Flexible online courses developing IT skills
Current courses are:
- Fundamentals of software testing
- Implementing successful ICT systems
- Integrating software systems for IT professionals
- Intermediate software testing
- Managing complexity: a toolkit approach
- The evolving information professional
Fundamentals of software testing
This course is for IT professionals and has two main functions:
(i) To improve your understanding of software testing process and their applicability the role you undertake in the industry. You will be awarded an OU Certificate of Completion in respect of this activity. And
(ii) To prepare you for the ISEB Examination in Software Testing (Foundation Certificate level). The BCS ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing is aimed at anyone interested in testing – for example, software developers, software testers and managers in the software industry. The BCS entry criterion is that candidates should have a basic working knowledge of IT.
These two certificates are not linked in any way and you may choose to plan your study around achieving either or both.
Course fee: £395
Register for Fundamentals of software testing
Implementing successful ICT systems
This course is an introduction to applying systems approaches to ICT projects. It will offer grounding in basic systems theory and terminology to enable you to identify, describe and analyse ICT systems and will use case studies, notably road pricing, to examine the technical and stakeholder issues arising. This course does not present a methodology for the management of ICT projects but it will support in addressing the various issues surrounding system scoping, requirements analysis and stakeholder management.
Go to the taster section to view a sample of the course material, do an activity and see a sample of the work-based activity.
Course fee: £495
Register for Implementing successful ICT systems
Integrating software systems for IT professionals
This course introduces systems integration and compares it with conventional systems development, examines many of the technologies that are used, examines the varieties of systems integration and shows you how projects can be organised for systems integration. Technologies that are described include: application servers, integration servers, XML, web services, frameworks and scripting languages. While the main emphasis is on application level technologies the course does examine the use of systems software such as message-oriented middleware.
Go to the taster section to view a sample of the course material, do an activity and see a sample of the work-based activity.
Course fee: £495
Register for Integrating software systems for IT professionals
Intermediate software testing
This course is for IT professionals and has two main functions:
i) To improve your knowledge and skills in areas of Test Management and Test Analysis, their applicability and your role in your organisation. You will be awarded an OU Certificate of Completion in respect of this activity. And
ii) To prepare you for the ISEB Examination in Software Testing (Intermediate Certificate level). The course will offer an effective and flexible route for holders of the Foundation Certificate to prepare themselves for the Intermediate examination
These two certificates are not linked in any way and you may choose to plan your study around achieving either or both. The support you receive from the Open University Learning Adviser is available regardless of your objective.
Course fee: £425
Register for Intermediate software testingManaging complexity: a toolkit approach
The course is presented in a non-jargon format, taking you step-by-step from early project outline through final project proposal to monitoring and evaluating the project when it’s running. The method applied – Logical Frameworks – has been tried and tested around the world as well as the UK and has a successful track record.
The approach includes user friendly risk analysis, stakeholder analysis, problem description and project measurement at impact level.
Go to the taster section to view a sample of the course material, do an activity and see a sample of the work-based activity.
Course fee: £495
Register for Managing complexity: a toolkit approach
The evolving information professional
This course is for information professionals – librarians, archivists, information and knowledge managers – looking to keep up to date with modern technologies, sources of information, and today’s users. It is for those in the profession who wish to stay relevant in this fast-changing world of information, find out how other information services are facing the challenge, and consider ways of proving their worth in the Google age. Amongst all the issues that the course covers, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on the possible consequences for your service of a new generation of ‘Homo zappien’ users, try out games developed for library users and archivists and consider the implications of the 7 Ps for the marketing of your service.
Go to the taster section to view a sample of the course material, do an activity and see a sample of the work-based activity.
Course fee: £495
Register for The evolving information professional