Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started?
The best way to get started with the Academy is to follow a demo course. Its brief and to the point training and free!
How do I pay for a course?
All courses are available to individuals for free.
How can I register for a course?
Registration to the Academy is currently done via email self-registration. Simply follow the steps! Once your account is confirmed you can self-enroll to any available course
What are the different available course formats (short course, timed course etc.)?
The Academy supports a number of different course formats that offer different functionalities. The key differentiation is whether the course is a *timed* course format that starts at a given time and needs to be completed within a certain period or a *topics* course format that can be completed at any time. *Short* and *long* courses differ primarily in the amount of material covered, with short courses being equivalent to roughly one week's worth of work, whereas long courses are roughly of monthly duration.
What is the technical level of the courses?
All courses are classified in one of two categories: Technical or Non-technical. Technical courses would have a higher requirement of technical knowledge (typically quantitative or IT related). Non-technical courses aim to present the material in the most accessible way (e.g. not using mathematical formulas).
What are the prerequisites for taking a course?
Courses are classified as Introductory, Core or Advanced. Introductory courses have no prerequisites. Core courses require knowledge of introductory concepts. Advanced courses are typically specialized and require good knowledge of the Core level curriculum.
Do you offer courses in any language other than English?
At present English is the only available language.
Can I retake a course?
Yes, once you register for a course registration is valid for six months. In this period you can retake the course if you did not manage to complete it in the first attempt - or for any other reason. (Of-course this assumes that the course is being offered again!) After the six month period the registration lapses and if you need to complete the course you need to register again.
What are the Open Risk Badges?
Open Risk awards you a badge for course completion.
Why can't I log in?
There could be many reasons but the most probable is you have simply forgotten your password, are trying the wrong one or are entering it incorrectly. Some other things to think about include: Does your username or password contain a mixture of upper and lower case letters? It should be entered exactly. If you use multi-language keyboards make sure you are switched to English. Finally, are cookies enabled on your browser
How do I gain access to a course?
Locate or search for the desired course (you can click 'All courses...' in the 'My courses' block) and click on the course name. If your teacher has given you an enrollment key, enter it when prompted, and click Enroll me in this course. Once you are enrolled in a course, it will appear under "My courses" any time that your are logged into the Academy.
How do I jump between my courses?
Go to the 'My Courses' block. Go back to the homepage (see below) and then use the main course block.
How do I get back to the homepage?
Use the navigation bar at the top left of the page or the button at the very bottom of the course
How do I find course X?
If you are not already enrolled in a course you can search for it by name and description.
Why am I not getting any e-mails and others are?
Chances are your email address in your profile is either wrong or disabled. It could also be that you are not subscribed to the forums that are generating emails. AOL users may also not receive e-mails if the administrator has banned the use of AOL email addresses.
How can I stop all of these e-mails?
E-mails are an essential part of the way the Academy works. They are used to keep you up to date with what is going on. If you wish to reduce the amount of emails you get you could:
- Edit your profile and change your e-mail settings to digest
- Unsubscribe from non-essential forums (although they are there for a reason!)
- Disable your e-mail address in your profile
Why is there no upload box for my assignments?
This is either because:
- The assignment has now closed
- The assignment is not yet open
- You already uploaded something and the settings prevent resubmissions
How can I see my recent assignment feedback?
There are many ways you can access their feedback. The most common method is by simply going to the same place where you uploaded the work. Another common method is to follow the link in the recent activity block (if the teacher has included it on the course). Another method would be to access the grade book and then follow the link for the required assignment. Depending upon how the assignment was set up, you may receive an email when it has been marked with a direct link to the feedback.
Why is my course average so low?
Don't panic! The Academy gradebook takes into account unmarked and unsubmitted work. In other words, you start with zero and as you progress through the course and complete graded activities the percentage will steadily rise
Which button do I press when I have finished a quiz?
That depends upon what you want to do ....
Why am I getting zero grade on my quiz?
You might have exceed a quiz time limit (if set).