Social Cognitive Theory

A psychological framework developed by Albert Bandura that explains how people learn through observing others, building self-efficacy, and interacting with their social environment. In the context of accessibility and digital literacy, SCT provides a foundation for designing instructional interventions where learners develop skills through observational modeling (watching a tutor demonstrate and explain), outcome expectations (connecting learning to personally valued goals), goal setting (learner-driven rather than assigned objectives), self-efficacy (building confidence in one's ability to manage technology), and self-regulation (monitoring and adjusting one's own learning behavior). SCT emphasizes that learning is social and contextual, not purely cognitive.