How much time do I need to spend on the course? The estimated study load for this MOOC is about 12 to 24 hours for an average learner.
Do I need to watch each video in a specific week? All the modules open at the same time, you can adjust your schedule.
Can I still finish all assignments when I start later in the course? Yes, you can. The fun assignment in module 5 needs to be completed by the 14th of May 2020 (23:00 UTC). All the graded assignments and the peer review step of Module 5 must be finished by the 28th of May 2020 (23:00 UTC). For more information, see our Dates & Grades.
The important course dates shown at the course homepage show a different time than the ones I read here and in the syllabus. Which are the correct times? In your edX account settings, you can select the time zone that you want course dates and times to appear in. If you did not select a time zone, course dates and times display in the time zone that your browser settings specify. In the course syllabus, all dates and times display in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). See the edX Learner Guide.
Assignments
What kind of assignments does this course offer?
Fun Assignments (ungraded);
Check Your Understanding (ungraded);
Module Exams (graded);
Final Exam (graded).
Can I write my answers in a language other than English? No, the official language of the course is English. All course materials are provided in English, and all communication, including answers, posts, and assignments, need to be written in English.
What if I am having trouble with a question? May I discuss this with others to get some help with solving the problem? There are many assignments to practice. You can use these to discuss with your fellow learners in the discussion forum. Do not share any answers for the graded assignments. These will be removed from the forum. See the edX Honor Code.
After I submitted my answers to a question with checkboxes, an asterisk was shown and I received the feedback ‘This answer is partially correct’. What does this mean? In this course, partial credit is used for checkbox questions. This means that whenever you submit an answer that is partly correct, you still receive credit. You get points for selecting a correct answer as well as for not selecting a wrong answer.
Peer review assignments
Why can I not click on Submit for my assignment in the peer review assignments? The submit button will become active once you type something in the response box. If you need more time, you can select Save Your Progress to save a draft of your responses, and then come back later. See the edX Learner Guide.
How many peers do I have to review in the peer review assignment? In the peer review you will have to review the work of three other learners; you will receive feedback from two learners. However we would like to ask you to assess more peers to make sure everybody will be graded, especially in the last weeks.
What to do if I feel I am being treated unfairly in the peer review? Reviewing is the responsibility of your peers. The community consists of highly capable and motivated people, so we trust that this will be done fairly. Also, edX uses a calculation method that results in a fair mark even in case of outliers. See the edX Learner Guide.
Verified Certificate
What does it mean to audit a course? If you audit a course, you are participating for free and you have access to most course materials (including the discussion forum). The audit track does not grant access to graded assignments and unlimited course access. At the end of the course, you don’t receive a certificate. These things are exclusively for verified learners who have paid a small fee for unlimited access to the course. Please visit the verified overview page if you would like to know more about the difference between audit and verified, how the upgrading process works or to upgrade immediately.
How can I sign up for a verified certificate? Check the verified overview page on how to do this. After the option of upgrading is closed, it is no longer possible to get a verified certificate.
When do I receive my verified certificate? Any time after you have qualified to pass the course, if you have a minimum average grade of 60%, you can download your verified certificate from your edX dashboard. For more information on how to generate and download your certificates, explore edX’s documentation on how to generate your certificate.
How do I change sessions? Most of our WageningenX MOOCs offer multiple sessions of the course. This means that you can select the period in which you would like to follow the course in advance. After you join a course session, you can change to another session or leave the session within 14 days, as long as you have not completed the course. See the edX Help Center for more information on the specifics of this edX policy.
Can I still get a refund? To receive a refund in a verified track course, you must unenroll from the course within 14 days after your purchase date or 14 days after your course starts (whichever comes later). This is still possible up to a maximum of 180 days after your payment. See the edX Help Center for more information on the specifics of this edX policy.
Technicalities
Which browser can I use when working on this edX course? We advise you to use Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer 11. See the edX Learner Guide.
How can I download the transcripts? Below each video, there's an option to download the video’s transcript. You can choose between a SubRip (.srt) file or a text (.txt) file. You can open files of either type in a text editor such as Notepad. See the edX Learner Guide.
How can I download the PowerPoint presentations? Some videos are supplied with a handout, usually the PowerPoint presentation as shown by the teacher in the video. You can download these presentations by clicking on the Download handout option below the video. See the edX Learner Guide.
Online Courses App
Can I use the Online Courses App if I don’t have a smartphone? Yes, you can use the desktop version of the app. Read the instructions in the Online Courses App Handout.
The app is not working, what did I do wrong? Check your location privacy settings, location tracker, or GPS and make sure they are set to enable or on. Also, make sure the installation steps in the Online Courses App Handout were completed correctly. The desktop version of the app does not function well in Internet Explorer. Please use Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
What is the unlock code that needs to be used in the Online Courses App? The unlock code is: BEERm01.
Other
Can I contact the teacher or teaching assistants? Not directly. The discussion forum is the appropriate venue for questions. Moderators monitor the discussion forum and try to respond to the most important questions; in many cases, the response from other learners will be both adequate and faster.
I am too young to drink or buy alcohol in my country. Can I still participate in the course? Yes you can, but you may have to skip some of the fun assignments. Please be aware that tasting, drinking, buying or brewing an alcoholic beverage may be subject to laws and regulations in your country and can be hazardous. This course does not promote undertaking these activities and Wageningen University & Research cannot be held responsible for any consequences related to the course or any course assignment in any situation or circumstance. By taking part in the course and the assignments, you agree to do so responsibly at your own risk. See our Disclaimer.
Can I re-use the materials of this course? Or can I make a translation of this course for my university/institution? The course materials of this course are Copyright Wageningen University & Research and are licensed under an 'All Rights Reserved' license. The individual videos are published under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. If you wish to re-use the course materials, please contact wageningen.x@wur.nl to discuss possibilities
