Welcome to the Agile Software Engineering Short Course Taster
Welcome to the Agile Software Engineering Taster!
Thank you for your interest in the Agile Software Engineering Short Course. The full course allows you to select which topic you wish to study next and includes a range of different activity types to support your learning such as video lectures, written content, quizzes, individual activities, optional group-work and face-to-face activities. This short taster contains a small selection of activities from the main course, it is designed to give you an idea of what the full course is like.
This course is intended for students who have some knowledge of programming but wish to learn more about software engineering. The terms “programmer” and “software engineer” are often used interchangeably but there are key differences between these two roles. Generally, a programmer uses their knowledge of programming languages to write computer code that (hopefully) meets a given specification. Software Engineers use their knowledge of scientific method, engineering practices and programming to determine what should be built and the best way to build it.
This course has been built from core modules from The University of Manchester’s undergraduate course in Computer Science. This content has been developed by leading academics in the field of computer science in partnership with industry professionals. You will learn the modern software engineering methods which are currently in use in industry as well as gain an understanding of how and why these practices were developed.
How the course works
Software Engineering is a practical skill. Generally, your learning will be structured around a practical activity which will give you the chance to practice new concepts and methods. Activities also allow you to check your understanding of the material and ensure you are progressing through the course at the correct pace.
This course has been designed to be flexible so that you can fit it around your own schedule and learning style. As you progress through the course you will be able to choose which activity you undertake next. In order to complete an activity, you may have to complete several associated lessons.
Live Sessions
The full Agile Software Engineering Short Course features optional, live face-to-face sessions. These live sessions cover topics and activities which are requested by students on the course. They include agile coaching games as used in industry, modern agile development games, group activities as well as live workshops and discussions on any topic covered by the course as requested by students.
Industry Mentorship
Students on our full course are assigned an Industry Mentor for the duration of the course. Industry Mentors are experienced industry professionals who are able to offer key insights into the application of the concepts covered in the course in practice. Students are able to ask any questions they might have to their mentors, discovering how things actually work in the real world.