Universität zu Köln

Meyer, Michael ORCID: 0000-0002-4062-1413, Kammrad, Carolin ORCID: 0009-0008-8347-6405 and Esser, Ruben (2025). The Role of Experiencing Self-Efficacy When Completing Tasks—Education for Sustainable Development in Mathematics. Sustainability, 17 (10). MDPI. ISSN 2071-1050

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: 4298] A wide variety of requirements can be placed on tasks that deal with education for sustainable development in mathematics lessons. They should be as authentic as possible, use real problems as the mathematical learning material, and stimulate action, among other qualities. This article discusses the role of self-efficacy and the experience of self-efficacy when working on modelling tasks that are geared towards a sustainable future. High school students in Germany worked in a STEM learning environment on different aspects of climate change and species extinction, including plastic waste, recycling, rainforests, and their deforestation. These aspects were analysed from a geographical, biological, physical, and mathematical perspective. In mathematics, specifically, tasks were used to address the learners’ self-efficacy. After completing the tasks, a questionnaire was distributed to assess the interest and motivation of the learners. The results show that even a slightly different use of self-efficacy, whether by focusing on what has already been achieved (sustainable successes that promote positive emotions) or on what can still be achieved, can influence the learners’ interest in completing the tasks. The learners’ experience of self-efficacy seems to have a positive influence on their willingness to solve tasks. Additionally, the results indicate a complex relationship between motivation and interest on the one hand and self-efficacy on the other.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Meyer, Michael UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4062-1413 UNSPECIFIED Kammrad, Carolin UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8347-6405 UNSPECIFIED Esser, Ruben UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-799955
Identification Number:	10.3390/su17104298
Journal or Publication Title:	Sustainability
Volume:	17
Number:	10
Number of Pages:	15
Date:	9 May 2025
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2071-1050
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Mathematics and Science Education > Institute of Mathematics Education
Subjects:	Education Mathematics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language self-efficacy ; STEM; climate change ; interest ; motivation English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79995