Compass Education

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

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.
