Compass Education

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

Systems Thinking for Youth Climate Education & Civic Action: Introduction to the Compass Tools Virtual Workshop Series for Educators in Chesapeake Bay Region
2025-12-04 - 2026-01-08 | Virtual
Are you looking to embed climate education in your curriculum? Do you want to empower your students to take civic action to address climate change? How can you be a leader of the climate education movement in your community?
Compass Education is pleased to offer a three-part virtual Introduction to the Compass Tools workshop series this winter for educators across the Chesapeake Bay area on ‘Systems Thinking for Youth Climate Education and Civic Action.’
🗓️ Date: December 4 and 11, January 8
⏰ Time: 4-6 pm Eastern Time
📍 Location: Zoom details will be sent by email after application approval
🚨 Application deadline: December 4
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 climate issues into their work. Participants will leave this series with a plan to use systems thinking to integrate climate education into their work or engage their students in civic action for sustainability.
Any classroom educator or school administrator currently working in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or the District of Colombia is eligible to apply. We especially encourage educators working in public or government schools with limited access to professional learning funds to apply.
Participants who complete all workshop requirements will receive:

$50 stipend
1:1 consultation with a Compass Facilitator
Free recourses to integrate sustainability and systems into any curriculum and every class level

Apply Here

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.

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Online Course)
2026-01-26 - 2026-03-15 | 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 19, 2026 (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.

Systems Change for a Sustainable World: Becoming a Change Maker in Your Community (Online Course)
2026-03-23 - 2026-05-10 | 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: March 16 ((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.

Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom and Beyond - Americas Region
2026-04-14 18:00 - 2026-04-28 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
What if your teaching could help students make sense of the world—and empower them to change it?
Join this dynamic 3-part virtual workshop from Compass Education, offering educators opportunities to learn with peers across the Americas region and discover how systems thinking can transform the way you teach sustainability. This interactive series equips you with practical tools to explore complex global issues, uncover root causes, and guide students toward meaningful action.

Workshop Info
🌎 Title: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom and Beyond: Introduction to the Compass Tools
🗓️ Dates:

English: April 14, 21 & 28
Spanish: April 16, 23 & 30

⏰ Time: 6-8 pm CST
⚙️ Format: Zoom meeting

What You’ll Gain

🌱 Practical frameworks like the Sustainability Compass and Systems Iceberg
🛠 Ready-to-use strategies for any subject or grade level
👩‍🏫 Confidence to integrate sustainability into your curriculum
🌍 Connection with a global community of educators
🎯 A clear, actionable plan for your classroom or school

Who is eligible to register

Any classroom educator, curriculum leaders or school administrator who is eager to bring sustainability and systems thinking into their classrooms, communities, and culture
Anyone who works in education and cares deeply about integrating systems thinking and sustainability into their social impact work

In just 6 hours across 3 live sessions, you’ll gain skills that can transform both your teaching practice and your students’ learning experience. Scholarships and reduced rates are available.

Register now!

Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom and Beyond - Asia Region
2026-04-28 18:00 - 2026-05-12 20:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | Virtual
What if your teaching could help students make sense of the world—and empower them to change it?
Join this dynamic 3-part virtual workshop from Compass Education, offering educators opportunities to learn with peers across the Asia region and discover how systems thinking can transform the way you teach sustainability. This interactive series equips you with practical tools to explore complex global issues, uncover root causes, and guide students toward meaningful action.

Workshop Info
🌎 Title: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom and Beyond: Introduction to the Compass Tools
🗓️ Dates: April 28, May 5 & 12
⏰ Time: 6-8 pm UTC+8
⚙️ Format: Zoom meeting

What You’ll Gain

🌱 Practical frameworks like the Sustainability Compass and Systems Iceberg
🛠 Ready-to-use strategies for any subject or grade level
👩‍🏫 Confidence to integrate sustainability into your curriculum
🌍 Connection with a global community of educators
🎯 A clear, actionable plan for your classroom or school

Who is eligible to register

Any classroom educator, curriculum leaders or school administrator who is eager to bring sustainability and systems thinking into their classrooms, communities, and culture
Anyone who works in education and cares deeply about integrating systems thinking and sustainability into their social impact work

In just 6 hours across 3 live sessions, you’ll gain skills that can transform both your teaching practice and your students’ learning experience. Scholarships and reduced rates are available.

Register now!

Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom and Beyond - Europe Region
2026-05-05 17:00 - 2026-05-19 19:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Virtual
What if your teaching could help students make sense of the world—and empower them to change it?
Join this dynamic 3-part virtual workshop from Compass Education, offering educators opportunities to learn with peers across the Europe region and discover how systems thinking can transform the way you teach sustainability. This interactive series equips you with practical tools to explore complex global issues, uncover root causes, and guide students toward meaningful action.

Workshop Info
🌎 Title: Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom and Beyond: Introduction to the Compass Tools
🗓️ Dates: May 5, 12 & 19
⏰ Time: 5-7 pm CEST
⚙️ Format: Zoom meeting

What You’ll Gain

🌱 Practical frameworks like the Sustainability Compass and Systems Iceberg
🛠 Ready-to-use strategies for any subject or grade level
👩‍🏫 Confidence to integrate sustainability into your curriculum
🌍 Connection with a global community of educators
🎯 A clear, actionable plan for your classroom or school

Who is eligible to register

Any classroom educator, curriculum leaders or school administrator who is eager to bring sustainability and systems thinking into their classrooms, communities, and culture
Anyone who works in education and cares deeply about integrating systems thinking and sustainability into their social impact work

In just 6 hours across 3 live sessions, you’ll gain skills that can transform both your teaching practice and your students’ learning experience. Scholarships and reduced rates are available.

Register now!

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach (Summer Course)
2026-07-13 - 2026-07-26 | 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 6, 2026
Inquiries: team@compasseducation.org

Info & Registration

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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)
2026-08-31 - 2026-10-18 | 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 or more. Scholarships are available for public school educators and by application.
Registration deadline: Thursday, August 27 (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.

Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom: Introduction to the Compass Tools (Virtual) Workshop
2026-08-31 15:00 - 2026-09-21 17:00 (Europe/Moscow) | Virtual
This event is a 3-part (6 hours) Introduction to the Compass Tools virtual workshop hosted by the International School of Tanganyika, Tanzania. This workshop will be held exclusively for the International School of Tanganyika staff only on August 31, September 7 and 21.

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.

Systems Change for a Sustainable World: Becoming a Change Maker in Your Community (Online Course)
2026-10-26 - 2026-12-13 | 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: Thursday, October 22 ((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.
