Self-Efficacy

Discuss self-efficacy. In what areas do you have a high degree of self-efficacy?  What do you think contributes to this (experiences, opportunities, failures, people, etc)?

Before I really begin discussing self-efficacy, I want to take a look at the definition.  According to wikipedia, self efficacy is:

"... a term used in psychology, roughly corresponding to a person's belief in their own competence.
It has been defined as the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain goals.^[1] It is believed that our personalized ideas of self-efficacy affect our social interactions in almost every way. Understanding how to foster the development of self-efficacy is a vitally important goal for positive psychology because it can lead to living a more productive and happy life."

In simpler terms, I would say that self-efficacy is a belief in yourself, a belief that you can perform well at most things you take on.  Self-Efficacy is, however, not just confidence in yourself.  It is an internal feeling, but is greatly influenced by past actions and interactions with those around you.  From my understanding, self-efficacy can be increased if a person is given achievable goals and reinforcement on a job well done; but it can also be decreased with projects and goals that are unreachable.  I am sure that my understanding is rudimentary.  Self-Efficacy very complicated than what I described above... but it is a start!

So, where do I have a high degree of self-efficacy?  And where did this come from?

Hmmm... this is hard for me to say.  I am not someone who often likes to talk about my strengths.  It feels like bragging to me.  But, overall I feel that I can succeed at most things you put in front of me.  Of course, this is within reason.  I am not trained to be an engineer and if asked to build a bridge... well, you wouldn't want to be driving on it!  But I have confidence in a lot of what I do.  Otherwise, I probably wouldn't agree to do things.  I guess I should move on to some specifics, huh?

• Ability to organize - I consider myself a highly organized person.  I can help you sort things, pile things and get your mess under control!  Of course, you may need to be able to part with a few things a long the way.  Some of this comes from personality.  Mess and confusion and disorganization upsets me.  I get stressed just thinking about it.  But it also comes from a family who values organization.  It was taught, modeled and shown to me.  By the time I was in middle school I didn't need help organizing my ideas for a project -- I had been walked through the steps enough I could do it for you.  Same thing for my room, etc.
• Ability to plan an event - Organization also extends into an ability to plan an event.  I am not the dreamer or idea person.  But you give me the idea, the vision and it will get done!  That I can promise.  I have planned many successful events, ranging from the small to a couple of hundred people.  In my current position I am helping to plan events for people in the thousands -- now that is a little scary!  But I trust it will be successful because of my past experiences.  I didn't start out planning an event for 3000 people.  NO!  I started small.  I started young (in Girl Scouts, as young as middle school!).  And I had support along the way.  By the time I reached college I was prepared to run events on my own because I had my Girl Scout leaders guiding me up until our Senior Year of high school. Scaffolding and experience prepared me!  
• Ability with Children - I always feel weird saying this... but as a future teacher it is good for me to say it.  I am good with children.  According to my mom, always have been!  I am not sure where this comes from.  Some of it must be a natural ability, but again, I had many opportunities to interact and be around children.  Experience, scaffolding along the way, and a natural ability allowed me to develop a skill that is leading to a career.  When I walk into a classroom to teach I am nervous (who wouldn't be!), but within seconds I feel at ease.  It is easy to interact with the students, to get their attention, to joke with them... I know I will have to work on my classroom management skills.  But aren't classroom management skills something to learn?  With experience and scaffolding I am sure I can improve there, too!

So, I guess I could think of more.  But, I'll stop there.  Those are probably the first three that come to mind. I can also think of areas that I need improvement, or that I don't feel particularly comfortable in (ahem, engineering or building a bridge --> higher level mathematical skills).  However, we aren't meant to be good at everything, right?

NC Museum of History

I am continually amazed how much museums have to offer teachers and the education field.  I have visited a handful of museums in the Raleigh area as a patron, but since starting at Meredith my eyes have been opened to how much they will be an asset to me as an educator.  I have started exploring various museums/aquariums/planetariums and their websites -- there is so much!  From virtual field trips to online exhibits to resources, we can gain a lot from their resources!

Our field trip to the NC Museum of History was very interesting.  I enjoyed learning about all of the programs they offer as well as see some of the museum exhibits.  I especially loved the Thomas Day exhibit.  I wish that exhibit would never leave -- but I know it is important to cycle the exhibits through.  I had never heard of Thomas Day and just thought his story was so interesting!  A free man of color who not only ran his own (successful!) business, but owned land, hand apprentices, and did this all in the south where slavery was the norm!  I want to learn more about him, his life and his business.  It definitely piqued my interest.  When can I go back? :-)

I will admit that I worry about taking young students to museums.  Many times exhibits at museums are heavy on the reading... and sometimes looking at pictures and/or pieces with a no hands-on approach.  Little ones love to use their hands!  How do you keep them engaged?  But after our visit, I was impressed with how much the museum staff thought about that and worked to create not only interactive exhibits but also activities that can be picked up and used as the children wander through the exhibits.  Specifically I am thinking of the Fred's Finds and Detective activity at the Thomas Day exhibit.  As a teacher, I would definitely consider printing the Fred's Finds out, and using the Detective Activity while my students were at the museum.

This was a great experience and I am so glad that we were able to go!

Presentation Relection

I was comfortable with the lesson presentation because...

• we were prepared
• we had discussed who was going to say what, when, and how
• I had read information provided by ArtsEdge about Pioneer Life and the hardships it provided.

I was uncomfortable with the lesson presentation because...

• it is always a little scary to get up in front of your peers
• what if I completely forgot what to do?

If I could do this lesson again, I would...

• consider explaining tableaux more -- what they are, have us do an example, etc

All members of my group shared equal responsibility for lesson planning and presenting?

• Yes!  I always enjoy working with Hayden.  She is responsible and easy to work with.  We both worked to find a lesson we enjoyed and planed it together (Hayden typed it up, but I was there while we processed what we wanted said, etc).

Overall, I really enjoyed this lesson.  I was very nervous to teach a Social Studies lesson -- I just did not know where to begin?  With literacy lessons, we found great websites as resources.  But I wasn't sure where those were for Social Studies.  Well, I found one! The Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge is amazing!  And I know there are more out there.  My fear with lessons I find online is ensuring that they are constructivist.  In Social Studies especially I fear becoming the "Sage on the Stage." Students can discover Social Studies, especially history and government if we set up the right situations, and guide them to good resources.  I hope that I remember this as I go into survival mode as a first year teacher.  This lesson gave me more confidence, however.  I am excited to get into the classroom in the coming weeks and see how it goes with "real" students! :-)