In order to develop an ecological theory of teaching, the classroom must be viewed as a sociological unit. The unit of interest was the teacher-student learning group. The basic question explored was: What is the relationship between human interactions and the physical and social contexts of the group? Teams of scholars met in seminars, each…

This paper argues that the structure of activities provides the basis for a model of school organization and its effects on student outcomes. The observation is presented that it is within the context of daily activities that teachers and students make judgments about themselves and others, interact and form social ties, and experience social…