Ecological systems theory

Meso system

This system is about how people in the different microsystems around the child interact and are connected with each other. Examples are a child’s parents attending a school event; or the leader of a child’s place of worship carrying out an event within the child’s neighbourhood or school; or a teacher visiting the child’s home to find out why they are unable to come to school on time.

The ways in which these different microsystems around the child interact directly influence the child’s learning and wellbeing.

Exo system

This system includes things that are going on in the wider context of the child’s life which they are probably unaware of, but which directly affect them in some way. . It might include things happening and relationships within the parents’ workplaces, the neighbourhood, with family friends and the wider community. It involves what is happening within, mass media, health, education, housing and social welfare services as well as national policies and the mass media and how these shape the lives of refugees and displaced people within the host country/context.

The child doesn't necessarily have direct contact with the exosystem but because the people in the other systems closer to the child are affected by the exosystem, it affects the child as well.

Macro system

This system covers things going on at a bigger societal level and how these influence the other systems around the child. It includes ideologies, values, attitudes, laws and customs of a particular culture or subculture. We could also argue that it includes how the global mass media portrays a particular conflict situation and how the international media represents refugees. It also includes things happening at a bigger geopolitical level - such as decisions about which countries should host refugees, and whether people seeking refuge can cross certain international borders.

For people who have been displaced – these macrosystem factors fundamentally shape how people are treated and responded to in host countries.

Chrono sytem

This system refers to how people experience things over their lifetime. It includes big life changes such as being displaced from one place to another; and other more usual events such as marriage (and divorce) and the birth of a baby etc.

Techno subsystem

More recently, some people have adapted the ecological systems theory and added in what they have called the techno subsystem. This helps us to think about how technologies - such as access to and use of mobile phones, the internet, data, computers and social media - as well as the skills and knowledge to use these different media - may be influencing and shaping learning and teaching.

In many situations of displacement and crisis, for example, refugee and displaced learners may have limited access to digital technologies to help them learn; or conversely, a mobile phone may be the only way they have to access learning.

Micro system

This system refers to the people, institutions, and services that a child interacts with directly in their everyday life.