Course Outline
Day 1 | Understanding the Tools and a First Build
Module 1 | How AI Coding Tools Actually Work
Topics covered:
• Grasping context windows and their constraints
• Statelessness and how AI models retain information within a session
• The Plan → Execute → Review workflow
• Capabilities and limitations of AI coding tools
• Best practices for effective collaboration with AI assistants
Module 2 | The AI Coding Landscape
Topics covered:
• Overview of the current AI coding ecosystem
• Differences between tools such as Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Claude Code
• Selecting the appropriate model and tool for various tasks
• Strengths and limitations of different coding assistants
• Practical recommendations for adopting tools within development teams
Module 3 | Prompt Anatomy
Topics covered:
• Key components of an effective prompt
• Providing context and clearly defining the task
• Specifying output formats and constraints
• Common prompting frameworks and templates
• Techniques for enhancing prompt quality and consistency
Module 4 | First Coding: Build From Scratch
Topics covered:
• Building a project from an empty directory
• Creating initial application structure and scaffolding
• Managing dependencies and project configuration
• Iteratively refining generated code
• Testing and polishing the final solution
Day 2 | Existing Codebases, Personalisation and Review
Module 5 | Working in a Codebase
Topics covered:
• Navigating and understanding unfamiliar codebases
• 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 resolve bugs
• Implementing new features and enhancements
• Writing and improving automated tests
• Validating generated code and changes
• Increasing productivity in daily 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 coding or AI-tool experience is necessary.
Familiarity with code or Git is advantageous.
A licensed account for Claude Code, Cursor, or Copilot is required.
Target Audience:
The course is ideal for those new to AI-assisted development, including non-coders, occasional programmers, and technical-adjacent professionals in QA, data, product, or operations roles. 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
