.org.