Abstract:

Self-efficacy is defined as a person's beliefs in his abilities to create and perform actions that affect events concerning his life. These beliefs affect a person's behavior, choices, endeavors, ability to cope, and perseverance in life's tasks. Covid-19 has put the self-efficacy of teaching students who are pursuing their master degree in education, who function as teachers in an unusual reality. With the outbreak of the pandemic, remote work has become a necessity of life like never before. The students also began to learn from home and that has challenged the students who are also functioning as parents, and teachers. The aim of the study is to distinguish which personal-family, occupational and academic variables predict the highest levels of self-efficacy In the complex situation created in Covid-19.

370 students, with average of 4.61 children answered a self-efficacy questionnaire and an online background questionnaire. Stepwise Linear regression findings show that the predictors (24%) of self -efficacy included how satisfied the graduate is with their studies, the number of electronic devices for teaching and learning, the time the student has devoted to completing assignments, and the role in the school. According to the cognitive-social theory and the theory of attribution, the conclusions of the study show that there are variables which a person has control over- predict self-efficacy, while variables which a person can't control easily - do not predict self-efficacy. Practical implications show that those in charge of the religious and ultra-Orthodox colleges, should assist the purchase of electronics for learning, since during the pandemic they have adapted their ideologies to incorporate the use of them. In an age where the transition of distance learning, progress, and technology are gaining momentum following the Covid-19 pandemic the uniqueness of the present study is to examine the self-efficacy of religious and ultra-Orthodox teachers functioning both as students and as parents at home with their families and their children that are learning from home.

Keywords:

Self-efficacy, Covid-19, distance learning, work from home, teachers.