What are the dates of the course?
The course is set to begin on January 28, 2019, and will run for 12 weeks (10 weeks of material plus two catch-up weeks) ending on April 21, 2019 at 23:30 UTC. New material will be released on Mondays at 00:00 UTC.
I see that all the due dates are set in UTC. What is UTC?
All of the due dates and times are presented in UTC, which is Coordinated Universal Time, set equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). To convert the time in UTC to your time zone, please use a time zone converter, such as World Time Server.
How long will this course take?
There are 10 weeks of content in the course, followed by 2 weeks for catch up. Though it varies by person, this course should take 4-6 hours of work per week. This includes watching all of the video chapters for the module, completing the chapter questions, doing the accompanying readings and the Discussion Activities.
How is the course graded?
Students will receive grades on weekly video chapter questions , discussion activities, a midterm exam, and participation (completing the pre- and post-course surveys). The final grade for the course will be weighted as follows: 40% for comprehension questions, 25% for the activities, 25% for the midterm exam, and 10% for participation.
You can view your grade report under the Progress tab from the main menu. You have the duration of the course to complete all assignments for credit. All questions are due on April 21, 2019 at 23:30 UTC.
Am I eligible for a certificate?
In order to be eligible to purchase a Verified Certificate signed by Prof. Sachs, you will need a 70% average in the class. You can decide to purchase a Verified Certificate up to 10 days from the close of the course.
Is this course free?
Yes. There is no course fee associated with taking this course, and it is open to all. There is a fee, however, associated with the purchase of a Verified Certificate. EdX offers financial assistance to those who qualify. To apply for financial assistance to purchase a Verified Certificate, complete the edX Financial Assistance Application.
What resources will I need for this class?
A strong internet connection will be helpful, but we will try to ensure materials are available for slower bandwidths as well. The course is optimized to run on the most recent versions of most browsers, and Google Chrome and Safari have been shown to work the best with the platform. No other computer programs or books are necessary. All the readings will be provided as links.
What kind of background do I need for this course? Do I need a climate science background?
The course is open to all and is accessible to students without prior background or experience in the topics; you do not need to have studied energy or climate beforehand. However the content within the course is dense and complex, structured at a higher level, so we expect most of our students to be at an undergraduate or master's level.
Can I take this class for university credit?
No. While we encourage any professors to incorporate this material into their own courses, you cannot take this course on its own for university credit.
How can I engage with the course beyond the chapter videos, readings, and assessments?
The Course Team and Teaching Assistant will be available to respond to questions and facilitate discussions in the Discussion Activities and on the General Discussion Board. In addition to the weekly activities, we encourage you to use the discussion boards to post thoughts, ask questions, and engage in discussion with fellow learners.
Who do I contact with questions?
You can email climateaction@sdgacademy.org with any questions about the material or assignments. For technical questions about the platform, please visit the edX Help Center.