Self-efficacy & Simple Circuits

Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to succeed in achieving a specific goal or task. The higher your self-efficacy is, the more you believe you are capable of accomplishing the task.

After the video, you’ll have a chance to reflect on connections to this course. 

As you watch, what resonates with you? 

Pair activity

• Talk with your partner(s) about what resonated in the video for you as it relates to the flower pot.

• After about 5 minutes, you'll report out by sharing one takeaway from your conversation.

Use the moodle checklist to indicate you have completed the following:

• Read the Syllabus and email me with any questions

• Sign the Fimbel waiver 

• Create a web site for the course (links to some sample sites available on the Resources page)

You'll be creating a web site to document your reflections and tangible projects. 

This will be how you submit your work.

1. Create your web site using the platform of your choice (such as a google site or wordpress). 

2. Set the permissions for your site: 

   • You can choose to make your web site public, shared with Mount Holyoke College users, or private to the instructor and TAs. 

3. Pick a site name that is specific to you and this class, such as MaryLyon-iDesignF24.

4. Submit the URL on moodle.

Use the skills from class to create your own simple circuit project:

• a glowing flower pot

OR

• any other object of your creation with at least 1 LED that responds to user interaction

Optional support

If you get stuck on the flower pot, you can refer to this guide which walks you through it step-by-step. I encourage you to try to use your problem-solving skills to work on any steps independently before referring to the (next part of the) guide!

Requirements

On your web site, post:

(A) Documentation of your process, including successes and failures. You should include:

• Pictures/video of your process

• A final video or collection of photos that demonstrates the final product

(B) A three-part reflection: 

1. 1. Reflect back on the project experience and how it relates to the topics of self-efficacy and mindset, using the prompts below. You can choose a written format (1-2 paragraphs) or recorded video/audio (1-3 minutes).

• • Look back on the project as a whole and consider whether your comfort levels shifted between the first moment you saw the project and now. Was the flower pot in your comfort zone initially? What about now?

  • Did you notice any changes to your self-efficacy and/or mindset in one of the associated areas (circuits, paper crafting) as you worked through the project? 

1. 2. Choose one of the 6 tech projects from below and consider creating a comparable project in this class. What role are self-efficacy and mindset playing in your reaction to them? You can choose a written format (1-2 paragraphs) or recorded video/audio (1-3 minutes).

   3. Challenge yourself to step back and think about any parallels you can draw to your learning journey at large, using the prompts below. You can choose a written format (2-4 paragraphs) or recorded video/audio (2-5 minutes).

• Have there been courses or co-curricular activities that you have embraced or turned away from because you felt more/less in your comfort zone? 

• Looking back, did mindset or self-efficacy factor into this?

• If you were to revisit a decision to embrace or turn away from a course/activity, what would you tell your former self?

Here are some takeaways for the topics:

Self-efficacy

• • Your belief in your ability to succeed at a task is influenced by your current skills, past experiences and availability of resources. How do these factor into your self-efficacy for a task or activity?

  • You can increase self-efficacy by noticing small successes. Can you imagine building upon them?

  • Self-efficacy can be impacted by comparing yourself to other people. Are you making a fair social comparison?

Mindset

• Perhaps you have found yourself thinking, "No way I can do this. I'm not a _____ person." or "This is totally up my alley! I've always been a _____ person." This self-talk is indicative of a fixed mindset.

• Compare this with "I can't do this... yet." or "With practice, I'll be able to do ____." These phrases are indicative of a growth mindset.

• When you believe that you can get better with practice, you are embracing a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset.