Compass Education

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (In-house Workshop)
2025-03-14 - 2025-03-15 | Frankfurt International School, Germany
This workshop is a 2-day Compass Education certification workshop hosted by Frankfurt International School, Germany. It will be held on March 14-15 for Frankfurt International School staff and community only.

Description
Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to empower your educators and equip them with tools for transformative learning? Do you want to support students with the skills they need to meet our current and future global challenges?
This 2-day workshop is designed by educators for educators. In this workshop, participants will explore the concept of sustainability with a specific emphasis on the role of education and the use of systems thinking to enhance student learning. Educators will be equipped with a suite of systems thinking tools to enable them to help students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to participate in a complex and interdependent world. The workshop will be a mix of theory and practice; educators will see examples of these tools in practice and be invited to innovate and strengthen their lessons, units, and programs.

Facilitator
Nicole Swedlow
Nicole Swedlow is the Executive Director of Compass Education, a global non-profit supporting education for sustainability through training in systems thinking practices. As a consultant, she is passionate about helping schools and businesses integrate sustainable principles with a strategic, inclusive and conscious approach. Nicole’s work in nonprofit leadership and sustainability as Director of the nonprofit organization Entreamigos, has been recognized by the United Nations, as a finalist for the Global Equator Initiative, as a breakout speaker for the World Economic Forum, and by the Dalai Lama, as a 2014 Unsung Hero of Compassion. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Education and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.

Find more information about this certification course program ONLINE or ONSITE on our website. If you are interested and have questions, please email us at team@compasseducation.org.

Reimagining Schools as Catalysts for Sustainable Systems Change!
2025-03-03 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, FL, United States
The annual Green Schools Conference (GSC) brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus on those leading their schools and school systems toward whole-school sustainability.

Workshop Description
Empower school communities to become dynamic leaders in sustainability! This hands-on workshop guides participants in developing a shared language for integrating sustainable practices across curricula and communities, fostering equitable and impactful change, and inspiring student leadership. Transform your school into a catalyst for a sustainable future!
This workshop will be held on the first day of the conference, March 3 at 9:30 – 11:30 am and led by Compass Education’s Executive Director and Facilitator, Nicole Swedlow. If you’ll be at the Green Schools Conference, reach out to Nicole and join the workshop!

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

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Presenter
Nicole Swedlow
Nicole Swedlow is the Executive Director of Compass Education, a global non-profit supporting education for sustainability through training in systems thinking practices. As a consultant, she is passionate about helping schools and businesses integrate sustainable principles with a strategic, inclusive and conscious approach. Nicole’s work in nonprofit leadership and sustainability as Director of the nonprofit organization Entreamigos, has been recognized by the United Nations, as a finalist for the Global Equator Initiative, as a breakout speaker for the World Economic Forum, and by the Dalai Lama, as a 2014 Unsung Hero of Compassion. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Education and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.

The Americas Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-02-26 16:30 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
We are very excited to invite the Americas Regional Education Group to our next Virtual Meet-up! It will be held on Wednesday, February 26 from 4:30 p.m. Mexico City Time (UTC -6). We look forward to reconnecting with many inspiring educators and change-makers throughout our region. This meeting aims to build confidence in becoming advocates for systems thinking in education. This meeting will be a Master Class in crafting a compelling advocacy message, using storytelling to inspire action, and identifying key strategies for expanding systems thinking education in our communities.
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG The Americas LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-02-22 17:00 - 18:00 (Asia/Dubai) | Virtual
We are very excited to invite the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Education Group to our next Virtual Meet-up! It will be held on Saturday, February 23 at 5 pm Dubai Time (UTC+4). The meet-up will be focusing on utilizing the Sustainability Compass tool (for those wanting to learn about it and also those wanting to share their own experiences with it) for learning about global issues (we will choose which one or two are best for the group). We’ll also have a chance to have an open conversation about how best to support the topic of sustainability in our classroom and school communities!
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG MENA LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

Asia-Pacific Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-02-20 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
We are very excited to invite the Asia-Pacific Regional Education Group to our next Virtual Meet-up! It will be held on Sunday, February 23 at 7 pm Singapore Time, focusing on the theme of Permaculture & Community Gardening. This will be a great opportunity for us in the Asia-Pacific group to connect, introduce ourselves, and share ideas on topics that matter to us. During the session, we will share ideas, thoughts, or projects from your work or experience around Biodiversity & Nature – How can we use systems-thinking tools to address nature and biodiversity in our communities? For example, through approaches like permaculture, community gardens, food forests, etc.
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG Asia-Pacific LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

Europe Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-02-19 17:00 - 18:00 (Europe/Paris) | Virtual
We are very excited to invite the Europe Regional Education Group to our next Virtual Meet-up! It will be held on Wednesday, February 19 at 5 pm CET. We look forward to reconnecting with many inspiring educators and change-makers throughout our region.
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG Europe LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

A PATH to Systems Thinking with the Sustainability Compass
2025-02-09 | Virtual
This workshop is part of the Future Learning Summit 2025, a two-day event connecting students, parents and global educators with thought leaders who are passionate about the future of education. With an ever-changing social, economic, and environmental global landscape, children and young people have a lot to navigate in their futures and education is the catalyst for innovation. With ‘Education for a Shared Humanity’ as the summit theme, we’ll be exploring what it means to be humanly connected in an increasingly technology-driven world, and unpacking a range of ideas designed to help children and young people to shape their futures. While this theme is highly personalised, meaning something different to every delegate, at its heart is the recognition that the interconnectedness between peoples remains important and education has the power to enable this to thrive. During the summit delegates will hear from forward thinking and passionate educators, students and leaders through keynotes and panel discussions, and engage in workshops that will challenge their ideas of education.

Workshop Description
The Sustainability Compass is a powerful tool for building systems thinking skills that can support community change-making. In this virtual workshop participants will co-construct a Compass using the PATH process on a challenge of their choice. Participants will consider how the tool can be actively integrated across the curriculum to leverage systems thinking from their roles.
This virtual workshop will be held on Sunday, February 9 in two sessions 11:00-11:45 am and 12:45-13:30 pm UTC+3. Please join us in this workshop if you are attending the summit!

REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT HERE

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Presenter
Britta McCarthy
Britta McCarthy is the Learning Director at the American International School of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is a former Social Studies and Science teacher. Her “spark” comes from authentic learning experiences that can transform individuals, schools, and communities. Britta has used Compass Education tools in her class for almost ten years, and can’t say enough about how they create student agency and action around some of the most challenging issues of our time. In her leisure time she enjoys spending time in nature as a hiker and diver, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Introduction to the Compass Tools: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom (Onsite) Workshop
2025-01-28 08:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Wesley College, Australia
This event is an onsite Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop hosted by Wesley College, Victoria, Australia. This workshop will be held on January 28, 2025 for Wesley College staff only.

About the Workshop
This highly interactive workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of systems thinking and teach them to use the versatile systems thinking tools, The Sustainability Compass and the Systems Iceberg, to integrate sustainability and climate issues into their work. Participants will leave this workshop with a plan to use systems thinking to integrate sustainability into their work or engage their students in action for sustainability.

Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to integrate systems thinking into your community through accessible and adaptable tools?
This program is available on-site (one-day) or virtual (six hours) with flexible delivery in one to three-session formats. For further inquiries about this program and pricing, visit our website or contact team@compasseducation.org.

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Online Course)
2025-01-27 - 2025-03-16 | Online Course
About the Course
This course is a seven-week cohort-based, asynchronous, facilitator-guided course, using both independent and collaborative learning methods. Participants will explore the concept of sustainability with a specific emphasis on the role of education and the use of systems thinking to enhance student learning. Systems thinking tools and methods will be demonstrated and participants will have the opportunity to explore their practical application. Whether you’re running a school or facilitating a conversation in the classroom, this course is for you!
Discounts are available for school cohorts registration of three people and more. Scholarships are available for public school educators and by application.
Registration deadline: January 24, 2025 (11:59 PM UTC)
Inquiries: team@compasseducation.org

Info & Registration

Download Flyer

Find more information about this certification course program ONLINE or ONSITE on our website. If you are interested and have questions, please email us at team@compasseducation.org.

Compass Workshops at the SENIA Asia Conference
2025-01-08 - 2025-01-09 | International School of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Cambodia
Join us on a transformative journey to redefine true belonging and envision a future where everyone’s unique qualities and values are recognized, celebrated, and valued.
Together, we move beyond limitations and create an inclusive community that embraces diversity in all its forms.
Register to attend the conference and the two sessions members of our Compass Facilitator team are hosting on using systems thinking to support ‘Belonging and Beyond’.

Workshop A – Creating Inclusive Environments that Foster Belonging Through Systems Thinking Tools
Date and Time: March 8, 1:30 – 2:45 PM
Speakers: Zhenying Liang and Marie-Theres Whitehead
Description:
The presentation introduces systems thinking tools that educators and students can use to analyze school environments and find leverage points for sustainable, inclusive change. By using these tools, we can uncover systems and mindsets that hinder students from belonging and create opportunities to celebrate diversity and foster acceptance.
Educators will explore how to shape environments where everyone feels valued and included. The interactive session allows participants to share insights, identify common challenges with mental models, and collaboratively explore solutions, providing practical tools to build inclusive, supportive spaces that celebrate differences.

Workshop B – Leading Change for Belonging and Beyond: Systems Thinking to Diffuse Innovation for Inclusion
Date and Time: March 9, 1:30 – 2:45 PM
Speaker: Kate O’Connell
Description:
The SENIA mission statement includes “…champions inclusion by empowering our global community to connect, learn, and advocate for one another.” and the vision states “…To live in an inclusive world.” These powerful words remind us of our responsibility as educators to advocate and create inclusive environments where all students can not only be accepted, but celebrated. But how can work towards this lofty goal? It takes making and change and very skilled change makers will do this work.
Inclusion and belonging are ideals that can happen and using systems thinking tools to diffuse innovative practices for belonging and beyond can help us actualize SENIA’s mission. In this session, we will explore how to diffuse innovation so that great belonging and inclusion can come alive and make a positive impact. Utilizing an exciting simulation from Compass Education called the “AMOEBA” we will identify the roles we all play in diffusing innovation to meet our individual school missions and that of the SENIA.

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

Compassion in the Classroom
2024-11-21 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Paris) | Virtual
Global Learning for an Open World (GLOW) Conference is a premier virtual event dedicated to global education and innovation. This conference aims to enhance global competencies, foster cross-border collaboration, nurture dynamic global citizenship, and ensure equitable access to quality education for all.

About the Event
Give yourself the gift of time to connect with a community of educators who believe that teaching compassion is important. Take part in this discussion journey to gain ideas, reflect on practice and share how you foster compassion in your classroom and community, including free resources and suggestions from Compass Education and the Institute of Human Education.
This presentation will give educators tools to build a strong classroom community. All schools today have a diverse range of students with a variety of backgrounds to consider. Additionally, there are many challenges we are all facing in this ever-changing world. Educators need to take time to support students in developing strategies to deal with stress and regulate themselves so they can be in the right state for learning and collaborating. This presentation will provide tools and strategies to use in classrooms to create a safe and calm learning environment. Teachers who attend will practice using some of them and will leave with a list of ideas to use in the classroom ranging from mindfulness, communication tools, and conflict resolution to create an inclusive and kind community. The hope is to give time to the importance of having a learning space that allows students to feel safe and ready to learn.
The presentation will provide Compass Education and Institute for Humane Education tools and strategies. It will not only share the resources but also provide the opportunity for us to use some of them together to help understand them clearly and implement them well. There will be a bank of resources for teachers to use and these will be shared in the session. There will also be time for teachers to share their own ideas, creating a community within the session. It will be broken into sections of understanding the importance of compassion, tools for setting up a community, strategies to continue building a safe community and ideas on setting up an inclusive learning space.

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

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Presenter
Betsy Farrell-Messenger (Institute of Humane Education)
Betsy Farrell-Messenger has been in the education field for 25 years. Her experience ranges from environmental education in the field to teaching in the classroom to co-developing farm animal sanctuary programs for youth. She has a M.S. degree in education from College of St. Rose and in 2014 she earned her graduate certificate in Humane Education through Valparaiso University. Betsy has developed lessons for IHE and participated in the Solutionary process pilot cohort with her middle school students. She is currently a facilitator for the Solutionary Micro-Credential Program, which encourages, inspires and supports teachers in bringing the solutionary teaching and learning to their classrooms and creating the next generation of solutionaries. Betsy lives her message of being kind and mindful of how her behaviors have an impact on people, animals, and the environment.

Angela Whittaker (Institute of Humane Education)
Angela Whittaker has dedicated her career to serving young people. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tennessee Technological University and a master’s in education from Old Dominion University, specializing in students with emotional and learning challenges. Angela has over 28 years of experience in education as a teacher. She designed and taught award-winning programs in environmental education and established a non-profit, Full Circle Education Center, created to address the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of students. Angela is a pragmatic visionary dedicated to redesigning K12 educational systems and instruction so they support and inspire young people to change the world for the betterment of all beings.

Lucy Thompson (Compass Education)
Lucy Thompson has been an elementary classroom teacher for over 10 years, working in Cambodia, Lebanon, Malaysia and Scotland. She is currently teaching Grade 5 and is the Professional Learning Coordinator at International School Aberdeen. She has a passion for integrating sustainability within the classroom, especially delving into topics using systems thinking tools and exploring a variety of perspectives. Outside of work, she enjoys playing squash and being on the coast, most recently sea kayaking.

Water and Us: An Experiential Systems Thinking Workshop
2024-11-07 | The Westin Pittsburgh, United States
If you will be at the NAAEE Conference in Pittsburgh this November, join Compass Education and Ocean School to dive into a real-world water issue and navigate conversations about community sustainability using The Sustainability Compass tool. You will walk away with resources you can use in your organization, school, or community to connect people with water and the nature around them.
This workshop highlights the partnership project on which our organizations have been collaborating for a year since Gitanjali Paul and Heather Delagran connected as CEE Change Fellows.

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

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Presenter
Gitanjali Paul designs and facilitates learning for a more just, sustainable world. From classroom to community work, she specializes in Education for Sustainable Development and making systems change. Gitanjali is the Education Program Manager at nonprofit Compass Education, where she leads program development and a dynamic Global Facilitator Network that trains others on systems thinking tools for sustainability education. Gitanjali is indefatigably inquisitive. She has a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies from Tufts University, an M.Ed in Education Policy, Research and Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Gitanjali learns continually from nature, cooking experiments, adventures with family, and her Filipina rescue cat, Mahatma Charlie.

Heather Delagran is an Education Producer at the National Film Board of Canada, focusing on Ocean School, a free online resource aimed at enhancing environmental education. Her work merges storytelling, education, and science, having produced over 118 media pieces, including documentaries and immersive experiences that showcase ocean narratives from various locations like Canada’s coasts and Indonesia. Previously a Geography teacher and human rights educator, Heather authored the Burgundy Jazz educator guide. She holds an M.A. in Educational Technology from Concordia University and has expertise in curriculum design, educational technology, and participatory action research. Since joining Ocean School in 2017, she has been dedicated to fostering ocean literacy among youth, empowering them to understand their relationship with marine environments and inspire positive change. Heather’s commitment to student-centered learning underscores her impactful contributions to environmental education.

Systems Thinking to Enhance Your EE Leadership
2024-11-06 13:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | The Westin Pittsburgh, United States
If you will be at the 2024 NAAEE Conference in Pittsburgh this November, join our Education Program Manager Gitanjali Paul for this pre-conference workshop on Systems Thinking to Enhance Your Environmental Education (EE) Leadership!
This session will be full of systems thinking tools and games to develop your EE leadership capacities! This session will provide educators of all kinds with resources to reflect, grow, and enhance their impact. Plus, you’ll identify a learning or networking goal for the rest of the conference.
Find more information about this workshop here.

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

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Presenter
Gitanjali Paul designs and facilitates learning for a more just, sustainable world. From classroom to community work, she specializes in Education for Sustainable Development and making systems change. Gitanjali is the Education Program Manager at nonprofit Compass Education, where she leads program development and a dynamic Global Facilitator Network that trains others on systems thinking tools for sustainability education. Gitanjali is indefatigably inquisitive. She has a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies from Tufts University, an M.Ed in Education Policy, Research and Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Gitanjali learns continually from nature, cooking experiments, adventures with family, and her Filipina rescue cat, Mahatma Charlie.

Sub-Saharan Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2024-11-01 13:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
Join us for our first Sub-Saharan regional group meetup on November 1 at 01:00 pm in Cape Town, South Africa! We look forward to connecting with colleagues during the AISA Conference who share a passion for sustainability, service learning, and systems thinking. Together, let’s promote positive and caring communities!
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG Sub-Saharan LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at our very first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2024-10-31 19:00 - 20:00 (Asia/Dubai) | Virtual
Join us for our next Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional group virtual meetup on October 31 at 7:00 pm UAE (UTC+4)! We’d love to have all those in the region feel free to pop over to share the opportunities and challenges they find in their schools related to education for sustainability. Bring your thoughts, your questions and even your colleagues for 15 minutes or for an hour! Open, honest, friendly professional conversation to bring us together and move sustainability forward in your school and across the region!
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG MENA LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

The Americas Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2024-10-30 16:30 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
We are very excited to announce our first Regional Group Meeting for the Americas of this season! It will be held Wednesday, October 30 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Mexico City Time (UTC -6). We look forward to reconnecting with many inspiring educators and change-makers throughout our region. We will be setting group goals, looking towards building more community and collaboration and celebrating our achievements over the past few months. We hope to see many familiar and new faces there!
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG The Americas LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

Systems Change for a Sustainable World: Becoming a Change Maker in Your Community (Online Course)
2024-10-28 - 2024-12-15 | Online Course
Do you want to make systemic change in your community?
How can you move from making changes to strategizing for sustainable systems change?
How can you empower your students to create sustainable change in your school community?

About the Course
This is a Compass Educator (Level 2) certification course, designed for educators who want to learn more about how to create systems change in their community. Participants must have completed either:

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World (Level 1) course/workshop, or
More Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom (Level 1 Supplement) course

This course is a seven-week cohort-based, asynchronous, facilitator-guided course, using both independent and collaborative learning methods. In this course, participants explore the challenges and means of integrating sustainability values, principles and practice into education. Special emphasis is placed on the use of systems thinking tools to bring about change and enhance teaching and learning. Systems thinking tools and methods will be demonstrated and participants will have the opportunity to explore their practical application within their own subject disciplines and as agents of change for school transformation.
Change-making and learning are both enhanced when working together with others! We highly encourage teams of teachers to sign up for this course together so that they can collaborate to deepen their learning and use it to create sustainable action plans they can implement together in their community.
Registration deadline: October 25 ((11:59 PM UTC)
Inquiries: team@compasseducation.org

Info & Registration

Download Flyer

Find more information about this certification course program ONLINE or ONSITE on our website. If you are interested and have questions, please email us at team@compasseducation.org.

Partnership for the Goals Educator Exchange
2024-10-26 13:00 - 14:15 UTC | Virtual
The Partnership for the Goals Educator Exchange will take place on October 26 from 01:00 to 02:15 PM UTC as part of the 2024 Sustainable Schools Day celebrations!
The Partnership for the Goals Educators Exchange’s primary goal is to bring together educators and school leaders worldwide who are curious and passionate about cultivating sustainability through their schools’ practices, actions, and education. To begin our conversation, we will use the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a shared reference point for how we might educate and act to promote sustainability.

Event Details
This 75-minute event will be broken into two parts:
Part 1: Inspirational Speaker Panel
An informative, inspirational speaker panel featuring organizations who focus on helping advance quality education for sustainability education and action. They will share why schools or school systems should include sustainability in their practices, actions, and education and one free resource your organization has to share that could help them begin or deepen their journey toward sustainability in their classrooms or school community.
Our panel will include:

Alysha Alva, Marketing & Communications Executive, The World’s Largest Lesson
Anna D’Addio, Senior Policy Analyst, the UNESCO GEM Team, Report, and PEER profile leader
Nicole Swedlow, Executive Director, Compass Education
Steve Cochrane, Executive Director, The Institute for Humane Education
Patricia Bergström, Project Officer and Alumni Relations, Global Schools Program

Part 2: Educator Exchange Groups
We will facilitate a discussion among you—our participating educators—on practices, actions, and education your schools are undertaking to cultivate sustainability. We want to hear from you! Come ready to share about your own projects, experiences, and questions on cultivating sustainable schools and learning communities. We will use your RSVP responses to help determine recommended discussion prompts for the conversation.

Attend Live, and get entered for free learning opportunities!
We want you to join us live in person on October 26 for a meaningful exchange! Educators who attend the live call on the 26 will be entered into a giveaway to win educational prizes, including:

Free enrollment in the Compass Education Quick Impact Course of your choice.

RSVP below to receive a calendar invitation to join the celebrations!

RSVP HERE

Asia-Pacific Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2024-10-14 00:00 UTC
We are excited to invite you to this year’s first Compass Education Group (CEG) regional meeting on October 20th at 7 p.m. Singapore time! This will be a great opportunity for us in the Asia-Pacific group to connect, introduce ourselves, and share ideas on topics that matter to us. During the session, we’ll get to know each other, discuss our group’s short- and long-term goals, and brainstorm ideas for future meetings. Your thoughts and contributions will be key in shaping our next steps!
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. You can also join our CEG Asia-Pacific LinkedIn page to get some updates, resources and exciting opportunities in the region. Looking forward to seeing you at this year’s first regional meeting!

Join CEG now!

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Onsite Workshop)
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-06 | UWC Thailand, Thailand
This workshop is a 2-day Compass Education certification workshop, hosted by UWC Thailand and sponsored by EARCOS. It will be held on October 5-6 and delivered in English.

Description
Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to empower your educators and equip them with tools for transformative learning? Do you want to support students with the skills they need to meet our current and future global challenges?
This 2-day workshop is designed by educators for educators. In this workshop, participants will explore the concept of sustainability with a specific emphasis on the role of education and the use of systems thinking to enhance student learning. Educators will be equipped with a suite of systems thinking tools to enable them to help students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to participate in a complex and interdependent world. The workshop will be a mix of theory and practice; educators will see examples of these tools in practice and be invited to innovate and strengthen their lessons, units, and programs.
Whether you are running a school, facilitating a conversation in your classroom or working with young people in other contexts, this workshop is for you!

Who should participate?
Educators and program leaders who want to integrate sustainability education and system thinking into their teaching practice. It would also be of value to curriculum leaders and administrators interested in understanding what the practical application of sustainability education looks like.

In this workshop, you will…

Discuss the imperative for sustainability education in a global context
Identify sustainability dispositions and examine their compatibility with your personal educational philosophy and institutional values
Understand the relationship between sustainability and systems thinking
Explore the educational uses of system thinking tools
Discover how sustainability habits of mind can be integrated into teaching and learning
Develop unit/lesson plans to include sustainability perspectives and systems thinking tools in your classroom

What will you take away from this workshop?

A practical understanding of sustainability and systems thinking
Powerful conversations and practical analysis of your educational setting
Useful tools that can be integrated into any curriculum and every class level
Access to our database of educator-sourced lesson plans
Professional networking with like-minded educators
Receive a Compass Education Level 1 “Compass Practitioner” Certificate of Participation
Become eligible for advanced learning opportunities and a pathway to becoming a Compass Facilitator

REGISTRATION

Download Flyer

Find more information about this certification course program ONLINE or ONSITE on our website. If you are interested and have questions, please email us at team@compasseducation.org.

Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom for Educators in Africa
2024-10-03 - 2024-10-17 | Online Event
Compass Education is pleased to offer a three-part virtual Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop series this spring for educators across the African Continent on ‘Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom.’

About the Workshop
This highly interactive workshop series will introduce participants to the fundamentals of systems thinking and teach them to use the versatile systems thinking tools, The Sustainability Compass and the Systems Iceberg, to integrate sustainability and the UN SDGs into their work. Participants will leave this series with a plan to use systems thinking to integrate sustainability into their classrooms or school communities.
What will you take away from this workshop?

A shared language for whole faculty or school conversations about sustainability and systems and framework for reflecting on issues systemically.
Powerful conversations making sense of complex issues.
Lesson ideas that educators can use in their classrooms the next day, next week or as soon as they’re ready!
Useful tools that can integrate sustainability and systems into any curriculum and every class level.
Access to our database of educator-sourced lesson plans.
Connection to a global movement of educators for sustainability education.

Who should participate?
Any school educator or school administrator currently working in Africa is eligible to apply. We especially encourage educators working in public or government schools with limited access to professional learning funds to apply. This workshop will be held in English.
Apply to participate in this Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop today! It is FREE! Application will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

APPLY HERE

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Facilitator
Gitanjali Paul
Gitanjali Paul designs and facilitates learning for a more just, sustainable world. From classroom to community work, she specializes in Education for Sustainable Development and making systems change. Gitanjali is the Education Program Manager at nonprofit Compass Education, where she leads program development and a dynamic Global Facilitator Network that trains others on systems thinking tools for sustainability education. Gitanjali is indefatigably inquisitive. She has a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies from Tufts University, an M.Ed in Education Policy, Research and Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Gitanjali learns continually from nature, cooking experiments, adventures with family, and her Filipina rescue cat, Mahatma Charlie.
Michelena McPherson
Michelena McPherson has been working with Compass Education for 7 years as a facilitator and member of the Learning Empowerment group. She is currently a Grade 4/5 teacher and Sustainability Chair at Dar Essalam American School in Rabat, Morocco. Michelena is passionate about Compass Education and believes that systems thinking is instrumental in encouraging children and educators to take action on global issues. Michelena believes in encouraging children to explore the outdoors as well as creating awareness about the issues that affect our world. Michelena has been working with her students on analyzing the 17 sustainable development goals and creating actions that students can carry out locally, including teaching local children about systems thinking and sustainability. Michelena has a BFA in Photography, a Master’s degree in Gifted and Special Education, and a bilingual education endorsement from the University of New Mexico. In addition to teaching, she likes hiking, photography, travelling, and cooking.

Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to integrate systems thinking into your community through accessible and adaptable tools?
This program is available on-site or virtual (six hours) with flexible delivery in one to three-session formats. For further inquiries about this program and pricing, visit our Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop page or contact team@compasseducation.org.

Be a Changemaker in Your School Community: Learn Tools that You can Use to Develop Sustainable Action Plans Today!
2024-09-27 10:30 - 16:30 (America/Mexico_City) | The American School Foundation, A.C., Bondojito 215, Col. Las Américas, Ciudad de México, Mexico
This event is an onsite workshop sponsored by Tri-Association. This workshop will be held on September 27 for Tri-Association member schools only.

About the Workshop
Are you an educator or school leader trying to engage your community in making change? This one-day workshop will teach you a strategic planning process called ‘Pyramid Lite,’ whose roots in participatory decision-making and systems thinking practices lead to sustainable outcomes. This process used by UN agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies can now be used by your school and classrooms! Together, participants will engage in a mock strategic planning session around the central challenge of cultivating a culture of sustainability in your school. We will explore common challenges schools face in cultivating a holistic culture of sustainability and tools you can use as part of or outside the Pyramid Lite process to engage your community in sustainable change-making. Participants will walk away with tools for the whole school’s change management and for engaging students in that process in the classroom or beyond.

Who should participate?
Any classroom educator or school leader who is eager to engage their community in making change is eligible to register.

Are you interested in participating in this workshop? Please complete the interest form below to save your seat in the workshop. Limited seats available!

INTEREST FORM

Facilitator
Nicole Swedlow
Nicole Swedlow is the Executive Director of Compass Education, a global non-profit supporting education for sustainability through training in systems thinking practices. As a consultant, she is passionate about helping schools and businesses integrate sustainable principles with a strategic, inclusive and conscious approach. Nicole’s work in nonprofit leadership and sustainability as Director of the nonprofit organization Entreamigos, has been recognized by the United Nations, as a finalist for the Global Equator Initiative, as a breakout speaker for the World Economic Forum, and by the Dalai Lama, as a 2014 Unsung Hero of Compassion. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Education and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.

Introduction to the Compass Tools (Onsite Workshop)
2024-09-26 10:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | The American School Foundation, A.C., Bondojito 215, Col. Las Américas, Ciudad de México, Mexico
This event is an onsite Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop sponsored by Tri-Association. This workshop will be held on September 26 for Tri-Association member schools only.

About the Workshop
This highly interactive workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of systems thinking and teach them to use the versatile systems thinking tools, The Sustainability Compass and the Systems Iceberg, to integrate sustainability and climate issues into their work. Participants will leave this workshop with a plan to use systems thinking to integrate sustainability into their work or engage their students in action for sustainability.

Who should participate?
Any classroom educator or school administrator who is eager to bring sustainability and systems thinking into their classrooms, communities, and culture is eligible to register.

What will you take away from this workshop?

A shared language for whole faculty or school conversations about sustainability and systems and framework for reflecting on issues systemically.
Powerful conversations making sense of complex issues.
Lesson ideas that educators can use in their classrooms the next day, next week or as soon as they’re ready!
Useful tools that can integrate sustainability and systems into any curriculum and every class level.
Access to our database of educator-sourced lesson plans.
Connection to a global movement of educators for sustainability education.

Are you interested in participating in this workshop? Please complete the interest form below to save your seat in the workshop. Limited seats available!

INTEREST FORM

Facilitator
Nicole Swedlow
Nicole Swedlow is the Executive Director of Compass Education, a global non-profit supporting education for sustainability through training in systems thinking practices. As a consultant, she is passionate about helping schools and businesses integrate sustainable principles with a strategic, inclusive and conscious approach. Nicole’s work in nonprofit leadership and sustainability as Director of the nonprofit organization Entreamigos, has been recognized by the United Nations, as a finalist for the Global Equator Initiative, as a breakout speaker for the World Economic Forum, and by the Dalai Lama, as a 2014 Unsung Hero of Compassion. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Education and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.

Caitlin Barnum
Cait Barnum, a native of the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, now resides in picturesque Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Nine years ago, she relocated to Mexico with the Peace Corps, where she transitioned into teaching Middle and High School Sciences. Initially serving as the Sustainability and Systems Coordinator, she currently leads the STEM+ Department at the American School of Puerto Vallarta. Her passion and objective include integrating systems thinking tools and practices across the entire school community.

Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to integrate systems thinking into your community through accessible and adaptable tools?
This program is available on-site or virtual (six hours) with flexible delivery in one to three-session formats. For further inquiries about this program and pricing, visit our Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop page or contact team@compasseducation.org.

Educator Round Table: Systems Thinking for Climate Education and Civic Action
2024-09-16 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Online Event
Join us for an engaging and insightful roundtable discussion exploring “Systems Thinking for Climate Education and Civic Action.” This event will bring together PK-12 educators from across North America who have been utilizing Compass Education’s systems thinking tools to foster sustainability, climate education, and civic engagement in their classrooms. Registration is required.
Date: September 16, 2024
Time: 6 pm EDT (New York)
Location: Zoom Meeting (details sent after registration)

Event Highlights

Storytelling Spotlight: Hear inspiring stories from fellow educators who successfully implement systems thinking in their teaching practices. Discover how these approaches have impacted student learning and engagement.
Interactive Discussions: Participate in dynamic conversations about best practices, innovative strategies, and common challenges. Share your experiences and learn from the diverse perspectives of your peers.
Collaborative Opportunities: Explore potential collaborations and new ideas to further enhance your efforts in empowering students as change agents. Find ways to build on each other’s successes and drive collective impact.

This event aims to foster a supportive community of educators committed to advancing sustainability, climate education, and civic education through systems thinking. By sharing experiences and exchanging ideas, we hope to inspire and equip each other to create meaningful and lasting change in our classrooms and beyond.

Who Should Attend
This event is tailored for PK-12 educators who have been actively using Compass Education’s systems thinking tools. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to these methods, your participation and insights will contribute to a rich and collaborative dialogue.
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by Friday, September 13. For more information or any inquiries, contact us at team@compasseducation.org.
We look forward to your participation as we explore new ways to empower our students for a more sustainable and equitable future!

REGISTRATION

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Onsite) Workshop)
2024-09-13 - 2024-09-14 | Punahou School
This workshop is a 2-day Compass Education certification workshop hosted by Punahou School, Hawaii. It will be held on September 13-14 for Punahou School staff and community only.

Description
Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to empower your educators and equip them with tools for transformative learning? Do you want to support students with the skills they need to meet our current and future global challenges?
This 2-day workshop is designed by educators for educators. In this workshop, participants will explore the concept of sustainability with a specific emphasis on the role of education and the use of systems thinking to enhance student learning. Educators will be equipped with a suite of systems thinking tools to enable them to help students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to participate in a complex and interdependent world. The workshop will be a mix of theory and practice; educators will see examples of these tools in practice and be invited to innovate and strengthen their lessons, units, and programs.

Find more information about this certification course program ONLINE or ONSITE on our website. If you are interested and have questions, please email us at team@compasseducation.org.

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Online Course)
2024-09-02 - 2024-10-20 | Online Course
About the Course
This course is a seven-week cohort-based, asynchronous, facilitator-guided course, using both independent and collaborative learning methods. Participants will explore the concept of sustainability with a specific emphasis on the role of education and the use of systems thinking to enhance student learning. Systems thinking tools and methods will be demonstrated and participants will have the opportunity to explore their practical application. Whether you’re running a school or facilitating a conversation in the classroom, this course is for you!
Discounts are available for school cohorts registration of three people and more. Scholarships are available for public school educators and by application.
Registration deadline: August 30 (11:59 PM UTC)
Inquiries: team@compasseducation.org

Info & Registration

Download Flyer

Find more information about this certification course program ONLINE or ONSITE on our website. If you are interested and have questions, please email us at team@compasseducation.org.

Introduction to the Compass Tools: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom (Onsite Workshop)
2024-08-31 08:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
This event is an onsite Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop hosted by the International School of Zug and Luzern, Switzerland. This workshop will be held on August 31 and open for public.

About the Workshop
This highly interactive workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of systems thinking and teach them to use the versatile systems thinking tools, The Sustainability Compass and the Systems Iceberg, to integrate sustainability and climate issues into their work. Participants will leave this workshop with a plan to use systems thinking to integrate sustainability into their work or engage their students in action for sustainability.

Who should participate?
Any classroom educator or school administrator who is eager to bring sustainability and systems thinking into their classrooms, communities, and culture is eligible to register.

What will you take away from this workshop?

A shared language for whole faculty or school conversations about sustainability and systems and framework for reflecting on issues systemically.
Powerful conversations making sense of complex issues.
Lesson ideas that educators can use in their classrooms the next day, next week or as soon as they’re ready!
Useful tools that can integrate sustainability and systems into any curriculum and every class level.
Access to our database of educator-sourced lesson plans.
Connection to a global movement of educators for sustainability education.

REGISTRATION

Download Flyer

Facilitator
Lucy Thompson
Lucy has been an elementary classroom teacher for over 10 years, working in Cambodia, Lebanon, Malaysia and Scotland. She is currently teaching Grade 5 and is the Professional Learning Coordinator at International School Aberdeen. Outside of work, she enjoys playing squash and being on the coast, most recently sea kayaking.

Geraldine (Ged) Thomason
As an expat child, Ged grew up in Zambia and Liberia. Her experiences there allowed her to consider different perspectives and sparked her love of the natural world. She always had a random collection of stones, sticks, feathers and seeds in her pockets and still does to this day. She loves to travel and became a travel agent so that she could continue to get to know the world. Later, when her son was born and had some additional learning needs, she discovered the inequalities in the education system. Disheartened by some teachers and encouraged by others, she decided to become an educator. She wanted to become someone who could provide a safe, loving, equitable and inspiring space for any learner. As an international educator who has worked in the UK, China, Brunei, Singapore, France and now Germany, she continues to work on this goal every day of the week. Her master’s in education for sustainability was provoked by her first experience with Compass Education and she is excited to be able to share her enthusiasm for these tools with other educators to help us develop passionate and thoughtful citizens.

Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to integrate systems thinking into your community through accessible and adaptable tools?
This program is available on-site or virtual (six hours) with flexible delivery in one to three-session formats. For further inquiries about this program and pricing, visit our Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop page or contact team@compasseducation.org.

Support Compass Education to Present at 2025 SXSW EDU Conference!
2024-08-06 - 2024-08-18
Compass Education has applied to present at this school year’s SXSW EDU Conference! To get there we need community support since community voting makes up 30% of the decision about whose voice gets to be heard.
SXSW EDU (pronounced South by Southwest E-D-U) is a vibrant and dynamic event that brings together the brightest minds in education to tackle complex issues and drive impact to create a new tomorrow for learners everywhere.
We want to share about the power of Compass Systems Thinking Tools to help teachers and learners feel empowered to tackle complex issues and build a more sustainable world.
You can show support by voting for our session Teach for a Sustainable Future with Systems Thinking!

HOW TO VOTE

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Intensive Online Course)
2024-07-15 - 2024-07-28 | Online Course
Learn how systems thinking tools can help you turn sustainability from something ‘extra’ to something extraordinary in your education work with the 2-week online summer course!
About the Course
This course is a two-week cohort-based, asynchronous, facilitator-guided course, using both independent and collaborative learning methods. In this 2-week course, participants will explore the concept of sustainability, specifically emphasizing how systems thinking tools can be used to enhance teaching & learning to foster sustainable habits of mind. Through 12-15 hours of asynchronous content, live calls with a global cohort, and feedback from personal facilitators, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of sustainability, a greater awareness of their own systems contexts, skills in using systems thinking tools, and the ability to incorporate and align sustainability with the existing curriculum. Furthermore, they will explore how systems thinking tools can empower learners of all ages to understand and act to address complex global issues like sustainability, the UN SDGs, and other pressing community challenges.
Discounts are available for school cohort registration of three people or more. Scholarships are available for public school educators and by application.
Registration deadline: July 12, 2024 (11:59 PM UTC)
Inquiries: team@compasseducation.org

Info & Registration

Facilitator
Jackie Schemenauer
Sustainability enthusiast, life-long learner and educator Jackie Schemenauer empowers schools to educate for sustainability by integrating sustainability concepts and practices into the curriculum, school culture and campus operations. Jackie holds an MEd in sustainability and school leadership and has extensive experience teaching and leading in International Baccalaureate World schools around the globe. She is an award-winning school sustainability coordinator, experienced workshop leader and instructional coach.
Jackie is passionate about taking positive action and guiding others to be change-makers within their communities. In her free time, you’ll find Jackie hiking in the woods, out paddleboarding in the ocean, or tending to her garden.

Download Flyer

Introduction to the Compass Tools (Onsite Workshop)
2024-06-25 - 2024-06-26 | Sage Hill School, CA, United States
This event is an onsite Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop with a focus on Systems Thinking and Sustainability Mindsets for Exploring Complex Issues hosted by Sage Hill School in California, USA. This workshop will be held on June 25-26 for Sage Hill School staff only.

About the Workshop
This workshop will teach the fundamentals of sustainability and systems thinking to students who want to explore how we can harness these tools and skill sets to build and promote community harmony and well-being. Participants will leave this workshop with new tools and frameworks they can use to discuss complex social and environmental issues with others, plus a deeper understanding of how to work toward thinking systemically about change.

Facilitator
Gitanjali Paul
Gitanjali Paul designs and facilitates learning for a more just, sustainable world. From classroom to community work, she specializes in Education for Sustainable Development and making systems change. Gitanjali is the Education Program Manager at nonprofit Compass Education, where she leads program development and a dynamic Global Facilitator Network that trains others on systems thinking tools for sustainability education. Gitanjali is indefatigably inquisitive. She has a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies from Tufts University, and an M.Ed in Education Policy, Research and Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Gitanjali learns continually from nature, cooking experiments, adventures with family, and her Filipina rescue cat, Mahatma Charlie.

Are you looking to build a culture of sustainability in your school? Do you want to integrate systems thinking into your community through accessible and adaptable tools?
This program is available on-site or virtual (six hours) with flexible delivery in one to three-session formats. For further inquiries about this program and pricing, visit our Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop page or contact team@compasseducation.org.
