Each year the SIG provides two awards sponsored by Springer.

• Best “Presented” Paper Award: given to the author/s judged to have presented the most significant paper for the SIG.
• Best “Published” Paper Award: given to the author/s judged to have published the most significant paper in the journal of Learning Environments Research.

The papers are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Choice of topic/contribution to the field of education;
• Mechanics of the research: Theoretical Frame, methods, data source(s)
• Quality of the writing/organization; and
• Conclusions/Interpretations.

Each year there will be a call for nominations in the fall by the Award Chair, Chris Long (chris.long@unt.edu). if you present a paper for the SIG at the AERA annual meeting, or publish a paper on the journal learning environments research and wish to be considered for the awards, you may submit an electronic copy of your paper to the award chair then.  Papers can be self-nominated or nominated by a colleague. The award ceremony is held at the SIG business meeting, AERA annual meeting.