Cambridge, Mass., December 14, 2021 - edX, the leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), today announced the winners of this year’s sixth annual edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Teaching and Learning, which goes to University of Canterbury Professor Ben Kennedy and Dr. Jonathan Davidson, instructors on the edX course, Exploring Volcanoes and Their Hazards: Iceland and New Zealand.
The edX Prize is an annual award that celebrates the contributions and innovations of educators in the edX community, and amplifies the powerful role that online learning can play in creating accessible and high-quality education. The 2021 winning course, one of the first from the University of Canterbury on edX, is a compelling example of effective pedagogy, engaging assessments, and immersive learning environments.
The result of 10 years of research into virtual field trips and field education, Professor Kennedy and Dr. Davidson designed the course to deliver an immersive and fun virtual science experience focused on volcanic landscapes. By integrating a special emphasis on Māori knowledge, the course also enables learners to empathize with and understand different perspectives.
“Learning online helps students from all backgrounds to experience the magic of volcanoes in a safe way and from exciting new angles,” said Dr. Jonathan Davidson. Professor Ben Kennedy also shared, “It has been brilliant for us to interweave indigenous knowledge with interactive volcanic landscapes to create an online learning experience that benefits everyone. It was fun to see how students from all around the world have embraced this approach to develop new skills in science communication.”
The development of an online course is highly collaborative in nature, and edX would like to also recognize the full course team — Tim Martin, Dan Hikuroa, and Rob Stowell, in addition to Ben Kennedy and Jonathan Davidson — for their hard work contributing to the development and delivery of this course. Read more about the edX Prize in our announcement of the 2021 finalists.