Ecological modeling is a holistic systems level approach to situational analysis which can be used in planning activities for lifelong learning in an urban setting. It is the purpose of this essay to present a discussion of ecological modeling in its pure or conceptual sense and concomitantly to translate this analysis into an effective and practical structure for establishing an interactive relationship between urban educative delivery agents and similarly situated user groups. The first element of the model, the community and advisory structure, illustrates the symbiotic relationship which exists between the constituency community, their educational needs, and the various ecological determinants which influence these educational needs. The second element is the advisory group, the structure of which is directly determined by the characteristics of the community to be served. The third element is the delivery system, which possesses interrelated environmental determinants which affect its ability to function. These determinants include the resources of the institutions and personnel. The final two elements of the model are the program/educative experience itself and the evaluation component of the program planning structure. By employing the technique of holistic or systems modeling (ecological modeling) a frame of reference by which forces which influence change in an educative system can be characterized as either positive (beneficial) or negative (adverse) or neutral can be developed. Such a framework will yield forecasts which will make it possible for educational policy to reflect the interaction of the various subcomponents of the supraecosystem. Such a model will also assist in the determination of variations of policy decisions in light of changing technological, economic, societal and political forces. (Author/AM)