What are the dates of the course?
The course launches on May 6, 2019. For the following 12 weeks, lectures will be uploaded each Monday at 00:00 UTC. Once a lecture, readings, quizzes, and activities are available, they will be open for the duration of the course.
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 many hours a week will this course take?
Though it varies by person, this course should be on average 2-4 hours of work per week. This includes watching the lectures, completing the accompanying readings, doing the quizzes, and--for Modules 2, 4, and 9--completing the homework.
How can I assess my learning?
Learners can assess their own progress with weekly comprehension questions, reading quizzes, select homework activities, and a final exam.
Each module will have a series of corresponding comprehension questions and a reading quiz. Each question in the comprehension questions and the end of module assessment is weighted differently, and the points per question is provided next to the question.
Modules 2, 4, and 9 include homework activities that encourages you to engage with that week's material in a new way. Homework include both a discussion-based activity and comprehension questions.
The final exam will combine information from all the lectures and readings and will be released during the last week of the course. You will see two versions of the final exam in your Course Outline: one for learners on the Verified Track, and one for learners on the Audit Track. The questions are exactly the same for both tracks--but the Verified Track exam is graded for learners pursuing a Verified Certificate.
FOR VERIFIED LEARNERS, the final exam counts for 100% of your final grade. You must pass with 70% or above in order to receive your certificate.
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?
The course is open to all and is accessible to learners without prior background in the topics.
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.
Who do I contact with questions?
You can email naturalresources@sdgacademy.org with any questions about the material or assignments. For technical questions about the platform, please visit the edX Help Center.