General Information

• Duration: 3 Weeks

• Schedule:

  • Lectures:

    • Friday 10:00-11:00 GMT

    • Friday 14:00-15:00 GMT (AI Power Hour)

  • Self-Development Work: 2 hours per week

• Tools: Primarily ChatGPT (paid account), with potential use of other free models and AI Bots tools

Course Overview

This course is designed to provide developers with insights into how AI technologies can revolutionise the software development process. Attendees will learn how AI can assist with coding, testing, documentation, and other development tasks. The course will cover a range of AI tools, such as GitHub Copilot and AI-first IDEs like Cursor, and demonstrate how to leverage them to streamline workflows and boost productivity. Attendees will also explore best practices for integrating AI into their development processes while understanding the potential pitfalls and challenges.

Who is this Course For?

This course is tailored for:

• Software developers: Anyone that creates code as part of their role

• Graduates of Level 2 and want to explore how to use code to develop software: Users who have completed our introductory and intermediate AI courses.

• AI Enthusiasts: Professionals interested in integrating AI tools into their work for automation and enhanced productivity.

• CPD Seekers: Individuals looking to accrue Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours while learning advanced AI concepts.

Delegate Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand the basic concepts and importance of AI.

• Differentiate between generative and retrieval AI.

• Develop and enhance prompt engineering skills.

• Apply AI tools like ChatGPT to practical scenarios.

AI Buddy

Get ready to meet your new best friend in AI learning – AI Buddy! During the course, you'll have exclusive access to AI Buddy, our fun and interactive platform designed to be your go-to hub for all things AI. Think of it as your personal AI assistant, packed with everything you need to make your learning journey exciting and engaging.

Why You'll Love AI Buddy:

• Massive Resource Library: With over 1000 resources, including prompts, models, and tutorials, AI Buddy has got you covered. It's like having a treasure chest of AI goodies at your fingertips!

• Easy and Fun to Use: AI Buddy is super user-friendly and designed to make learning fun. You'll find everything you need in one place, without any hassle.

• Interactive and Engaging Tools: Practise your skills with interactive tools and see your progress in real-time. It's all about learning by doing, and AI Buddy makes it easy and enjoyable.

CPD Certification

"AI Literacy for Software Development" is a CPD-certified course designed to offer structured and progressive learning in artificial intelligence. Led by the Dixon Humphreys AI experts team, this course equips participants with practical AI skills and understanding, essential for enhancing their strategic capabilities and operational efficiency.

Key Features of CPD Certification:

• Structured Learning: The course is meticulously structured to develop week by week, providing a comprehensive understanding of AI from basics to advanced prompt engineering.

• Expert Facilitation: The Dixon Humphreys AI experts team guides participants through the intricacies of AI, ensuring practical and applicable knowledge.

• Professional Development: The CPD certification contributes significantly to professional development by providing recognized educational credits.

Benefits of CPD Certification:

• Accredited Learning: Completing the course awards delegates with CPD credits, underscoring the quality and relevance of the program.

• Career Advancement: The certification supports participants in fulfilling continuing education requirements, thus aiding career progression.

• Enhanced Skills: Participants gain practical AI skills that are immediately applicable in their professional roles, enhancing both strategic capabilities and operational efficiency.

This CPD certification not only validates the educational rigour of the "AI Literacy for Software Development" course but also demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development, ensuring participants are well-equipped to leverage AI in their careers.

Course Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to AI in Development and Tools Overview

Session Title: AI’s Role in Software Development and Introduction to Tools

Session Outline:

• Introduction

• Overview of AI's transformative impact on development.

• Key AI tools available for developers.

• Why Use AI?

• Benefits of AI in development, with real-world examples.

• Case studies showing productivity boosts with AI (GitHub Copilot, Claude Sonnet).

• Introduction to AI Tools

• Overview of GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Cursor.

• How these tools can assist with coding, testing, and debugging.

• Demo

• Demonstration of using Cursor IDE for AI-assisted development.

• Hands-on examples: Coding with AI support.

Week 2: Use Cases and Best Practices in AI Development

Session Title: Leveraging AI for Efficiency and Best Practices

Session Outline:

• Recap and Q&A

• Discuss participant experiences with AI tools from Week 1.

• Address any questions or challenges.

• Use Cases for AI in Development

• AI in coding efficiency, documentation, and testing.

• Examples: Writing tests, generating documentation, refactoring code.

• Focus on real-world applications in Python, Terraform, and other languages.

• Best Practices for AI Usage

• Integrating AI effectively into the development process.

• Strategies to ensure code quality: "Human in the loop" approach.

• How to structure effective AI prompts to maximize usefulness.

• Discussion

• Open discussion on the potential and limitations of AI in day-to-day tasks.

Week 3: Use Cases and Best Practices in AI Development

This week is all about applying AI to solve real-world coding challenges you're facing. Whether it’s fixing recurring bugs, streamlining deployment processes, or building custom tooling, you'll use AI to automate and optimise solutions tailored to your unique projects.

FAQs