Course FAQ

1. What is the difference between the audit track and the verified track? 

The certificate track costs $49, and upon course completion, edX provides an official certificate. The audit track is free, and upon course completion, the Inclusive STEM Teaching team provides an unofficial certificate. In both tracks, the content and activities are identical. 

2. Will I have access to the course after it closes?

Yes, all learners in both the audit track and verified track will continue having unlimited access to the course content and materials after the course ends.

3. How much time commitment is expected? 

There is approximately 2 hours of content each week, 45-60 min of video from experts, the team, and students, and ~60 minutes of reflection and writing in discussion boards, affinity spaces and “your inclusivity framework.” 

4. Who else is in the course?

STEM Instructors, postdocs, and graduate students from across the nation will be participating in the course.

5. What is an affinity group and how do I engage? 

We believe there are benefits for our participants to have spaces for conversations about one’s identity-based experiences both inside and outside of the course and course content, with others who share similar identities. One of the strategies we are using is affinity groups, based around the following social identities :  Black, Indigenous, and People OF Color (BIPOC), White, Women/Womxn, and Men/ Mxn. We recognize that there are many many more identities that would benefit from an affinity space. We also recognize that identities are incredibly complex, dynamic and intersectional and that any set of “labels” cannot fully capture the range of people and experiences present in this MOOC. We have chosen these four identities as a starting point, with hopes to add more in the future if this feature is successful. Instructions for engagement in the affinity group are in the course introduction.

6. How do I get involved in the research so I can assess the inclusivity of my course design, classroom environment, and attitudes of my students? 

When you register for and start the course, you will be invited to participate in the research portion. At that time you will be asked to consent to the research process and will receive surveys from our Research Team.

7. How do I complete the course and receive a certificate?

Course completion is achieved by responding to 50% or more of the inclusivity framework questions of a total of 14 questions. Two of the seven that you complete (or more) must be from Module four or later in the course. Course completers will receive a Certificate of Completion from edX if they participated in the verified track; and from the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project if they participated in the audit track.

8. What is the Inclusivity Framework?

The “inclusivity framework” is designed to help you reflect deeply on key aspects of each module as they go through the course, and to help you apply these aspects in tangible ways to your own current and/or future teaching and learning contexts. At the conclusion of each module (including the introduction), you will be prompted to respond to two (2) inclusivity framework questions: a self-reflection prompt and a statement of intent. The responses to these questions will be captured and displayed in such a way that you may view all of your responses at once, so that at the completion of the course, you will have created your own inclusivity framework. Responses will not be graded but will count towards the completion of the course. Other participants will not be able to view your responses.

9. What is a learning community? 

A learning community is a 60 minute discussion facilitated by a trained facilitator that digs deeper into the course content, connects participants to others in the community, and contextualizes applications. Learning communities usually consist of about 8-12 other learners also enrolled in the course.

10. How can I join a local or virtual learning community? 

You can sign up for a local learning community through our website. Find out more about local learning communities here

11. Is it possible to have downloadable readings of the transcripts?

Yes. To download a video transcript, below the video player, select the download option for the transcript file format that you want. In the dialog that opens, you can choose to open or save the transcript file.

12. Can the captioning be turned off?

Yes, the user can turn captions/transcripts on or off, according to their preference.

13. Can I use the course materials at my institution?

Yes – as required by all NSF funded projects, our course content is available to any course participant for their use. Videos, text, worksheets, and downloadable files housed on the edX platform are available to participants under the Creative Commons (CC) 4.0 no-derivative non-commercial license, described here. Content cannot be modified, and all course documents used by participants in other settings must maintain/contain the Inclusive STEM Teaching and CC logos.  The content is best shown through the edX site itself, since the text and videos all include the proper attribution.