Course Outline
Day 1 | Understanding the Tools and a First Build
Module 1 | How AI Coding Tools Actually Work
Topics covered:
• Understanding context windows and their limitations
• Statelessness and how AI models retain information during a session
• The Plan → Execute → Review workflow
• What AI coding tools can do well and where they struggle
• Best practices for collaborating effectively with AI assistants
Module 2 | The AI Coding Landscape
Topics covered:
• Overview of the current AI coding ecosystem
• Understanding the differences between tools such as Cursor, GitHub Copilot and Claude Code
• Selecting the right model and tool for different tasks
• Strengths and limitations of various coding assistants
• Practical recommendations for tool adoption within development teams
Module 3 | Prompt Anatomy
Topics covered:
• The key components of an effective prompt
• Providing context and defining the task clearly
• Specifying output formats and constraints
• Common prompting frameworks and templates
• Techniques for improving prompt quality and consistency
Module 4 | First Coding: Build From Scratch
Topics covered:
• Building a project from an empty folder
• Creating the initial application structure and scaffolding
• Managing dependencies and project configuration
• Iteratively improving the generated code
• Testing and refining the final solution
Day 2 | Existing Codebases, Personalisation and Review
Module 5 | Working in a Codebase
Topics covered:
• Navigating and understanding an unfamiliar codebase
• Querying and analysing existing projects using AI tools
• Mapping application structure and dependencies
• Generating documentation and technical summaries
• Accelerating onboarding into existing projects
Module 6 | Everyday Tasks: Fix, Feature and Test
Topics covered:
• Using AI tools to investigate and fix bugs
• Implementing new features and enhancements
• Writing and improving automated tests
• Validating generated code and changes
• Increasing productivity in day-to-day development tasks
Module 7 | Personalisation: What It Is
Topics covered:
• Understanding project rules and configuration files
• Introduction to AGENTS.md and project memory concepts
• Where and when personalisation mechanisms apply
• Best practices for configuring AI assistants
• Overview of advanced implementation approaches
Module 8 | Guardrails, Risks and Judgement
Topics covered:
• Reviewing and validating AI-generated code
• Understanding common failure modes and limitations
• Recognising prompt injection and security risks
• Deciding what work can be delegated to AI
• Applying human judgement and maintaining accountability in software development
Requirements
No prior experience with coding or AI tools is required.
Basic familiarity with code or Git is beneficial.
A licensed account for Claude Code, Cursor, or Copilot is necessary.
Audience:
This course is ideal for those new to AI-assisted development, including non-coders, occasional programmers, and technical-adjacent professionals in QA, data, product management, or operations. No prior development background is assumed.
Testimonials (2)
Learning how to prompt Claude and use it to digest all of the data I have available.
Mike Hartleroad - Furniture Row
Course - Claude AI for Data Analysis and Business Intelligence
how to engage with the Office environment and set up repetitive tasks
