EXTERNAL PD OPPORTUNITY: Boost student confidence and perseverance with a FREE online course for K–12 special educators (offered twice in the 2024–25 school year)!

Do your students doubt their abilities when they experience challenges? Do they understand how to put forth effort and make progress toward their goals? Self-efficacy instruction can increase students’ belief in themselves and develop their ability to persist through learning challenges. 

The Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services, in collaboration with the University of Kansas Research Collaboration, is offering the following free course as part of the College and Career Competencies Project.

Instructional Activities for Teaching Self-Efficacy: Virtual, six-week, interactive course for Special Educators, K–12

The course is being offered twice in the 2024–2025 school year:

• Monday, September 16–Friday, October 25, 2024
• Monday, January 13–Friday, February 21, 2025

Course Description: This facilitator-led course is designed for special educators (including related services providers) of students in Grades K–12 to explore instructional activities that teach self-efficacy. This interactive course allows educators to gain knowledge of 10 Self-Efficacy Strategies and to apply self-efficacy instructional practices.

• Each week, a recognized trainer will review instructional activities and facilitate discussion board conversations between participants.
• Information on accessing the course materials will be provided via email one week before the start date.
• The course provides flexibility and asynchronous activities that fit your schedule.

Provided materials include:

• Three lesson sets of 26 instructional activities
• Student workbooks, templates, and posters
• Additional resources tailored to primary, intermediate, and secondary levels

Earn CEUs and Graduate Credit: Participants who complete the course will earn 18 CEUs from the University of Kansas with an option to receive one graduate credit hour from Baker University (an additional payment of $80 is required; details provided during the course).

Note: The maximum number of participants is 30. The course will be closed after capacity is reached. Participants can expect to spend 1 to 2 hours per week learning about self-efficacy.

Course Commitment: If you enroll, plan to participate fully by reviewing resources, completing discussion board posts, interacting with colleagues’ discussion board posts, developing instructional planning materials, and reviewing assessment instruments.

At the end of the course, educators will be able to:

1. Describe 10 Self-Efficacy Strategies.
2. Assess student self-efficacy knowledge and application using curriculum-referenced and performance-based assessment tools.
3. Implement and adapt student self-efficacy instructional activities for their specific role.
4. Provide feedback and practice opportunities to students related to their growth in self-efficacy.

Complete the Enrollment Form

View the self-efficacy infographic, which includes the definition of self-efficacy and student impacts resulting from instruction.

For any questions, email Pattie Noonan.