TL;DR: You will be able to create an edX account with the help of this tutorial.
Are you interested in improving your knowledge? Do you want to keep learning new courses? Well then, no worries, you’ve just landed on the right article. This article will guide you on how to enhance your learning skills. As you know the world is changing and so is the requirement for skills in every aspect. Learning new skills and gaining knowledge in different fields are very essential as learning only one thing is not sufficient in this competitive era. So, where can we learn new things? It’s true you might attend physical classes if you were in the past, but it’s not the same case nowadays. As of now where everyone is busy with their own work there is no free time to attend the physical classes. However, there have been a lot of changes in the educational system and way of learning.
So, where can we learn new courses without wasting our time going to classes? Well, the answer is very simple and the solution is within this article. This innovative world has given us so many new things be it a mobile phone, computers, or the internet. Along with this educational system has also changed and new tools and online apps are being created so that you can sit in one place and keep learning. To be more precise, traditional classes have been replaced by online learning or using a digital platform to take classes.
Online learning or e-learning platforms give you the freedom to select your courses and time. They allow you to learn from personal accomplishment to earning a professional degree or certificate, without having to attend physical classes. Such a platform offers several free as well as paid courses in one place. E-learning is best if a Covid-like pandemic occurs again in the coming future. Such a platform reduces your time and cost because physical classes may be more expensive than online courses. Likewise, you can adjust your time to take classes.
Which e-learning site is best for students? This question might be hovering in your mind as there is a pretty long list of online educational sites. Here, we’ll recommend you the best platform that can help you to earn the certificate. One such e-learning is edX, which was created by Harvard and MIT. edX offers online university-based courses in a wide range of disciplines to all students along with some courses without charge. In contrast to other e-learning platforms, edX provides quality courses, over 2000 free courses, with research programs. edX courses include tutorial videos, similar to small on-campus discussion groups, an online textbook, and an online discussion forum where you can post and review questions and comments to each other and teaching assistants. Overall, you can use edX freely, however, you’ll have to pay if you want to earn a certificate. You can start enrolling yourself by creating an edX account and exploring several courses.
If you want to learn more about edX, then please read the topic described below. You can look at the benefits of an edX account and methods to create an edX account.
What is edX and what are the benefits of using it?
edX is one of the popular massive open online courses (MOOC) created by Harvard and MIT. It offers online university-based courses in a wide range of disciplines to all students along with some courses without charge. edX provides access to 2000 free courses from about 140 leading institutions worldwide. It also conducts research into learning based on how people use its platform. edX runs on the free Open edX open-source software platform. Talking about its courses, they include weekly sequences containing short videos interspersed with interactive learning exercises. The courses often include tutorial videos that are similar to small on-campus discussion groups, an online textbook, and an online discussion forum where students can post and review questions and comments to each other and teaching assistants.
Like another e-learning platform, edX also offers certificates after you complete a course. You can take courses, like verified courses where students have the option to audit the course (free of cost) or to work toward an edX Verified Certificate (fees vary by course). It also offers XSeries Certificates for completion of a bundled set of two to seven verified courses in a single subject (cost varies depending on the courses). Similarly, over 150 schools, corporations, and nonprofit organizations offer courses on the edX website. Along with educational courses, you can also use edX for research purposes and distance education. It offers blended classrooms as an edX partner with several educational institutions from the US, Chine, Japan, Mongolia, and other countries. The most important benefit of using edX is that it marginally edges out another e-learning platform in terms of quality as edX courses are better designed.
Now, let’s look at some of the methods to create an edX account.
How to Create an edX Account?
As you’ve already explored the benefits of edX above, you should give it a try and use edX as it won’t disappoint you. If you’ve made up your mind to use edX, the foremost thing is to register and create an edX account. Creating an account is not a difficult task as you’ll quickly learn by looking at the instructions mentioned in this article.
There are two methods to sign up for edX, i.e., via the edX website and using the edX app. However, the steps may be pretty much similar. You can select one of these methods to create an account. edX has both mobile and desktop apps, so you can use any of them.
Create an edX account through Web
Creating an account from edX’s official website is quite simple. You can use any device either desktop or mobile phone. Here, we’re using a desktop to create an edX account. You can do so using any modern web browser and internet connection. Now, follow the step-wise instructions given below:
- Visit the edX website on your device using any web browser.
- Tap on Register for free and the sign-up page will open up.
- You can create an edX account directly from your Goggle, Facebook, or Microsoft account. In this case, you just have to provide the correct account.
- Here, we’ll sign-up using the email address. So, enter your Name, Public Username, Email, Country, and Password.
- Now, hit Create an account for free button.
- You’ll receive an activation email from edX. Open your mail and click on the button, Activate Your Account.
Create an edX account through App
You can use this method if any problem arises in the above method. However, the steps might be quite similar to the above. edX has a desktop as well as a mobile app, so you can use any of them. Here, we’re using a mobile app for signing up. You can use any mobile phone either iPhone or Android. Follow the steps mentioned below:
- First of all, launch App Store on your iPhone or Goggle Store on your Android.
- Type edX on the search engine. Choose the first result shown on your screen.
- Then, download and install the app. It will take a few seconds to process.
- Open the edX app once it’s been successfully installed.
- Then, tap on the Register button. A list of sign-up options will be given, i.e., from your Goggle account, Facebook, Email, and Microsoft account.
- Here, we’ll create an account using email. Provide your Full Name, Public Username, Email, Country/Region, and Password.
- At last, click on the button Create my account.
- You’ll receive an activation email from edX. Open your mail and click on the button, Activate Your Account.
You’ve successfully created your edX account and activated it by clicking on the email link. Now, you’re ready to go with the free as well as paid courses in your edX account. You can enroll in any of your favorite courses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about edX Account
Is edX free?
Yes. edX offers free courses. But you need to pay for the certificate and some professional education.
How much does edX cost?
edX’s courses are technically free, but students have to pay a low fee ranging from $50-$100 to take a “verified certificate” version of the class, which includes a certificate as well as graded homework during the course and unlimited course access.
What is a verified certificate?
A verified certificate shows that you have successfully passed an edX course in the verified track. Visit here to find detailed information on upgrading to the verified track.
Does the edX account offer a free certificate?
No, edX courses do not offer free certificates. Certificates are awarded only to passing students registered in the paid certificate track. The enrollment fee for this track varies by course. You can view most of the courses in the audit track entirely for free but again will not award a certificate.
However, edX introduced a financial assistance program to help learners who demonstrate financial need to earn verified certificates at a reduced cost.
How can I earn a certificate using an edX account?
To earn a certificate, you will have to upgrade to the verified track by the course upgrade deadline, and reach a passing score before the course end date. It is not possible to earn a certificate in a course that has ended.
What type of certificate does edX provide?
edX provides two types of certificates, i.e., course certificate and program certificate. Course certificates are available for a fee that varies by course. You earn a certificate by passing the course with the required grade on the paid track.
edX offers program certificates for MicroMasters, Professional Certificate, and XSeries programs. For example, here is an XSeries program certificate.
Will my certificate include a grade and/or a number of credit hours?
No, the edX certificate does not show your final grade. However, earning an edX certificate means you’ve completed the course with a passing grade. Your final course grade will appear along with other course information on your dashboard as soon as the course has ended, and a complete record of your scores on all course assignments and exams appears on the Course Progress page. If you need a record of your performance in a course, use your web browser to print one of these pages.
Hence, follow the above simple methods to create an edX account by using the edX website or your desktop, Android, or iPhone app. Also, see the benefits and FAQs to know more about the edX account. Thus, we hope this article has helped you till the end.
