Compass Education

Sub-Saharan Africa Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-11-27 17:00 - 18:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Virtual
We’re excited to invite you to join our upcoming virtual Meet-Up:
💡 Topic: Navigating Our Journey: Reflecting on Systems, Sustainability, and Impact
🗓️ Date: Thursday, November 27
⏰ Time: 5 pm UTC+2 (Zimbabwean time zone)
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email (and after registration for new members)

In this upcoming meet-up, we will do a recap of some of the sustainability tools we have explored thus far and focus on plans to create an even greater impact.
Please mark your calendars and join us in a great collaboration. Your participation enriches our community and supports our collective growth.

If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below.

Looking forward to continuing our journey of sharing and growing as a Sub-Saharan community!

Join CEG now!

Asia-Pacific Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-11-23 16:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | Virtual
We are very excited to invite the Asia Pacific Regional Education Group to our next Virtual Meet-up!
🗓️ Date: Sunday, November 23
⏰ Time: 4 pm Singapore time (UTC+8)
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email (and after registration for new members)

Please mark the date in your calendars, and I will send a reminder and more information about the meeting closer to the time.
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. Looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming meet-up!

Join CEG now!

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-11-22 15:00 - 16:00 (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!
🗓️ Date: Thursday, September 25
⏰ Time: 6 pm Zimbabwe Time (UTC +2)
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email (and after registration for new members)

We will be delving a bit more formally into the Systems Iceberg as a way to allow students (or adults) to look deeper into an issue. We’d love for you to bring a list – in your head or on paper – of things your school does for sustainability and regeneration. We’ll be using the Systems Iceberg to analyze where we stand, as a collective, and how we might deepen the work that schools in our region to do to become more sustainable and regenerative.
If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. Looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming meet-up!

Join CEG now!

Education for the Planet Through a Systems Lens
2025-11-20 13:00 - 13:50 UTC | Virtual
GLOW (Global Learning for an Open World) 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 Workshop
🌏 Title: Education for the Planet Through a Systems Lens
🗓️ Date: November 20
⏰ Time: 1:00 – 1:50 UTC
This workshop invites educators to explore how systems thinking tools can deepen sustainability education and inspire meaningful student action. This workshop provides educators with hands-on tools, real-world examples, and collaborative experiences to help them integrate sustainability meaningfully into their teaching. By connecting the Sustainability Compass and the Systems Iceberg, two powerful and practical systems thinking tools, to authentic school contexts such as gardens and food systems, participants will see how sustainability education can move from abstract concepts to concrete actions. Ultimately, this session aims to inspire educators to nurture students as thoughtful, creative, and responsible changemakers who can positively impact both their communities and the planet.

Register Here

Facilitator

Zhenying Liang, originally from southern China, has taught in international schools in both China and Vietnam and is now continuing her teaching journey in Thailand. She holds two Master’s degrees- one in Education and another in Global Environment and Sustainability. At her current school, she teaches Chinese and serves as the sustainability coordinator. Zhenying believes that systems thinking empowers students to address complex challenges and amplify their collective impact.

Introduction to the Compass Tools: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom (Virtual) Workshop
2025-11-03 - 2025-12-07 | Virtual
This event is a 3-part (6 hours) Introduction to the Compass Tools virtual workshop hosted by the International School of Düsseldorf, Germany. This workshop will be held on November 3 and 29, and December 7 and is exclusive for the International School of Düsseldorf 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.

What will you take away from this workshop?

A shared language for whole faculty or school conversations about sustainability and systems, and a framework for reflecting on issues systemically.
Powerful conversations making sense of complex issues.
Ideas that educators and others in the learning communities can use in their classrooms and beyond 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, and operations.
Access to our database of educator-sourced lesson plans.
Connection to a global movement of educators for sustainability education.

Facilitator

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.

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.

Sub-Saharan Africa Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-10-30 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Virtual
We’re excited to invite you to join our upcoming virtual Meet-Up:
💡 Topic: Beyond Facts: “The Iceberg Tool for Sustainable Thinking
🗓️ Date: Thursday, October 30
⏰ Time: 6 pm UTC+2
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email (and after registration for new members)

This session is for anyone interested in learning about this tool. It promises to deepen our understanding of systems thinking and sustainability in education, providing practical insights for our teaching and/or leadership roles.
Anyone interested in sharing their experience using the Systems Iceberg tool, please feel free to let us know so we can include it in the presentation!
Please mark your calendars and join us in a great collaboration. Your participation enriches our community and supports our collective growth.
Looking forward to continuing our journey of sharing and growing as a Sub-Saharan community!

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 Africa 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)
2025-10-27 - 2025-12-14 | 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 20 ((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 (Onsite Workshop)
2025-10-06 08:30 - 16:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | St. Joseph’s Institution International, Singapore
This event is an onsite Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop in collaboration with St. Joseph’s Institution International and Make The Change. This workshop will be held on October 6, 2025.

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.

What will you take away from this workshop?

A shared language for whole faculty or school conversations about sustainability and systems, and a framework for reflecting on issues systemically.
Powerful conversations making sense of complex issues.
Ideas that educators and others in the learning communities can use in their classrooms and beyond 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, and operations.
Access to our database of educator-sourced lesson plans.
Connection to a global movement of educators for sustainability education.

Info & Registration

Download Flyer

Facilitator
Michael Johnston
Michael Johnston (Mike) has extensive international school leadership experience, having worked in Asia, Europe and Central America for over 25 years. He has held leadership roles from grade level leader to Head of School and everything in between in some of the most notable schools around the world. Mike is an IB workshop leader, board trainer, and visiting accreditation chair with a passion for deep-connected learning experiences that allow students to take on some of the world’s most complex issues.
Mike has led workshops and keynoted for teachers and administrators around the world on sustainability, global curriculum K-12 and how service learning should not just be what you do, but who you are as a school. He is a proud member of the Common Ground Collaborative advisory council seeking to transform learning in schools globally. As a member of the Compass Education team, he is part of a growing community of passionate educators aiming to equip schools as learning communities to educate and act for a sustainable future through systems thinking and practice. He has dedicated much of his time to not only ensuring students are properly prepared for the world’s most pressing issues but also that they have the skills and desire to take action. With his Doctorate in Organizational Systems, Mike helps to inspire and lead schools through times of change and educational transformation. Please visit https://www.johnstonmike.com/ for more information.

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 (Onsite Workshop)
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-04 | Greengates School Mexico, Mexico
This workshop is a 2-day Compass Education certification workshop, hosted by Greengates School, Mexico. It will be held on October 3-4 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.

Sub-Saharan Africa Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Virtual
We’re really excited to reconnect with you all!
It’s time to jump back into another inspiring year of sustainability and systems thinking.
Are you a teacher, coordinator, or administrator? In whatever capacity you serve, let’s come together to spark new ideas and make a real difference in our communities and kick-start the conversation.

You are invited to join the Sub-Saharan Africa Meet-up:
💡 Topic: Exploring Sustainability in Our Communities: A Systems Thinking Approach
🗓️ Date: Thursday, September 25
⏰ Time: 6 pm Zimbabwe Time (UTC +2)
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email (and after registration for new members)

It will be a fantastic opportunity to connect with passionate peers, get motivated for a great year ahead, and hopefully, create some lasting change together.

If you are interested in being part of this sustainability education community and joining us in this meet-up, please sign up below. Looking forward to continuing our journey of sharing and growing as a Sub-Saharan community!

Join CEG now!

The Americas Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-09-24 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
You are cordially invited to attend our upcoming regional group meeting:
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, September 24
⏰ Time: 4:00-5:00 pm (UTC-6)
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email (and after registration for new members)

The purpose of these meetings is to bring together members of The Americas group to discuss matters of mutual concern and importance.
As the new school year begins (for most of us), join us to explore systems thinking tools that can help us set intentions, identify leverage points, and prioritize what matters most. Together, we’ll reflect on our goals for the year, share strategies that have worked in our schools, and co-create a toolkit of practices to launch the year with clarity, purpose, and momentum.

We hope that you can join us and look forward to your participation in this important event!
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 Africa 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 (Online Course)
2025-09-01 - 2025-10-19 | 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 25, 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.

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Online Summer Course)
2025-07-14 - 2025-07-27 | 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 by application.
Registration deadline: July 7, 2025
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.

Addressing Eco-Anxiety through Systems Thinking Education
2025-06-30 09:00 - 10:00 UTC | Virtual
Join Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) and Compass Education for a one-hour Global Educator Workshop focused on using systems thinking to address eco-anxiety through education. This interactive session will encourage discussion about the causes of eco-anxiety and will allow participants to brainstorm ways in which educators and schools can support both youth and adults in transforming anxiety into positive action.
🗓️ June 30, 2025
🕒 9-10 am UTC
🔗 Zoom details sent after registration

RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by Sunday, June 29. For more information or any inquiries, please contact us at team@compasseducation.org.
We look forward to your participation as we explore new ways to transform anxiety into positive action!

REGISTER NOW!

Systems Design for Social Innovation
2025-05-27 - 2025-05-29 | Sage Hill School, CA, United States
This workshop is an in-house workshop specifically designed for students at Sage Hill School as part of their Spring at Sage program.
Description
Through this “Systems Design for Social Innovation” workshop, students will develop social innovations to tackle local systemic sustainability issues.
In the first part of this week, through a mix of design and systems thinking, they will explore the context of the systems in which they are working, embark on a series of community discovery activities, and apply the Systems Thinking Design process to research and address a community development challenge related to an area of their interest. Throughout the journey, participants will experience practical tools, activities, and models used to sustain positive change and agency in their own personal, collective community, and broader global identity.
In the second part of this week, students will harness their social innovation ideas and systemic understanding to develop a business plan that can make their social enterprise or business a reality. They will engage in peer reflection and feedback and record a pitch for their idea.

Systems Thinking to Cultivate Connection and Belonging: A Roundtable Conversation for Educators from Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA Regions
2025-04-23 16:00 - 17:15 (Europe/Helsinki) | Virtual
How can educators and schools use systems thinking to create a sense of belonging and connection? Cultivating connections is key to building sustainable communities, so let’s explore this topic together in honor of Earth Day 2025!
Join us for an engaging and insightful roundtable discussion exploring “Systems Thinking to Cultivate Connection and Belonging: A Roundtable Conversation for Educators from Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA Regions”. This roundtable will be a space for PK-12 educators from across the Middle East and Africa regions to share stories and ask questions about how we can utilize Compass Education’s systems thinking tools to cultivate a connection to people, place, and the planet. Come be part of the conversation!
Date: April 23, 2023
Time: 4 pm – 5:15 pm Central Africa Time (UTC +2)
Location: Zoom Meeting (details sent after registration)

Event Highlights

Storytelling Spotlight: Share your story or listen to other educators share their experiences integrating systems thinking into their work to cultivate a sense of belonging or connection to people, place and planet.
Interactive Discussions: Share your questions, ideas and opportunities on this topic during our open discussion on questions generated by you and our facilitators. Help shape the conversation by sharing your questions when you register.
Collaborative Opportunities: Explore potential collaborations and new ideas to further enhance your systems thinking and sustainability practice.

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 exposure to 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 Tuesday, April 22. For more information or any inquiries, please 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!

REGISTER NOW!

Sub-Saharan Africa Compass Education Group Meet-Up
2025-04-23 16:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Virtual
We are excited to invite you to an Educator Roundtable focused on “Systems Thinking to Cultivate Connection and Belonging”.
This exciting event – facilitated by our very own Gitanjali Paul (Education Program Manager), Laurence Myers (MENA Regional Leader), and Carolina Daza Charsley (Sub-Saharan Regional Leader) – is tailored for PK-12 educators who have exposure to 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.
EVENT DETAILS
🗓️ Date: April 23, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00 – 5:15 pm Central Africa Time (UTC +2)
📍 Location: Zoom details sent after registration.
This gathering offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow educators across the Middle East and Africa who share your commitment to empowering students as change agents. Our goals for this event include:

Storytelling Spotlight: Share your story or listen to other educators share their experiences integrating systems thinking into their work to cultivate a sense of belonging or connection to people, place and planet.
Interactive Discussions: Share your questions, ideas and opportunities on this topic during our open discussion on questions generated by you and our facilitators. Help shape the conversation by sharing your questions when you register.
Collaborative Opportunities: Explore potential collaborations and new ideas to further enhance your systems thinking and sustainability practice.

The event will feature spotlight sessions where a few of our colleagues will share their inspiring stories and insights. We believe these stories will spark valuable discussions and help us all discover new ways to strengthen our educational practices.
We would be delighted to have you join us for this enriching and collaborative experience. Please RSVP by April 22 to secure your spot. Of course, if you have a story (or two) to share, please feel free to make a note of that when you register. The more voices the merrier!
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 Africa 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!

Introduction to the Compass Tools: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom (Onsite) Workshop
2025-04-18 | UNIS Hanoi Vietnam
This event is an onsite Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop hosted by United Nations International School (UNIS) Hanoi, Vietnam. This workshop will be held on April 18, 2025, and the audience will consist entirely of Vietnamese educators.

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.

Facilitator
Kate Doré
Kate Doré is currently the Secondary School Service Learning Coordinator at the United Nations International School in Hanoi, Vietnam. She has been teaching for over twenty years, working with learners of all ages both in and outside the classroom. In this time, Kate has been grateful to be able to collaborate with educators and youth in creating interdisciplinary and co-curricular experiences which support and empower youth as leaders for a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Kate holds a M.A. in Education focusing on curriculum and science literacy; as well as postgraduate degrees in Business Management, School Leadership, and Sustainability Education. She is passionate about place-based education, and the opportunities it provides to dig deep into interconnections between ourselves, our communities, and our natural world.

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.

Systems Change for a Sustainable World: Becoming a Change Maker in Your Community (Online Course)
2025-03-31 - 2025-05-18 | 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.

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.
