Uri Brofenbrenner

Uri Brofenbrenner is a developmental psychologist who suggested an ecological systems theory that is a great way of understanding the social network of children's learning.  There are four types of influences in this nested system.

1. The microsystem is comprised of the family or the classroom.  These are the people who are closest to the child, and therefore directly influence the child.
2. The exosystem is made up of indirect, external influence such as parental occupations that include the workplace.  This can affect the background of the child and the way he or she is raised.
3. The mesosystem is comprised of the interactions between the microsystems and the exosystems.
4. The macrosystem is the larger sociocultural system of society as it interacts with government policy and civic institutions.  

Understanding a child's environment and background is essential to teaching them effectively.  We as teachers should always be aware of how these four types of influences affect our students.