This programme provides the convenience of self-paced instruction on the web to give you the confidence, and experience, to take full advantage of the immense opportunities available in software testing. By the conclusion of the programme, you would have gained the equivalent of 1-2 years of industry experience of system testing techniques. You will hit the ground running, and be able to make an immediate contribution to any testing project.

In particular, participants will:

• Gain a firm understanding of software testing concepts, techniques and methodologies;
• Study all of the basics needed to become a software test and quality assurance professional, including a comprehensive overview of tasks, methods, and techniques for effectively testing software;
• Understand how testing fits into the software development lifecycle;
• Master how to design efficient test cases using both formal and informal approaches;
• Learn the fundamental steps in the testing process: planning, specification, implementation, evaluation, and reporting;
• Discover the roles and responsibilities, defect tracking, and test deliverables in test management
  Learn how to write effective test incident reports;
• Evaluate their knowledge with multiple choice self-assessment questions.
• Prepare for the ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing with questions and answers which provide complete coverage of the exam;
• Learn how to obtain free training in Mercury Interactive test tools, including Test Director, Quick Test Professional & Load Runner;
• Learn how to write an effective resume; and
• Get free job interview advice, interview help and interview tips.
  

1. Fundamentals of Computer Software
This section of the course serves as an introduction to software, and covers key computing concepts. You'll learn the different classifications of software, the major operating systems, and you'll also find a comprehensive glossary of computer terms with definitions that are helpful and easy to understand.

• Introduction to computer software
• Operating systems
• Computing terms

2. Client/Server Technology
This course presents an introductory overview to this technology and is a "must have" for individuals who have no prior knowledge of client/server technology.

• Definition of Client Server technology
• Components of Client Server Architecture
• Characteristics of Client Server computing
• The Traditional Host Computing Model
• The role of Middleware

3. Introduction to Relational Database Management Systems
In this tutorial, you'll learn about database structure and how to retrieve, update and delete data from database systems such as Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle.

• Introduction to SQL
• The SELECT Statement
• The WHERE Clause
• The BETWEEN...AND Clause
• ORDER BY
• LIKE & IN
• SQL Arithmetic Functions
• SQL JOIN
• Compound Conditions
• Creating Tables

4. UNIX Fundamentals
To become a highly sought-after candidate in today's competitive software testing job market , you need to be able to test applications in the UNIX world. This tutorial, designed to facilitate learning the UNIX operating system, presents information in a straightforward easy-to-understand format. And because this course is designed specifically for software testers, you will focus only on the information that you need to know in order to perform testing.

• Introduction to UNIX
• Creating and Editing Files in UNIX
• Frequently used UNIX commands
• The UNIX File System
• Understanding Ownership & Permissions
• The UNIX Shell

5. The Internet
This tutorial presents a comprehensive overview of the Internet. You'll learn about HTML - the authoring language of the Internet, web browsers and how they work, and how to navigate the Web using Internet Explorer.

• Introduction to the Internet
• Internet Browsers
• Email Management

Our Technical Writing course will provide you with a foundation for creating organized, well-written content for technical audiences such as developers, as well as non-technical readers such as clients and management. Learn how technical writing differs from standard writing and how to communicate key ideas clearly - an area that's particularly important when documenting software bugs.

• Basic Grammar
  - Nouns
  - Verbs Adjectives
  - Adverbs
• Constructing Sentences
  - Technical Writing for Software Testers

1. Testing Concepts
This section lays the foundation for rest of the course. You’ll see the importance of software testing and gain an appreciation for the magnitude of the job. We explain what a software bug is, why they occur, how serious they can be, and how software testing fits into the overall software development process. You’ll learn what your ultimate goal is as a software tester and the traits that will make you an effective and efficient tester.

The Software Development Lifecycle gives you an overview of how a software product is created in the corporate world. You’ll understand fundamental testing terms and concepts, and why no matter how hard you try, software can never be perfect. You’ll also learn the difference between software testing and quality assurance.

• Introduction to software testing;
• Objectives of testing;
• Terms for software failures;
• Meaning of a software bug;
• Why bugs occur in software;
• The cost of bugs;
• Psychology of testing;
• The Software Development Lifecycle;
• Realities of testing;
• When to stop testing;
• Quality & Quality Assurance;
• Why complete testing is not possible;
• Why testing does not prove the absence of faults;
• Black box vs. White box testing;
• Verification & Validation;
• Multiple choice review questions;

2. System Test Management

The Fundamental Test Process

Software testing is not just about banging on the keyboard hoping you’ll eventually crash the computer. It requires discipline and systematic planning and preparation. This section will teach you the fundamental approaches to software testing, basic and advanced system testing techniques, how to find bugs, and how to apply testing skills to common testing tasks. You’ll learn how to plan and document your test effort and how to plan and create essential test documentation including the test plan. You’ll also learn how to design and execute effective test cases and test scripts.

• High Level Test Planning;
• Essential test documentation;
• Designing the test plan;
• Critical ingredients of a test plan;
• A sample test plan;
• Test Design Specification;
• Test Case Specification;
• Test Procedure Specification.
  
  Test Case Design - Designing and Implementing Test Cases
  
  
• Defining a test case;
• Characteristics of a good test case;
• Essential components of a test case;
• Objectives of test cases;
• Prioritising test cases;
• Designing test cases;
• Positive and Negative testing;
• Equivalence Partitioning;
• Boundary Analysis and Error Guessing;
• State transition testing;
• Designing scenario tests;
• Multiple Choice Review Questions.

3. Risk Management

Risk based testing

This section introduces you to risk and risk management. You’ll learn the different types of risk, and why it is impossible to eliminate risk in testing. You’ll also learn how to identify, prioritise and manage risk effectively as well as a simple method to calculate risk in a project.

• Introduction to risk;
• Definition of risk;
• Types of risk;
• Where to look for errors in software;
• Risk management planning;
• Risk identification;
• Risk analysis and assessment;
• Risk prioritisation and evaluation;
• A simple method to calculate risk;
• Multiple Choice Review Questions.

4. Common Testing Terminologies

Testing terminologies

In this section, you’ll gain a firm understanding of fundamental testing terminologies including terms commonly used in the workplace.

• Acceptance Number;
• Alpha tests;
• Beta tests;
• Build;
• Bug Bash;
• Bug Review Committee;
• Cause and Effect Diagram;
• Defect;
• Deliverable;
• Error;
• Error condition checking;
• Failure;
• Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA);
• Flowchart;
• Heuristic analysis;
• Oracle;
• Quality;
• Quality assurance;
• Reliability;
• Schedule crunch;
• Software Inspection;
• Source code;
• Specification;
• Spec complete;
• Stakeholder;
• Symptom.

5. Test Methodologies

Types of test techniques

This section describes the main types of software testing techniques, and applies them to real-world scenarios that you’ll encounter as a software tester. It describes the intent of each technique, and will help you attain strong technical expertise in fundamental testing methodologies that are used to ensure applications perform at or above expected levels.

• Component or unit testing;
• Integration testing;
• System testing;
• User Acceptance testing;
• Performance testing;
• Load testing;
• Stress testing;
• Regression testing and retesting;
• Compatibility testing;
• Configuration testing;
• Functional testing;
• Non-functional testing;
• Smoke testing;
• Sanity testing;
• Repetition testing;
• Adhoc (Exploratory) testing;
• Requirements testing;
• Security testing;
• Volume testing;
• Multiple Choice Review Questions

6. Test Tools and Automated Testing

CAST (Computer Aided Software Testing) tools and automation

Learning how to use automated test tools is probably the quickest and most effective way to get a top paying position in the highly lucrative field of system testing. This section introduces you to automated testing, the various types of test tools, and how to use computers and software to test other software. You'll learn different methods for automating your tests, when to automate and when to run manual tests.

You'll also learn steps you can take to get FREE computer based training in Mercury Interactive tools including Test Director, LoadRunner and Quick Test Professional. You'll be able to download step-by-step tutorials and evaluation copies of these tools to your computer. All of these tutorials are supported by extensive hands-on exercises based on real-life examples. Mercury Interactive is currently the hottest name in QA and Testing, and learning to use their test tools will significantly enhance your testing career.

• Introduction to automated software testing
• The case for automation
• Types of CAST tools
• Manual vs. Automated testing
• Getting free training in Mercury Interactive tools
• Multiple Choice Review Questions

7. Bug Tracking Systems

Reporting and analysing bugs

This section teaches you how to report a bug, how to isolate the steps necessary to make it recur, and how to describe them so that programmers will understand and want to fix them. The ultimate goal of this section is to explain how to use the bug report form to communicate effectively with project managers and programmers.

• Definition of a Bug;
• A Bug’s Lifecycle;
• Tactics for analysing a bug;
• Isolating and reproducing bugs;
• Writing effective bug reports;
• Classifying bugs;
• The Test Incident Report;
• Multiple Choice Review Questions.
  

This section provides you with the tools you need to kick-start your testing career. These include detailed interview advice and techniques; a detailed list of questions recruiters may ask you at interviews and how to design a high impact software testing CV.

1. Certificates & Certifications

Exams

When you successfully complete the program, your achievement will be recognized with a Certificate of Completion. To get the certificate, you will need to pass a final exam with a minimum of 80% that will verify that you have mastered the testing principles and techniques covered in the program.

This programme is also designed to help participants pass the ISEB Foundation Certification exam, and you’ll gain access to study material based on real exam questions and answers that you will see on the actual exam. Prepare them and then take your own test. If you can answer all correct -- you are ready to take the actual exam.

• The PST Final Exam;
• 175 ISEB Practice Questions and Answers.

2. Getting Employment

Developing your testing career

This section provides you with the tools you need to kick-start your testing career. These include interview advice and techniques; a detailed list of one hundred questions recruiters may ask you at interviews and how to design a high impact CV.

All things considered, the future looks very bright for those in the exciting field of software quality assurance and testing. Currently, there are over 8,000 vacancies for System Testers on Jobserve.com, an Internet Recruitment Service. While the IT sector as a whole may be in the employment doldrums, recruitment in software testing and quality assurance has remained strong. And as competition among businesses encourage the development of increasingly sophisticated software programs; the demand for testers will continue to outstrip supply.

• Getting started in software testing
• Skill sets recruiters to look for
• Dramatically improving your CV
• Sample Curriculum Vitae
• Interviewing advice & techniques