Acquiring Socio-emotional Skills through Digital Badge-Driven Learning: A Case Study of Teachers Experiences in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago

This case study aims to examine how Barbadian and Trinbagonian teachers experienced socio-emotional skill learning through a digital badge-driven learning process and what were teachers perceptions on how socio-emotional skill training benefitted teaching and learning. The studys focus is on the teachers reported professional development experiences. Participants (n148) in this study were from pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools. The case study used a mixed-method approach, including quantitative analysis of simple frequencies and qualitative inductive content analysis based on an online questionnaire. The results indicated that the teachers participating in the programme recognise the importance of socio-emotional aspects in the teaching and learning processes. They further revealed that socio-emotional skill training has the greatest impact on teacher-student interaction, and that such skills should be integrated into daily teaching activities to support students personal growth and learning in a school community. The study offers practical recommendations for teachers professional development in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.