Developing a Digital Badge System for Personalized Teacher Professional Development in a Private School

Abstract

This journal addresses the significant shortcoming in private schools where professional development is often provided without considering teachers' specific learning needs, and substantial parts of teachers' professional learning occur informally without formal recognition due to a lack of tangible evidence. To overcome this issue, we propose a system that leverages digital badges to personalize and acknowledge teachers' professional learning. Our approach includes a comprehensive needs analysis to understand the specific learning requirements, followed by defining clear learning outcomes and competencies. We then determine appropriate badge types and criteria for earning them, select suitable technology, and outline effective implementation strategies to ensure the system's success. This methodical framework aims to bridge the gap between informal learning and formal recognition, providing a structured yet flexible means for schools to acknowledge and incentivize teachers' ongoing professional development. The adoption of digital badges can thus enhance the effectiveness of professional learning by aligning it with individual needs and offering tangible proof of teachers' growth and achievements.

Keywords: Digital badge system, Teacher professional development, Personalized learning, Private school

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-7-09

Publication date: June 30th 2024