Course FAQs
What are the dates of the course?
This course is self-paced, which means you can complete the content anytime. This run of the course will close on November 30, 2021 — so be sure to complete all materials by then!
Are there due dates for the assignments?
For self-paced courses, edX suggests due dates for assignments and exams as a way to help you stay on track. These due dates are suggestions to help you plan and pace your studies. You can submit assignments or exams any time up until the final end date of the course. Learn more about edX suggested due dates here.
If you see an assignment you have not completed is Past Due, or you see a message that you have missed a suggested deadline on the course homepage or Dates tab, you can shift your due dates. You can shift your due dates using the Shift due dates button on the course homepage or Dates tab. This will not affect any of the progress you have made in the course so far.
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?
The course consists of 7 units of content. Though it varies by person, this course should take on average 1 hour per unit. This includes watching all of the videos for the unit, completing the comprehension quizzes, one final exam, checking out our virtual reality 360° videos and activities, doing the accompanying readings, and participating in discussions.
How is the course graded?
Verified learners will be graded on their performance in the final exam. The final grade comes 90% from the final and 10% from completion of the pre- and post-course surveys. You are also highly encouraged to participate in the course discussions.
FINAL EXAM
For the final exam, please remember:
- You will be allowed only two attempts to select the correct answers for multiple choice and “check all that apply” questions.
- You will be allowed only one attempt at the correct answer for True/False questions or multiple choice questions with just two answers.
How do I receive a Certificate?
In order to receive a Verified Certificate, learners must register for it via the edX platform and receive a proficiency score of 70% or higher on the overall course assessments. Click here to learn more about edX Verified Certificates.
You can also receive a UNEP certificate upon completion of the course, even if you are on the Audit Track. Both Verified Learners and Audit Learners must complete the post-course survey to receive the UNEP certificate.
What is the difference between a Verified Certificate and a UNEP certificate?
As a Verified Learner, your grades will be tracked and, once you complete the course with a proficiency score of 70%, you will receive the Verified Certificate from the edX platform. Upgrading to the Verified Track costs $49 USD, and edX offers financial assistance for learners who qualify.
Learners who chose not to upgrade are Audit Learners. Both Audit Learners and Verified Learners have the opportunity to earn a free certificate, awarded by UNEP. To receive a certificate from UNEP, you must audit the full course. Your UNEP certificate will be one of completion rather than proficiency.
To receive the UNEP certificate, be sure to complete the post-course survey and follow the instructions carefully. Please allow for at least one week to receive the UNEP certificate as we need to send it by email manually.
You will also have the option to sign up for the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) newsletter. However, your email will not be used for any commercial purposes.
Is this course free?
Yes. There is no course fee associated with this course, and it is open to all. The UNEP certificate of completion is free for learners who complete the course.
If you are seeking a Verified Certificate, a fee will be charged. EdX offers financial assistance to those who qualify. To apply for financial assistance to purchase a Verified Certificate, complete the edX Financial Assistance Application.
Is there a deadline to upgrade to the Verified Track?
Yes. Because this is a self-paced course, every learner will have a different deadline, depending on the date you enrolled. You can find your Verification Upgrade Deadline on the right side of this course's Home page, under "important dates." Learn more about upgrading to a Verified Certificate here, and contact the edX Help Center with any questions.
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. Video files, transcripts, and readings are available for download to be read offline.
What kind of background do I need for this course?
The course is open to all and is accessible to learners without prior background or experience in the topics; you do not need to have studied the environment or nature-based solutions beforehand. However the content within the course is dense and complex, structured at a higher level; so we expect most of our learners to be at an undergraduate or master's level.
Translations
The course videos have been recorded in English, and text transcripts in English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, and Indonesian can be shown to scroll adjacent to the videos by pressing "cc" at the lower right corner. We have also translated most other materials, such as the Fact Sheets, discussion questions, and surveys. However if you have questions for the course team, please try to write to us in English, as we do not have translators on hand to answer your questions in your language. For the discussion forum, you are encouraged to write in your language to interact with other learners, but instructors may not be able to understand your question or comment. Thank you for your understanding on this point.
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 lectures, readings, and quizzes?
In addition to the discussion prompts in each unit, we encourage you to use the discussion board to post thoughts, ask questions, and engage in discussion with fellow learners.
Whom do I contact with questions?
For specific questions related to the course, you can email at courses@sdgacademy.org. This includes any questions about the material or assignments. This email address is used for multiple courses, so please specify that you are asking about the "Nature-based Solutions" course.
For technical questions about the platform, please visit the edX Help Center.
For questions or more information relating to Nature-based Solutions to Disaster and Climate Resilience, you can write to contact@pedrr.org or visit www.pedrr.org