http://www.positivepractices.com/Efficacy/SelfEfficacy.html
The part of this article that really struck my interest is the passage: "By the time children reach middle school (grades six through eight), the majority of them have made significant judgments regarding their preferences toward certain academic domains. These judgments are no doubt influenced by their perceived capability with regard to the domains, as a result of social comparison with peers and feedback from teachers. This is particularly true in the domain of mathematics. At this stage, children are already making decisions leading to career directions and choice of classes. By high school, these decisions become more solidified. For educators, the critical time to reduce or prevent mathematics alienation is in middle school, or early on in high school."
From the passage above one could argue that the children learn best by watching/interacting with others. Reeve states that vicarious experience "involves observing a model enact the same course of action the performer is about to enact (e.g., "you go first, I'll watch"). Seeing others perform masterfully raises an observer's own sense of efficacy." The quote I've chosen from the article also shows that feedback from teachers is important to the students. Reeve writes in regards to verbal persuasion "When effective, pep talks persuade the performer to focus more and more on personal strengths and potentials and less and less on personal weaknesses and deficiencies. Pep talks shift a performer's attention from sources of inefficiency to sources of efficacy."
Do you agree with the statement that middle school students have already made judgments regarding their preferences toward certain academic domains?
I think this blog was written very well and I agree with what it had to say. Self efficacy has always caught my attention because of the impact it plays in many different situations. I Agree with the statement that says "By the time children reach middle school (grades six through eight), the majority of them have made significant judgments regarding their preferences toward certain academic domains.” I do believe this to be true, however I do not believe to be true that students are already making decisions towards careers at this age. The classes that middle school students get to make are very basic ones such as physical education or band. All thought this gives students a small sense of autonomy, these classes have nothing to do with a career choice. I also agree with the statement that says “children learn best by watching/interacting with others”. This is a very powerful way to learn because children want to interact with each other. Furthermore, I agree that if a student sees another student perform well on something it will raise his self efficacy. It is in other words saying “if he can do it, so can I”. Finally, the quote "When effective, pep talks persuade the performer to focus more and more on personal strengths and potentials and less and less on personal weaknesses and deficiencies. Pep talks shift a performer's attention from sources of inefficiency to sources of efficacy." is amazing; I couldn’t agree with it more. The more you talk up a person on what they are good at and talk less about what they are bad with, the more self efficacy they are going to have.
I think this blog was written very well and I agree with what it had to say. Self efficacy has always caught my attention because of the impact it plays in many different situations. I Agree with the statement that says "By the time children reach middle school (grades six through eight), the majority of them have made significant judgments regarding their preferences toward certain academic domains.” I do believe this to be true, however I do not believe to be true that students are already making decisions towards careers at this age. The classes that middle school students get to make are very basic ones such as physical education or band. All thought this gives students a small sense of autonomy, these classes have nothing to do with a career choice. I also agree with the statement that says “children learn best by watching/interacting with others”. This is a very powerful way to learn because children want to interact with each other. Furthermore, I agree that if a student sees another student perform well on something it will raise his self efficacy. It is in other words saying “if he can do it, so can I”. Finally, the quote "When effective, pep talks persuade the performer to focus more and more on personal strengths and potentials and less and less on personal weaknesses and deficiencies. Pep talks shift a performer's attention from sources of inefficiency to sources of efficacy." is amazing; I couldn’t agree with it more. The more you talk up a person on what they are good at and talk less about what they are bad with, the more self efficacy they are going to have.