Curriculum

Curriculum

Programming Education for Adults.

Curriculum Group Title

Software and Application Development and Analysis.

Objective

The educational programme trains full-stack developers. Graduates of the programme will acquire practical skills and knowledge to take up a position as a software developer or other technical position.

Target Group and Conditions for Starting Education

The student must be 18 years old, have previously acquired a basic education, must have an intermediate level of English proficiency and passed an online test that assesses logical thinking and problem-solving skills. No prior knowledge of programming is required.

Learning Outcomes

Completion of the study program takes place on a new self-learning platform that has been developed to support the peer-to-peer learning method since 2023. The platform includes an automated application process, customizable tests, a gamified progress tracking system, and modules that allow learners to deepen into different programming languages ​​and technologies.

While participating in the study program, the learner:

• writes program code in various programming languages, including Java and Javascript;
• designs the product and its architectural solutions;
• implements, installs and tests solutions;
• participates in software development both independently and in teams.

Selection Sprint (156 academic hours, including 112 academic hours of classroom and practical work)

The Selection Sprint is an intensive test period for delving into the fundamentals of programming and development environments, consisting of two weeks on-site and one week of remote work. This stage creates a strong foundation and helps assess whether candidates have the necessary intelligence and independence to succeed in an independent and self-directed learning environment. Candidates gradually hone their skills through short, automatically graded exercises, while exams at the end of the first and second weeks help monitor progress. Weekends are dedicated to teamwork and solving more complex problems, during which cooperation and creative thinking develop.

Throughout the process, Selection Sprint participants are guaranteed support from team members and technical tutors. Their role is to guide and support candidates in the process, helping them develop independence and problem-solving skills. The goal of coaching is to encourage candidates to find solutions independently and creatively by offering guiding questions and hints without giving direct answers. It is important to help candidates understand the objectives of the tasks and analyze different solutions. Team members and tutors also play an important role in reflecting on learning, providing constructive feedback that focuses on skill development and strengthening the learning process. During the weekend team work, collaboration is encouraged by guiding candidates to share ideas, listen to each other and solve complex problems together. Maintaining a positive learning environment and supporting motivation helps candidates maintain a positive attitude and persistence even in the face of difficult challenges. The guidance of team members and technical tutors plays an important role in the development of candidates, helping them to grow into independent and creative learners who are ready to successfully enter the next stage in the study program.

Deep Dives (2-4 weeks)

In-depth modules offer learners the opportunity to delve into specific areas of technology. They develop broad-based skills and improve learners’ competitiveness on the labor market. Elective modules are: Database Technologies, Software Testing, APIs and Intersystem Communication, Web Application Security, Advanced Git.

Description of the Learning Process

The curriculum is based on OÜ FutureCoders computer program using self-study methodology. The educational software used in the curriculum includes additional instructions and a built-in mechanism that teaches programming from scratch. Learning takes place in modern collaborative areas, where students are provided with the necessary tools for learning. Learning consists of solving practical tasks, 80% of which are teamwork in cooperation with other learners and 20% independently.

The duration of the study process is 12 months as standard. Since the study is based on self-study methodology and it is possible to choose the pace of study, it is possible to complete the program faster. The entire learning process takes place as practical and independent and team work, which is supported by additional activities.

The learning platform provides learners with programming tasks with an expected outcome and instructions they need to program. The program is structured in such a way that for some tasks learners must use predetermined technologies (including programming languages, frameworks, databases or libraries), but for others they can choose a suitable technical solution themselves. The explanations for the assignments are in English, and they are also helped by tutors and fellow students if necessary.

At the beginning of the study process, students are supported during the first month through a mentoring program that helps them settle into the study. There are independent study groups and conversations with learners to support each other, discuss assignments and work together to complete the program. The main program also includes various workshops in cooperation with partners, meetings with professionals in their field, job shadowing and other events that support career choice.

Learning environment

Teaching takes place in the learning building: Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University. The school allows students, if necessary, the tools necessary for their studies (laptop). Students have the opportunity to live in a dormitory next to the university. Each room comes with a bed, mattress, and basic furniture (e.g., wardrobe, table, chair, shelves). There are also shared shower and toilet facilities in the dormitory.

A place in a dormitory costs 175 UAH per night.

The learner has the opportunity to complete the study program in the distance learning format, but this requires adherence to deadlines and willingness to participate in events organized in the study building.

Admission and Dismissal Conditions

Upon entering the school, the learner signs a learner’s contract with the school, which:

• The school is obliged to provide the learner with access and support in the self-study program, top-level programming education, enable development as a specialist in the ICT field, and support the learner’s career.
• The learner is required to develop his IT and software development skills, participate in the process of learning to become an IT specialist, and aim to be a full-fledged member of the kood/Zhytomyr continuing education institution and community.