Beyond the Beach Clean Up: Using Systems Thinking to Enhance Service Learning
Sara McKay
This presentation will introduce participants to the Iceberg, a systems thinking tool that is designed to help students and leaders investigate an issue and discover more effective leverage points for change. As plastic waste in rivers and oceans is such a pressing issue in SE Asia, we will start by identifying an event, then look at the patterns, systems and mental models that underlie the event. This is a practical framework that can be used in service learning to develop more impactful initiatives and create sustainable change.
About Sara
Sara McKay is a dynamic educator with over 23 years of experience. Currently residing in Brunei Darussalam, she teaches at Jerudong International School.
In her previous positions as a Junior School teacher and an Eco JIS coordinator, Sara spearheaded numerous initiatives to nurture her students’ appreciation of the natural world and build their awareness of the need to live more sustainably. Today, as an English teacher in the Senior School, she is actively involved in curriculum design and professional development, continuously advocating for the integration of sustainability across all subject areas.
In addition to her teaching, Sara is an enthusiastic Compass Education Facilitator, a role she’s held since 2023. She is passionate about using systems thinking tools to bring people together to investigate the complex challenges of sustainability as well as develop new ideas and innovations for positive change.
