Level up teachers’ well-being: The effectiveness of a serious game with Italian teachers

Enhancing teachers' well-being, though often underestimated, benefits both educators and students alike. The "Online Wellbeing Course" (OWC), a blend of an online videogame-based program and a workbook, was designed to support teachers' well-being. This study evaluates its impact through quantitative and qualitative measures. A total of 227 Italian teachers from all school levels participated, equally divided into three groups: Group A co-designed the course content and attended the OWC; Group B attended the OWC; and Group C accessed the course only after the post-test. All participants completed pre- and post-test questionnaires measuring stress, socio-emotional competencies, resilience, and self-efficacy. The results showed significant improvements in socio-emotional competences and self-efficacy for Groups A and B. Additionally, Group B reported reduced stress and enhanced resilience. Qualitative feedback supported these findings, highlighting improvements in socio-emotional competencies, self-care strategies, and school climate. The OWC demonstrates promise as an effective serious game for teacher training.