What time is it?
In order to coordinate with peers from around the world, this course uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The current time is shown here and you can use this site to convert to your own time zone.
How do I pass this class? How do grades work?
In this course, we have shifted the emphasis away from grades. What’s important is the effort you put in and the experiences you have. This especially means engaging with the community of your peers, and making assignment work personally meaningful. These things don’t lend themselves to automated evaluation, but benefit greatly from discussion and reflection. For this reason, the course has you focus on peer evaluation and the honor system to earn your certificate.
At the end of each unit's content, there will be a completion checklist for you to keep track of activities and assignments completed. The more you do, the more you will get out of the course, but you should also feel free to tailor your experience in the course to your own interests and goals.
You can view your progress on the Progress page (located on the top navigation bar). If you complete 60% or more of the assigned work and indicate it by filling out the appropriate checklists by the course end date, you will pass the course. However, you will not receive a certificate unless you go through the verification process.
What kind of certificates are there for this course? Do I have to pay?
EdX offers verified certificates, which are available for a fee that varies by course. For Launching Innovation in Schools, the fee is $49 (USD). You will be required to verify your identity before you can receive your certificate. You can also audit any edX course, including Launching Innovation in Schools. You do not receive a certificate if you audit a course, but you can print your progress page for the course if you want evidence of your achievement. Please note that the edX honor code still applies to all courses.
If you want the Verified Certificate, you must choose it and complete the ID verification process by October 24, 2017.
You must complete 60% or more of the assigned work and indicate that by filling out the appropriate checklists by the course end date, November 16, 2017, to pass the course and earn a Verified Certificate.
When are assignments due?
Each assignment will list a "suggested" due date in its description - usually a week after its release unless the unit is longer. However, the assignments won't close until the course ends - you can turn in your assignments, and review your peer's assignments, up until the last day of the course.
We strongly encourage students to turn in their work before the next unit launches, and ask that peer reviews be completed within about three days of the "expected" due date.
When does the course end?
Launching Innovation in Schools officially ends on November 16, 2017 and certificates are generated about a week later. Some course materials will still be available after that date in archive form.
How do I use the notes feature?
This course includes a notes feature, which lets you highlight a particular passage or make a note about what you have read. Learn more here.
Where should I go if I have questions?
- If you have technical questions about the edX platform, try using the "Support" tab in the upper left corner of every page.
- If you don't find your answer there, or if you find bugs or issues with the forums site, please post your question in the Technical Help thread in the Course Admin folder in the forums.
- If you have non-technical questions, we encourage you to post them in the appropriate discussion on the forums.
- Or, if all else fails, you can email the 11.154x staff at liis11.154x@gmail.com. We'll do our best to help you out, though we can't guarantee a timely reply given the massive nature of this course.
What about the other Microsoft in Education courses?
Read more about the Microsoft in Education series here.