Professional Development

Spreading Sustainability and Systems Thinking to the World

Do you desire to teach students to be deep thinkers with a broader perspective?  Do you wonder how and when you can fit in the big picture of global issues into your day-to-day curriculum?  Do you feel inspired to encourage your students to take action, but need some tools to make that realistic in your classroom?

We know you are already shouldering huge responsibilities and don’t need “another thing” to have to cover or teach.  We also know that education is better when it connects to what students are seeing, hearing and experiencing in the world.  Compass Education’s professional development programs are designed to build capacity among educators to integrate sustainability education into existing practice with tools that are as simple to learn as they are to teach.   We will help you do what you do, and make it better!

Professional Development

Compass Education’s fun and engaging sessions are intended for teachers, sustainability or environmental coordinators, service learning coordinators, curriculum coordinators and those in similar roles.  

All of our on-site workshops are also available in a virtual or on-line format

If you are interested in asynchronous, on-line learning opportunities, please visit our courses page.

Introduction to the Compass Tools:
Systems Thinking for Sustainability in the Classroom

This one day workshop has been developed to enable schools to efficiently and effectively introduce educators, administrators and support staff to the fundamentals of sustainability and systems thinking. The process is designed to scaffold learners in systems processes through the introduction of two of the most important and useful systems thinking tools; the Sustainability Compass and Systems Iceberg. Participants are encouraged to put their learning into immediate practice in the design of a lesson or project plan.

  • Format: On-site 1 day (6hours).    Virtual option available
  • Certification: NO – but Certification Supplement Course is available
  • Audience:  All disciplines and all grade levels

To request more info about this course or to confirm availability please contact us

Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World: A Systems Thinking Approach -- Compass Practitioner (Level 1) Certification

This course offers educators and program leaders an easy-to-use yet transformative approach to integrate sustainability education and systems thinking into their teaching practice. Participants come away with a renewed sense of purpose and the tools and practice to immediately use what they’ve learned in the classroom.  Whether you’re running a school or facilitating a conversation in the classroom, this course is for you!   

  • Format: On-site 2 day (12 hours).    Virtual option available
  • Certification: YES – Level 1 “Compass Practitioner”
  • Audience:  All disciplines and all grade levels

To request more info about this course or to confirm availability please contact us

Systems Change for a Sustainable World: Becoming a Change Maker in your School Community -- Compass Educator (Level 2) Certification

In this course participants explore the challenges and means of integrating sustainability values, principles and practice into education – specifically existing curriculum and school culture.  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.

  • Format: On-site 2 day (12 hours).  Virtual Option Available
  • Certification: YES – Level 2 “Compass Educator”
  • Audience:  All disciplines and grade levels. Participants must have successfully completed the Level 1 course and have some experience implementing the tools. 

To request more info about this course or to confirm availability please contact us

"All education is environmental education. By what is included or excluded we teach students that they are a part of or apart from the natural world"
David Orr

Become A Compass School

Becoming a Compass School means that you are ready to include sustainability into all areas of your school in a meaningful way. You committed to learning and teaching the skills of systems thinking and sustainability to your campus community.

At Compass, our purpose is to spread the tools and we want to be your partner in teaching and training.
Services Compass Education sustainability education

Questions? We’d love to hear from you.

F.A.Q.

Yes!  We have a virtual option using some of our most useful tools that can host up to 70 people at one time and we are happy to run on-site workshops for larger groups. 

Between 20 and 30 is the optimum number for our onsite workshops, but we have hosted much larger groups with the appropriate facilities and support. 

Yes!  Systems thinking is what administrators must do every day and the Compass Tools  create a visible way to organize and connect their thoughts and work! 

Yes. All of our trainings include a planning meeting with the school to determine how to customize the learning for the participants.  It is very important to us that educators walk away from the training feeling empowered to use the tools in their context and we work hard to align our presentation with the specific needs of each school. 

Educators from all over the world!   Compass Education has more than 25 facilitators working in more than 42 countries.  Our online trainings are available in even the most remote areas and it is so fun to see who joins us! 

We currently offer discounts for groups and cohorts.  We also have very accessible pricing for educators in government or public schools. When we have facilitators in the area, we offer free trainings for community organizations that work with children in marginalized regions of the world. 

Compass Education is grateful to our generous non-profit donors and  sponsors who contribute to our operations costs, allowing us to keep prices low and provide scholarships and free trainings for educational organizations who would be served by the tools but do not have the resources  to pay for training.

Browse through this website and you will find many ways to become involved.  Send us a note about your specific interests and we will get back to you quickly. 

We’re making a difference 200+ SCHOOLS

Compass Education is on a mission to share our tools with 1 million educators by 2030. Join our community of dedicated educators and follow our growth on social media!
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