The list consists of questions you as participants ask most frequently. Please look for answers in this list first before asking on the discussion forum. Thank you!
Organisation
Q1 How much time do I need to spend on the course?
A1 The planned study load is about 6 to 8 hours per week.
Q2 Do I need to watch the lectures live in the corresponding week?
A2 No, during the course, you can watch the lectures whenever you like.
Q3 Can I contact the instructor or teaching assistants?
A3 Not directly. The discussion forum is the appropriate venue for questions. Instructors monitor the discussion forum and try to respond to the most important questions; in many cases, response from other students and peers will be both adequate and faster.
Q4 What about the accessibility of videos?
A4 You can download the transcripts and videos.
Q5 How can I download the transcripts?
A5 On the right side of the 'download transcripts' button underneath the video is the option to choose between an .srt-file of a .txt-file. Choose the .txt-file to dowload the text. When you prefer a more readable document you can copy-paste this to a word-file.
Introduction & Preparation
Q1 Which browser can I use when working on this edX course?
A1 We advise you to use Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported by edX, so please use one of the advised browsers instead.
Q2 I don't have a smartphone, can I still follow this course?
A2 Yes. When you are not able to use the Food for Health photo-app there is an other option. Via this link: https://mooc.wur.nl/food you can register and upload your pictures for the Personal Food Quest.
Q3 Where can I find the Food for Health photo-app for the Personal Food Quest?
A3 It depends on whether or not you have a smartphone and which system it uses. You can find a step-by-step guide here in week 0 or simply search for 'WageningenX' in your App store.
Peer Review
Q1 What to do if I feel I am being treated unfairly in peer review?
A1 The peer review is only to practice and is NOT part of the grading. Reviewing is the responsibility of your peers and so far we are not able to manipulate these after the peer-reviewing. The community consists of highly capable and motivated people, so we trust that this will be done fairly. Double check your submission before handing it in and write your submission in English.
Q2 Why can I not click on 'Upload' in the submission of my assignment in the peer review module?
A2 The button will become active if there is text added in the response box. So if you just type a few letters it will be possible to save your progress. You can then finish your assignment at a later moment.
Q3 How many peers do I have to review in the peer review module?
A3 In the peer review you will have to review the work of 4 of your peers. You will also receive feedback from 3 of your peers, however we would like to ask you to assess more peers to make sure everybody will be graded especially in the last week.
Assignments & Grading
Q1 Can I still finish all assignments when I start later in the course?
A1 Yes you can. All assignments have to be finished by the 15th of October (except your response to the final peer review: 8th of October).
Q2 When is the registration deadline for a verified track/certificate?
A2 At the halfway mark of the course.
Q3 How often can I fill in the section exam?
A3 One time only.
Q4 When do I have to submit my final assignment?
A4 You have to submit your response to the peer assessment before the 8th of October (00:00:00 UTC/GMT). However, you can review (at least 4 assignments) of your fellow students until the 15th of October (00:00:00 UTC/GMT). This assessment it NOT for grading.
Courseware
Q1 If fat cannot be converted to glucose how can fat then be turned into energy?
A1 You can compare it with a car which drives on fuel. A car can drive on different fuels. Which fuel the car uses is dependent on what we put in it. In the same manner, what we use to obtain energy is dependent on what we eat. However, when our energy intake is lower than our energy needs we have to rely on our energy storage. In this case, fat is the most readily available source of energy. This explains why we mainly use fat as an energy source.
In more detail: When our energy intake is lower than our needs we start to break down triglycerides from our adipose tissue. The breakdown of triglycerides gives glycerol and free fatty acids. The glycerol can be converted into a glycolysis intermediate (dihydroxyacetone phosphate). The dihydroxyacetone phosphate can be converted into pyruvic acid through the glycolysis pathway and further oxidized in the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain to provide energy (ATP). The free fatty acids are oxidized to acetyl CoA in the mitochondria using beta-oxidation. The acetyl CoA is then converted into energy (ATP) using the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain.