Welcome, future Field Guide
You’re about to start an incredible six-week journey through the natural world. This page is your home base — bookmark it. It contains the two things you need to stay connected to your class and your lecturers: the WhatsApp group and the live Zoom lecture link.
Live lectures are short, interactive, and recorded — so if you ever miss one, the replay will be loaded onto your eLearning platform under the relevant module.
Good to know: The WhatsApp group invite, the Zoom lecture link, and the full course schedule are always available on your course page — so if you ever lose this email or page, just log in and find them there.
1. Join the Class WhatsApp Group
Your direct line to the class & the EcoTraining team
This is where everything happens between lectures — questions, sightings, study tips, lecture reminders, and quick support from your facilitators. Joining is the single most important step you can take to get the full course experience.
Please use your real name when you join so we can match you to the class register.
2. Live Zoom Lectures
Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
All live lectures take place at 12:00 MIDDAY (SAST) South African Standard Time.
The same Zoom link is used for every lecture — save it now so you never have to hunt for it.
Meeting ID: 821 2231 3382
Passcode: FieldGuide
Tip: Install Zoom on your device and test your camera and microphone before your first lecture on Monday, 4 May 2026. Recordings of every lecture will also be loaded onto your eLearning platform under the matching module.
3. Add Lectures to Your Calendar
One click. All 21 sessions in your calendar.
We’ve packaged every lecture, the Q&A, and the final assessment into a single calendar file — with the Zoom link, Meeting ID, and passcode already inside each event. Subscribe once and you’ll get automatic reminders before every session.
How to import on Google Calendar
- Click Add to Google Calendar above — the file will download.
- Open calendar.google.com on your computer.
- Click the gear icon (top right) → Settings.
- In the left menu, click Import & export.
- Click Select file from your computer, choose the downloaded ecotraining-nqf4-lectures.ics file, then click Import.
- Done! All 21 events are now in your calendar with the Zoom link inside each one.
How to import on Outlook / Microsoft 365
- Click Add to Outlook / Microsoft 365 above — the file will download.
- On desktop Outlook: double-click the downloaded file — Outlook will open and ask which calendar to add it to.
- On Outlook on the web (outlook.com / Office 365): open Calendar → Add calendar → Upload from file → choose the downloaded ecotraining-nqf4-lectures.ics file.
- Done! Every lecture now sits in your calendar with the Zoom join link inside.
On your phone (Apple Calendar / Android)
- Open this page on your phone.
- Tap one of the buttons above — your phone will ask to open the file.
- Choose your calendar app (Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, etc.) and confirm.
4. Course Schedule
Here’s your complete six-week roadmap. Modules are delivered in order — each lecture builds on the one before it, so try not to fall behind.
| Date | Day | Module / Session |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, 1 May | Friday | International Workers’ Day — no lecture |
| Mon, 4 May | Monday | Module 1 Introduction |
| Wed, 6 May | Wednesday | Module 2 Astronomy |
| Fri, 8 May | Friday | Module 3 Geology |
| Mon, 11 May | Monday | Module 4 Climate and Weather |
| Wed, 13 May | Wednesday | Module 5 Ecology |
| Fri, 15 May | Friday | Module 6 Classification |
| Mon, 18 May | Monday | Module 7 Plants |
| Wed, 20 May | Wednesday | Module 8 Fungi |
| Fri, 22 May | Friday | Module 9 Bacteria, Viruses & Animal Diseases |
| Mon, 25 May | Monday | Module 10 Arthropods |
| Wed, 27 May | Wednesday | Module 11 Segmented Worms |
| Fri, 29 May | Friday | Module 12 Molluscs |
| Date | Day | Module / Session |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, 1 June | Monday | Module 13 Fish |
| Wed, 3 June | Wednesday | Module 14 Amphibians |
| Fri, 5 June | Friday | Module 15 Reptiles |
| Mon, 8 June | Monday | Module 16 Birds |
| Wed, 10 June | Wednesday | Module 17 Mammals |
| Fri, 12 June | Friday | Module 18 Animal Behaviour |
| Mon, 15 June | Monday | Q&A Session — final live class wrap-up |
| Tue, 16 June | Tuesday | Youth Day — South African public holiday |
| Date | Day | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, 29 June | Monday | EcoTraining Online Theory Assessment |
What to Expect Each Week
Before each lecture — complete the pre-reading and any short videos for that module on your eLearning platform.
During the live Zoom lecture — bring your questions, your camera on if possible, and engage. Lecturers ask back, and the class learns from each other.
After the lecture — complete the module quiz on your eLearning platform before the next session. The quiz is how we track your progress and unlock the next module.
Stuck? Drop your question in the WhatsApp group or email elearning@ecotraining.co.za. We’re here to help you succeed.
Course Includes
- 18 Modules
- 18 Lessons
- 18 Quizzes
