Course FAQs
What are the dates of the course?
The course is a self-paced course. It is set to begin on September 9, 2019 and will remain open until September 8, 2020.
How long will this course take?
Each module is designed to take between 2-4 hours t complete, though it varies by person. This includes watching all of the video chapters for the lecture, completing the accompanying comprehension questions, doing the accompanying readings, and taking the mid-term and final.
How is the course graded?
For Verified Learners, this course has three gradable components - a Mid-Term exam that worth 40% of your overall grade and a Final Exam that is worth 50% of the overall grade. The remainder 10% is towards participation - i.e. filling up our Pre & Post-course surveys.
Audit learners have no graded assessments but can test their knowledge by attempting the comprehension questions. Each video chapter has at least 1 or 2 questions right below it that are open to all learners.
How do I receive a Certificate?
Students wishing to purchase a Verified Certificate may do so via edX. A 70% passing grade on the mid-term and final is required for receiving a Verified Certificate.
Is this course free?
Yes, there is no course fee associated with this course - downloading its video chapters, transcripts and readings are free of charge and open to all.
There is a fee associated with the Verified certificate priced at USD 49. A reminder that financial assistance is available to all learners who wish to purchase the certificate but are unable to afford it.
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 required. All the readings will be provided online.
What kind of background do I need for this course? Do I need an ECD 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 environmental science 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 masters 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 lectures, readings, and quizzes?
The Course Team and Teaching Assistant will be available to respond to questions and facilitate discussions in the Discussion Forum. The forum is an open space, so we encourage you to use it to post thoughts, ask questions, and engage in discussion with fellow students.
How can I find others who are taking the course?
Students are welcome to create in-person meet-ups to discuss the class. You can find students in your area or create a group to do so in the Groups tab of the forum.
I can't watch the videos. What's going on?
Google Chrome and Safari are the best browsers, though Firefox should also work. You need to allow your browser to accept 3rd party cookies. Please follow the steps provided in the following link, to allow 3rd party cookies in your browser:
For Chrome browser:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61416?hl=en
For Firefox Browser:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences
For Internet Explorer:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-vista/block-or-allow-cookies
For Safari:
1. Click the “Safari” menu
2. Click “Preferences…”
3. Click the “Security” menu
4. For “Accept cookies” select “Always”
The website requires a strong internet connection, so be sure to double check the connection before loading the videos. If this does not fix your issue, please contact support@edcast.com
Whom do I contact with questions?
For specific questions related to the course, you can email us at sdgacademy@unsdsn.org. This includes any questions about the material or assignments. For technical questions about the platform, please contact edX Support.