.. _SFD Starting a Course:

#################
Starting a Course
#################

As soon as you enroll in a course, you can access some information about the
course. However, if the course start date has not passed, you cannot access
course lessons or assignments.

For information about availability of course content, see
:ref:`course_content_availability`.

.. contents::
  :local:
  :depth: 2


.. _Start Date and Duration:

************************
Find a Course Start Date
************************

You can enroll in a course before the start date. You cannot access course
materials before the start date.

.. note::
  If you want to start the course as soon as possible, you can find the start
  date for a course, and then set a calendar reminder for that date. Some
  courses also publish a start time.


After you enroll in a course, the course is visible on your dashboard. The
course start date is located below the course title.

  .. image:: /_images/learners/SFD_StartDateOnDashboard.png
    :width: 600
    :alt: A course listing on a learner's dashboard, with the start date under
      the name of the course.

For more information about different course statuses, see :ref:`course_content_availability`

.. Deliberate omission of period at end of above sentence because the title that is inserted ends with a question mark.

.. _Start a Course:

************************
Start or Resume a Course
************************

After you enroll in a course, the course is visible on your :ref:`dashboard
<SFD Dashboard>` together with the course :ref:`start date <Start Date
and Duration>`. After the course start date has passed, you can access course content.

After the course start date has passed, you can access course content.

==============
Start a Course
==============

.. note::
  When you start a course, you do not need to sign in exactly when the course
  begins.

To start a course, locate the course on your dashboard, and then select **View
Course**.

The course opens to the **Course** page. On this page, below any messages from
the course team, the course outline is visible. Above the outline is a **Start
Course** option.

.. image:: /_images/learners/course_nav_outline_startcourse.png
 :alt: The Course page, showing a welcome message and the course outline in
     the left pane.

* To start the course at the first section, select **Start Course**.
* To start the course at a different location, expand the course outline, and
  then select any part of the course.

===============
Resume a Course
===============

When you resume work in a course, you can return to the unit that you completed
most recently in all of your courses, or in a specific course.

.. note::
 A unit is complete when you have completed all of the following actions.

 * Watch all videos.
 * Submit answers to all problems.
 * View all text or other content for at least five seconds. 

 When you complete a part of a course, a green check mark is visible on the
 course outline. For more information, see :ref:`SFD Progress Indicators`.

Return to the Most Recently Completed Unit in All Courses
*********************************************************

To return to the unit you completed most recently in all of your courses,
select the arrow next to your username on any page, and then select **Resume
your last course**.

The course that you were most recently working in opens to the unit that you
most recently completed.


Return to the Most Recently Completed Unit in a Specific Course
***************************************************************

To return to the unit you completed most recently in a specific course, you
have the following options.

* On your dashboard, locate your course, and then select **Resume Course**
  next to the social media sharing options.
* Open the course, and then select **Resume Course** on the **Course** page.

When you select **Resume Course**, the course opens to the unit that you most
recently completed.





**Maintenance chart**

+--------------+-------------------------------+----------------+--------------------------------+
| Review Date  | Working Group Reviewer        |   Release      |Test situation                  |
+--------------+-------------------------------+----------------+--------------------------------+
|              |                               |                |                                |
+--------------+-------------------------------+----------------+--------------------------------+