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What Is Automation Testing?

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What Is Automation Testing?
What Is Automation Testing?

A recent survey showed that almost 80% of organizations use automation testing for functional and regression testing. The market for automation testing is also projected to grow by over 15% in the next five years. So what is automation testing, and why is it so important?

As software is being developed, it’s tested to ensure everything works properly and identify bugs, vulnerabilities, or other issues. Testing can be done manually (and it often is), but manual testing is repetitive and time-consuming. So, developers turn to automation testing.

Automation testing is both practical and cost-effective. As the name suggests, it involves automating the testing process and the management and application of test data and results to improve software.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at automation testing, exploring topics like:


The benefits of automation testing

Business Analysts, Software Developers, DevOps Engineers, and more love automation testing for its many benefits. Some of these benefits include:

  • Cost. This report on automated testing shows that it can reduce hourly fees by more than 75%.
  • Speed and accuracy. Automating testing, data collection, and data analysis provides actionable results quicker. Automated testing dramatically increases speed and accuracy compared with manual testing.
  • Effectiveness. Automation testing allows for increased test coverage and earlier detection of bugs and vulnerabilities.

Criteria for automation testing

Given the benefits, how does one know when to automate the testing process? The following are some of the test types that should be automated:

  • Tests that are repetitive and time-consuming.
  • Tests that run for multiple builds.
  • Tests that are vulnerable to human error.
  • Tests of high-risk, frequently used functions within the software.
  • Tests that can’t be done manually.
  • Tests that need to be run on multiple software or hardware configurations and platforms.

Setting up these automated tests requires careful planning, so production teams create an automation plan or strategy first. Different automated tests occur at various stages in the development process, so goals and milestones must be established early to avoid haphazard testing and redundancy.

Automated testing is commonly divided into small, manageable units with focused objectives. This makes it easier to update, edit, or augment tests.

Automation testing tools help development teams generate testing scripts that can be repeated automatically. There are several ways to generate automated test scripts.

Record/Playback (Linear)

With tools like UFT or Selenium, testers can generate a set of user actions and “record” them. Then, they can repeat (or “play”) them back automatically. This allows testers to write code and perform simple tests quickly and easily.

On the other hand, these tests can’t be reused. Their parameters are particular, so new tests need to be created every time the data changes.

Keyword/Data-Driven (independently or as a Hybrid)

With tools like Robot Framework, testers can also use keywords to specify user actions and provide data to generate a script to perform the tests automatically. These scripts can be reused, but these frameworks are a little more complicated than linear frameworks.

Coding (Structured)

Testers can script in C++, Java, or JavaScript using frameworks like Appium and Microsoft Coded UI. These testing scripts allow for specific results, but you’ll need solid coding skills to create them. To get started, check out the courses below:

Types of automated tests

In general, there are two types of automated testing: functional and non-functional. Functional tests verify the software’s performance in the real world.

Non-functional testing verifies software requirements like data storage and security. Some types of testing will fit into only one category, while others may overlap them both.

Now that you know the difference between functional and non-functional testing, let’s explore some of the most popular types of automated tests.

Unit testing

This is one of the first types of tests done in the initial stages of software development. It’s functional testing and refers to the testing of small, individual parts of the software. While unit testing can be done manually, some applications require automation.

Smoke tests

Smoke tests are also functional, and they determine if a particular build is stable or not. They’re also used to verify the functionality of the software’s essential parts and establish whether it can endure further tests in the future.

Integration tests

Integration tests verify that the various parts of the software can function together as a whole.

Regression tests

This is one of the tests that overlap the two types, being both functional and non-functional. Regression tests ensure that no software component has regressed after changes have been implemented.

Security tests

Security tests are both functional and non-functional. They look for vulnerabilities in security that can be maliciously exploited.

Performance tests

Non-functional performance tests evaluate how stable and responsive the software is. Think of it as a stress test for the software, ensuring a quality user experience.

API testing

Application programming interfaces (APIs) allow new software to interface with other systems so it can function. API tests are usually done at the end of development to ensure the software performs as it should.

Acceptance tests

Acceptance tests are functional, used to get feedback on how end-users will respond to the completed software.

UI testing

This is one of the last tests performed. UI testing replicates a typical user’s experience when using the software. It ensures that the final version performs as it should when users interact with it.

Test automation process

Generally, the test automation process follows these steps:

1. Select a testing tool

Different tools are available for various development platforms and technologies, so there are several factors to consider when choosing an automated testing tool. Here are a few examples:

  • What language is the software written in, and what operating system(s) will it operate on?
  • What are the testing requirements?
  • How will the testing scripts be written?
  • Will the team use open-source or paid testing tools?
  • What existing infrastructure is already in place?

Many professionals recommend an automation proof of concept (POC) in choosing the right tool. This is a process used to verify to the team that the right tool has been chosen.

The choices made at this stage are often determined by the skill and experience of the quality assurance (QA) and testing team.

2. Define the scope of the automation

To define the scope of the automation, you’ll need to know such things as what features are essential to the business, what scenarios will involve the processing of large amounts of data, what functions are common across various applications, and the complexity of the test cases.

3. Plan, design, and develop

Having selected a tool and defined the scope, the team can now create a plan or strategy and implement it. The tools, framework, and test types are integrated into a schedule or timeline so that production will continue according to the goals and milestones set by the development team.

In this context, a framework refers collectively to the concepts, environment, practices, procedures, and processes used in the automating of testing. The framework chosen is determined by the technique used for scripting the tests, whether linear, hybrid or structured.

4. Execute the test

In this stage, tests are performed according to the automation plan schedule. Data is generated and collected to be analyzed as feedback.

5. Maintenance

As the software evolves based on previous tests, new tests are added, performed, and maintained to improve the results of each successive release.

Careers in automation testing

Since automated testing is an essential part of software development, numerous careers include testing automation.

Programmers write or generate testing scripts, and Business Analysts collect and analyze data generated by tests. Automation Engineers may oversee or directly develop testing strategies and their execution, while DevOps Engineers coordinate and collaborate with all facets of development.

Check out courses like JavaScript Testing and Learn Testing for Web Development to learn more about software testing.

Web Development Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Web Development is the practice of developing websites and web apps that live on the internet. Whether you’re interested in front-end, back-end, or going full-stack, the content in our Web Development domain will help you get there.

How To Get Into Game Development

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How To Get Into Game Development

If you’re someone who loves video games, then you’ve probably thought about starting a career in game development. After all, what could be more fun than getting paid to work with games all day?

Anyone with a passion for programming, creative thinking, and problem-solving may want to consider a career in game development. In this article, we’ll show you why this is such an appealing and rewarding profession. We’ll also give you some tips on starting your path towards becoming a Game Developer.

Why become a Game Developer?

Along with your passion for gaming, there are many other reasons to pursue a career in game development. Here are three of the top factors that attract people to the industry.

Job security

When people think about entertainment, they usually think about music and movies. But did you know that the video game industry is worth more than the music and movie industries combined? The global gaming market is already worth over $151 billion today, and it’s expected to grow to over $250 billion by 2025.

People just can’t get enough games, which means there’ll be a steady demand and excellent income prospects for Game Developers for years to come.

Casual work environment

Tech companies are already known for their laid-back atmosphere, but gaming companies take it to a whole new level. But don’t mistake “casual” for “indifferent.” Working for a gaming company means working with other like-minded Game Developers who are passionate and enthusiastic about what they do.

Also, more gaming companies are setting up permanent remote teams, which means you don’t have to relocate for your dream job.

Unleash your creativity

Game Developers and Designers are typically responsible for putting together game concepts, as well as the structure and rules of the game. Some Game Developers specialize in particularly creative aspects like level design or game-play mechanics. If you’re attracted by both programming and aesthetics, game development is an ideal way to put your technical and analytical skills to good use while calling on your creative side as well.

The best programming languages for Game Developers

As with any development career path, it’s important to learn the right programming languages for the job. Not only does this make you an efficient coder, , but it also helps you stand out in the job market because you’ll already have the skills your employer is looking for.

Here are the most popular programming languages for game development if you’re interested in pursuing a career in this field.

C++

Although it’s not the easiest programming language to learn, C++ is well known among Game Developers. That’s because C++ offers the ability to control graphic processes and hardware performance, which is essential if you want to design a game that has stunning graphics or a complex AI engine.

If you want to be a Game Developer specializing in PC or console games, it’s worth it to learn C++.

Java

Game Developers who design mobile games turn to Java as their go-to programming language. That’s because Java is relatively easy to learn, write, and debug. It’s also platform-independent, which means that it can run on any operating system.

Python

Although Python isn’t as popular yet as Java and C++ for game development, developers who learn Python are finding it to be a great choice. With the open-source PyGame library, you can quickly design, build, and prototype games.

And anyone who’s learned Python, whether they’re a Game Developer or Data Scientist, can tell you how intuitive and powerful the language is.

JavaScript

If you’ve ever played a web-based or browser-based game, then it’s likely that it was developed with JavaScript. When Game Developers combine JavaScript with HTML and CSS, they’re able to create immersive games that are accessible from any browser and any device. In particular, JavaScript offers plenty of frameworks like Phaser.js, as well as a large support community that helps make a Game Developers’ job much easier.

How to jump-start your game development career

While you’re learning the programming skills you need to become a great Game Developer, you can do a few other things to help start your new career.

Start building your own games

Even the Senior Game Developers at Nintendo and Blizzard had to start somewhere. You can start by learning to build your own games and create a game design portfolio. Not only will you hone your programming skills, but you’ll learn a lot about yourself as a Game Developer along the way.

As you gain experience, you’ll feel more confident about designing more complex games to add to your portfolio. This gives you even more pride and confidence in your work.

Create a game design portfolio

If you want to maximize your chances of getting hired by a gaming company, you can consider creating a game design portfolio. While a solid cover letter and resume are important, nothing speaks more about your growth and skills as a Game Developer than samples of your work.

A good game design portfolio should include images, video reels, and prototypes, as well as background information such as rule sets and other documentation on the design process.

The best path toward advancing your game development career isn’t always the most direct one. If you can find a way into a gaming company — perhaps as a Game Tester or an intern — then you’re already well on your way to your dream job.

Once you have your foot in the door, it’s much easier to find the right people to talk to about moving into game development.

Ready to become a Game Developer?

Now that you have some ideas about how to get into game development, it’s time to start building the skills you need to land your dream job.

Check out our online courses, which can help you understand the basics of C++, build your first game with Phaser.js, create virtual reality experiences, and more.

Game Development Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

There’s a gamer in all of us — whether you play on your phone, a console, a computer, or a virtual reality rig. And it takes people, either individually or in large teams, to bring these great experiences to life. Learn the foundations of Game Development and create your very own video game.

Lesson of the Day: ‘How Humans Lost Their Tails’

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Lesson of the Day: ‘How Humans Lost Their Tails’

Featured Article: “How Humans Lost Their Tails” by Carl Zimmer

Have you ever wondered why you don’t have a tail?

Why do most primates have tails while humans and apes don’t? This was a mystery Charles Darwin first posed 150 years ago. And a new study suggests that a single genetic mutation some 25 million years ago helps explain why. “This dramatic anatomical change,” writes science reporter Carl Zimmer, “had a profound impact on our evolution.”

In this lesson, you will learn the answer to the question of where our tails went, explore the consequences for our ancestors, and imagine what your life would be like if humans had kept their tails.

What if you had a tail?

Whether it was short, long, bushy or striped — how would your life be different? Would you use it to swing through the trees like chimpanzees? Wrap it around yourself in the wintertime like the snow leopard? Or simply swat flies with it like the zebra?

Take a few minutes to write down at least five cool things you would do if you had a tail.

Then, share your list with a partner and discuss: What might be the advantages of having a tail? How might it get in the way? On the whole, do you think your life would be better? Would you want a tail — even if for just a day?

Read the article, then answer the following questions:

1. The article begins, “For half a billion years or so, our ancestors sprouted tails.” Why does Mr. Zimmer start the story so long ago? What does the evolution of life from hundreds of millions of years ago on Earth have to do with human beings and their missing tails?

2. How did Charles Darwin shock audiences some 150 years ago? What did he realize about the human structure known as the coccyx?

3. How did a team of scientists in New York solve a key piece in the mystery of our missing tails first identified by Darwin? What role did mice play in providing an answer?

4. How did the loss of a tail millions of years ago have a “profound impact on our evolution,” according to Mr. Zimmer? What connection does it have to the human ability to walk?

5. How did a bad Uber ride inspire Bo Xia, a graduate student at N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine, to search for an answer to our missing tails? How did he and his colleagues try to find an answer to his question? What did he discover about a gene called TBXT?

6. Now that the how has perhaps been answered, the article ends with the next big question in the mystery — the why:

“It’s very confusing why they lost their tail,” said Gabrielle Russo, an evolutionary morphologist at Stony Brook University in New York who was not involved in the study. “That’s the next outstanding question: What on earth would the advantage be?”

Use what you know about evolution and early human history to speculate: Why do you think it was evolutionarily advantageous for apes and humans to lose their tails? How might human evolution and society have developed differently had we had tails? What questions do you still have about the human tail or the lack of it?

Option 1: If you could have any animal feature what would it be?

What characteristics or traits of an animal would you choose — at least for a day?

A trunk, a tail, wings or stripes? How about the acute vision of an owl? Or the speed of a cheetah? Eight arms like an octopus? Gills to allow you to breathe underwater? Bat ears for echolocation in the dark? The ability to change color and camouflage like chameleons?

Explain how your life would be different and what you would do with your new animal powers.

If you are interested in joining a conversation with other students, share your thoughts in our related Student Opinion prompt.

Option 2: Learn more about other aspects of human evolution.

Why are humans awed by beauty? How did we evolve to be able to run? Could early humans speak? What questions do you have about the long and often odd path of human evolution? Read one of the recent Times articles on human evolution below:

Then, write or discuss with a partner: What is your reaction to the article? What was the most provocative, surprising or memorable thing you learned? How does it add to your understanding of evolution? What further questions does it raise for you?

Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here.

Clouds

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Clouds

What do you think this image is saying? How does it relate to or comment on society or current events? Can you relate to it personally? What is your opinion of its message?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related Opinion essay to learn more.

Want more Picture Prompts? Find them all in this column.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Word of the Day: inadvertently

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Word of the Day: inadvertently

: without knowledge or intention

_________

The word inadvertently has appeared in 254 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on July 26 in “Pop Smoke’s Second Posthumous Album, ‘Faith,’ Hits No. 1” by Joe Coscarelli:

Pop Smoke, born Bashar Jackson, once a leader of Brooklyn’s rising drill movement, was killed last year during a home invasion in the Hollywood Hills after inadvertently revealing his address on Instagram. Los Angeles police officers said at a hearing in May that five teenagers had plotted to rob the rapper, coming away only with a watch that they sold for $2,000.

Can you correctly use the word inadvertently in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how inadvertently can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try one of our monthly vocabulary challenges.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

Film Club: ‘A Conversation With Native Americans on Race’

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Film Club: ‘A Conversation With Native Americans on Race’

I’m Apache, but really that’s the government’s name, because they can’t say “Dził Łigai N’dee.” They will tell me how awesome they think it is that I’ve decided to be a part of my culture. And it’s funny to me. It hits me really weird, and I don’t like it. And I didn’t know why at first, but it’s because I haven’t decided to be a part of my culture. I live it every day. I’m more comfortable with the term “native,” divorced from “Native American.” I know there are people who use “indigenous.” If there is one term I do not like to be called, it is “American Indian.” And for me, to be indigenous is to have an intimate and interconnected relationship to a homeland. And so that’s really important, because land is, you know, tied to every aspect of who we are. Being native in a city is almost a daily reminder of your people’s erasure. Of the fact that people don’t even remember that you’re here and that you exist. But what I did encounter was just this preconceived notion that all Native Americans are dead. I’ve had older white men come up to me and say, “Oh, man, if this was 40 years ago, I could just do whatever I wanted to you.” You know, the cattle outside doing the work and the dog inside the house, those are property. Those are the black folks in America. They are property to white men. Then the exotic antelope on the wall or the exotic — that’s how natives are perceived in America. We’re treated like animals. They monitor our blood quantum. I mean, besides dogs and horses, I don’t know of any other animal that they monitor the blood quantum. The way I explain it to people is, imagine a pizza with different slices, and let’s say 32 slices. Of the 32 slices, I’m 28 Apache. That’s my particular blood quantum. And Native Americans in the U.S. are the only minority group who have to prove their nativeness on an Indian card. It’s used to divide native people against each other, because it can be used as a way to say, I am more native than you. And I was a part of that, too. I used my 4 fourths to kind of make myself feel better against other people. The one drop rule, meaning that one drop of black blood makes you black, that was to keep as many people oppressed or legitimize their oppression as possible. But on the other side, one drop of anything else completely dilutes you as a native person. So if you’re a native person, you have the one drop of something else, then suddenly you’re less native. So it’s the opposite. Traditionally, within the Apache society, you go by the mother. And if the mother is recognized as Apache, she has her clan, the children are unquestionably Apache. Not in the American context, not when patriarchy trumps matriarchy. So what does that mean? My sisters are short 1/16 of a degree. What does that mean? Does it mean their pinkies aren’t Apache? What does that mean? You know, being a mixed race person is a whole other side of it, but that’s a very common experience in our tribe. So it’s not as if we’re unusual in that way. What is unusual is the admixture of black. My grandfather actually doesn’t want people — if he hears that somebody from the tribe is coming over, he won’t come out of his room. Because he doesn’t want them to know that he’s that complexion, that he doesn’t — I guess he doesn’t want me to be affiliated with having African-American blood. But I mean, I say it. It’s not going to change anything. If it were up to the American government, natives wouldn’t be around. Because after a certain time, that blood will dilute. It will go out. And so if there’s no native peoples to provide benefits, then we’re not obligated to meet these treaty rights. And if we’re not obligated to meet these treaty contracts, then the land is available, the resources are available. And I think that that essential point about our claim to sovereignty, our claim to land, our claim to a culture, our claim to resources is one that gets lost if we don’t insist upon the fact that we are nations. And we have taken huge steps to decolonizing, and that proof comes from people being able to have the opportunities to speak their language, to be on their ancestral land. But the thing with decolonization is that it’s an ongoing process, just like grieving, just like any loss. As much as possible now, I try to tell people that I have a Native American name, and maybe it doesn’t mean anything to you, but it means everything to me. My name, maybe, doesn’t have a romanticized, Hollywood Indian name, but my name has more meaning than that. My name means that my family survived. My family survived disease. My family survived Catholicism. My family survived settler colonialism, and my family, they survived. I survived. My existence is resistance. Me saying my name is Skiumtalx, that is resistance in and of itself.

What Students Are Saying About Gifted Programs, What They’d Like to Study, and the Value of a Dollar

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What Students Are Saying About Gifted Programs, What They’d Like to Study, and the Value of a Dollar

Both learning languages and forensic are something I find truly and deeply amusing, but there’s this one topic I can’t quite seem to grasp: stocks. This is why I would choose this — one-syllable — word to study for a year. On one hand, I hear people talk about the significance of stocks on a daily basis; how it has impacted their lives, how it’s made some millionaires, and how some wouldn’t be where they are without stocks. On the other hand, I have never understood how or why it’s so life-changing. I want to know the answers to my questions, and beyond that, I would like to know how I can use stocks to better my life in the future.

— Rocio, Maryland

If I could devote a year to study anything it would be Waterfowl Conservation, which is preserving and protecting wetlands so that waterfowl and other animals can continue to have places to live and repopulate. My family has always been involved in this, mostly because my father and I have owned lots of land and have used it for duck hunting for as long as we have had it. I’ve always found it very fascinating to be able to work out on our land and see how the wildlife there is in the off-season and I am hoping to keep it going and possibly start my own thing in the future.

— Matt, Hoggard High School

If I could devote a year to studying anything I would study history. Every history from every country and state. Surprisingly my worst subject is history, even though my dad is a historian god. But, I have loved the way he knows so much history on everything, it’s so cool to hold that much information in one brain. I would love to learn all history and just know so much about every country. It really just expands your knowledge and it could benefit you in so many ways. History doesn’t go with my career; I want to help kids with disabilities, but it could help me know more about politics, or about fundraising to which country that needs the most help, or just knowing knowledge about a country you have never been connected with.

— Alex, New Mexico

¨To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.¨ Learning a language allows you to make connections between things you may otherwise not have: why words mean what they do, why we pronounce something differently than it sounds, or why that street, Morte Boulevard, always had the best Halloween decorations. I am currently learning French, and I love it, finding that when I read a word or passage, I can pick out key words and understand it…

If I were to spend one year studying any subject with a group of peers equally motivated, it would definitely be a language. If you study on your own, you miss out on conversation, which refreshes and improves your repertoire. Additionally, learning a language prepares you for later in life, no matter what job you have, or where you go, knowledge of a language will always be useful. And because of this, this Chinese proverb still applies today, learning a language not only provides another window into the world, it also opens doors for your future.

— Owen, Union High School/Vancouver, Washington

My answer would be language. There is the Korean language that I’ve been trying to learn, whether it is just small phrases or sentences. It seems really basic and some schools already have language classes but I’ve never seen an American school have a Korean language class. Just learning the Korean language would be useful for me as I want to travel to Korea.

— L, south side highschool

If I had to choose something to study for a year it would probably be linguistics. I’ve always been interested in how language works and why it has so many rules and exceptions. It never occurred to me that this was something that you could study in college until my mom told me about it. I would love to take a class where we studied a bunch of different languages from all over the world and learned where all languages originated from and how it has evolved over thousands of years.

— Lillian, Block 4Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

Tailor Your Team’s Technical Training With Codecademy’s Teams+

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Tailor Your Team’s Technical Training With Codecademy’s Teams+

Earlier this year, we launched Codecademy Teams to help companies provide technical training and education for their employees. Since then, hundreds of companies — including Fortune 500s, media agencies, and educational and financial institutions around the world — have used Teams to take their skills to the next level.

And you don’t have to work in a technical role to benefit from technical training. While engineers have used Teams to stay up to date with the latest new languages and evolving technologies, marketing teams have also used it to learn how to work with data and learn more about their customers

For those who are leading a team, providing technical training is a win for your whole organization. You can:

  • Close skill gaps
  • Promote self-sufficiency
  • Improve efficiency and automation
  • Empower data management

Feedback from Teams customers shows that it’s also great for:

  • Inspiring motivation, engagement, and investment in company goals
  • Empowering innovative employees
  • Fostering greater connection and cross-functional collaboration between teams
  • Increasing value for clients and other stakeholders

And now, with Teams+, you can customize and tailor your team’s training, keep everyone on the same page, see the ROI (return on investment) of your training programs, and more.

Customize your own curriculum

With Teams+, you can go beyond Codecademy’s curriculum and tailor your team’s training to their specific needs. With content curation, you can clone our existing curriculum and use it as a template that you can then add or remove courses from.

And, if you need to customize your curriculum even more, you can also create your own educational content with Author. Author allows you to create articles, quizzes, and assessments to help reinforce your team’s new knowledge and skills and ensure every member meets your training goals.

Manage multiple training programs

Teams+ also allows you to ensure all of your team members are hitting the right marks in their training. Our new grouping feature enables you to group members by team, department, or subject area.

Maybe your marketing team needs to learn about data analytics while your engineering team wants to pick up JavaScript. These groups can be easily separated to make learning as a group more streamlined.

With our new Content Assignment feature, you can then assign groups specific courses or Skill Paths so they’re learning exactly what they need to. Not only that, but content can be assigned to individuals if you need to get more granular.

Onboarding a group of Junior Developers and need to make sure they’re familiar with your tech stack? Just add them to a group and assign them a customized curriculum encompassing your preferred languages, libraries, and frameworks to ensure their skills are up to par.

With just a few clicks, you can create groups, view and manage the members within them, and assign new content and goals — keeping everyone on the same page.

Understand the ROI of your training programs

But how do you know your teams are making the most of their training? With Teams+, you’ll have access to an advanced reporting dashboard that’ll provide full visibility into how your team members and groups are progressing with the content you’ve assigned them.

Not only will this help you stay on top of your team’s development, but it’ll also help you ensure you’re hitting your training goals and getting the most from your investment. Progress reporting will help you:

  • Identify problem areas and which or where team team members may need additional support.
  • Identify learning trends within or across different groups.
  • Understand when it’s time to move on to the next phase of training.

Facilitate your teams’ growth and development

Teams+ provides your entire team with access to our extensive catalog of skill-building curriculum and technical resources. This includes interactive courses like Learn HTML and Learn Python that’ll teach them how to use the most popular and powerful programming languages.

It also includes access to our Skill Paths and Career Paths. These Paths offer more structured training for those looking to learn specific skills or qualify for a specific role, like Data Analyst or Full-Stack Engineer.

As your teams go through their courses, they’ll complete quizzes and build projects that’ll deepen their understanding of programming concepts and tools and give them real-world experience that’ll enable them to better contribute to your company’s goals. Plus, our goal-setting features like milestones, weekly targets, and streaks will help keep them motivated and engaged throughout their training.

Getting started with Teams+

Ready to get started? Check out the Codecademy for Business page and contact our sales team. Then, sign up for our upcoming webinar:

On November 4th, 2021, at 11AM ET, Codecademy’s Technical Product Manager, Sam Bakkila, and Strategic Account Manager, Thomas Shepherd, will give participants an inside look at the latest Teams+ features and functionality. After this webinar, you and your employees will be ready to hit the ground running with Teams+. Sign up now!

What Boosting Retention Looks Like During “The Great Resignation”

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What Boosting Retention Looks Like During “The Great Resignation”

We’ve all read the headlines: People are leaving their jobs in record numbers. As the “Great Resignation” continues on, employers have an opportunity to better support their team and ultimately boost retention. But first, it’s important to understand what, exactly, team leaders are seeing right now when it comes to retention.

How “The Great Resignation” is affecting both employers and employees

Codecademy conducted a survey of 100 leaders across the tech industry, including CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs. Unsurprisingly, 67% reported a decrease in retention over the past year. As the pandemic continued on and the world economy slowed, industries shut down, childcare options diminished or evaporated entirely, and many tech companies shifted to working remotely (some more gracefully than others). This meant that many people had to make tough decisions about whether or not to stay in their jobs. Some simply had no choice but to leave, while others began rethinking what they want and expect from their employer and sought out better opportunities.

And this rise in resignations doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, resignations have only continued to increase across industries since early 2020.

While on its face, this sounds like bad news for employers, it also doesn’t bode well for the employees that stay in their jobs who are left with even more work on their plates. According to our survey, 79% of tech organizations reported that this decline in retention is hurting team morale — which only feeds into the cycle by increasing resignations even more.

The importance of creating a culture of learning

So if you’re a team leader, what can you do to boost not only retention, but also team morale? While increasing salaries and vacation days are two ways to increase job satisfaction, there’s another great option that’s becoming increasingly popular: ongoing training, particularly technical training.

When you offer technical training to employees, you’re creating a culture of learning that benefits employers and employees alike. Investing in the ongoing education of your team means equipping them with skills that make their daily tasks easier. It means reenergizing them with opportunities for personal and professional development. Sure, the skills they learn will benefit the team at large, but they will also help each individual team member feel like they’re growing and working towards something bigger. (Because they are!)

According to our survey, when technical training is offered to employees, they stick around up to 13 months longer than when it’s not offered. As a result, 59% of organizations surveyed now include technical training as part of their retention strategies.

Why technical training boosts retention

Here are just a few reasons why technical training in the workplace has such a positive impact on retention:

  • Opportunities for growth. Employees can level-up their skills, and then grow in their role or get promoted internally, rather than having to seek out another opportunity elsewhere.
  • Cross-skilling. As organizational needs change, different technologies may come into the picture. Technical training can enable existing employees to learn these new technologies and reduce the need to identify new opportunities that fit their current skill set.
  • Meeting company goals. Creating a feeling of accomplishment for both employees and employers is a win for both.
  • Boosting morale. When team members have the right skills, communication and productivity are improved, which makes the day-to-day more pleasant for everyone.

Learn more about the benefits of technical training for teams.

How to make sure you’re delivering the best technical training

Of course, no company wants to invest in technical training that their team ultimately doesn’t take advantage of. Fortunately, there are a few best practices to look out for when it comes to implementing technical training that actually energizes your team and ultimately boosts retention:

  • Make it self-guided. Self-guided learning, allowing employees to take courses in their own time, maximizes flexibility. By enabling employees to progress through courses in a way that fits their schedule, they’re able to find the time they need to learn. (Even better if managers work with their team to carve out that time!)
  • Make it interactive. This is a key to ensuring learners are engaged and actually want to learn. Hands-on practice, for example, allows trainees to learn by doing.
  • Make it trackable. Using a platform that gives insight into team usage and progress ensures your organization can understand and prove ROI.

At the end of the day, there are lots of factors that are currently affecting employee retention that are out of your control. One thing that’s in your control is investing in your team’s ongoing growth and development. That’s why Codecademy gives businesses the tools they need to train teams on the technical skills that will enable them to fulfill their potential.

Codecademy teamed up Pulse Q&A, a leading research firm, to survey 100 tech leaders and understand the state of retention. Stay tuned for our full report, coming in early December 2021. Receive it once published:

5 Technical Skills Product Managers Should Have

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5 Technical Skills Product Managers Should Have

If you’re just starting your career as a Product Manager, you’ve probably already heard of product management principles. But what about technical skills? Can you become a Product Manager without having a technical background?

The short answer is yes. A successful product team will have people from both technical and non-technical backgrounds. If you have a non-technical background, then you bring perspectives and thought processes that are valuable and rare in most software companies.

Still, it helps to have a least a few technical skills under your belt to round out your resume and help you succeed in the world of web and software development.

Below, we cover five technical skills a Product Manager should have.

1. Programming

While it’s true that Product Managers aren’t expected to be directly involved in software development, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t know how to read and write some code. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why a Product Manager should know how to code.

Even if you aren’t involved in product design, you’ll be expected to manage and improve software products. And the more you understand the technical parts of a design, the easier and more successful your job will be.

Knowing how to program is also a good way to build a relationship with the development team. Rather than relying on developers to “translate” every part of a product’s design, being able to read code will give you an insider’s perspective and make it easier to communicate your ideas to the team.

How to improve your programming skills

The best way to improve your programming skills is to take a beginner’s course. We recommend starting with the basics of web development: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. From there, you may want to get familiar with one or more of the software development languages used the most in your company, whether it’s C++, Ruby, Swift, Python, or something else.

If you’re applying for a new job as a Product Manager, the job description should have some information on which programming languages would be the most helpful for you to know.

2. Data collection, querying, and analysis

Companies today have an enormous amount of data at their disposal — data that can help you, the Product Manager, make better decisions and back up your arguments with objective evidence. That’s why every Product Manager should understand how to extract the right data, analyze it, interpret the results, and present those results in a way that’s easy to understand.

Remember that part of your role as a Product Manager is to anticipate what will make your company more successful. There’s no better way to gain valuable business intelligence and insights than through external market and competitor data along with your company’s performance data.

How to improve your data collection skills

No matter how your company’s data is managed and stored, the best way to access it is likely through SQL. Learning SQL will help you understand, create, and run your own data queries without having to rely on a data science expert. In fact, more and more companies are requiring Product Managers to come into the job already knowing SQL.

How to improve your data analysis skills

There are numerous data analysis tools available that can help you analyze data — from popular programming languages like R and JavaScript to powerful programs like Excel. But, even though you have these tools at your fingertips, you’ll still need to be able to understand and identify trends, patterns, and facts about your data sets. And the best way to develop these skills is through practice.

Each time you have an opportunity to manipulate and break down a data set, you’ll learn something, and that new skill will make it easier the next time you need to analyze data. And don’t worry about making mistakes. We all do — it’s part of the learning process.

3. Agile methodologies

Agile is becoming the norm in software companies, particularly in ones that develop Software as a Service (SaaS) products. So, if you’re planning to be a Product Manager at one of these companies, knowing Agile development practices will be a huge benefit. Agile teams will also have specific expectations of you, the Product Manager, when it comes to how software is conceived, released, and marketed.

Keep in mind that adopting Agile means adopting a new company culture and values. Whether your company uses Scrum, Kanban, or another Agile methodology, it pays to understand the Agile values and principles as well as how your company specifically approaches Agile.

How to improve your Agile skills

You don’t need to be a certified Product Owner or Scrum Master, but it helps to read through the Agile values and principles as well as understand the basics of Agile, including Scrum and sprints.

4. Excel

Most everyone has used Microsoft Excel at some point. It’s the gold standard of spreadsheet programs, with entire suites of functions to suit anyone in any professional field. Product Managers turn to Excel for just about everything, including forecasting, scenario and cost-benefit analyses, and creating attractive charts.

And while competitors like Google Sheets and Pages are catching up, the truth is that Excel and .xlsx files are here to stay. No other spreadsheet software can do so much in terms of data visualization and analysis.

How to improve your Excel skills

We first recommend that you learn about PivotTables and macros. These are some of the most powerful Excel tools, and they’re useful to anyone working with complex data.

5. Technical writing

Product Managers excel at developing ideas for creating and marketing software and apps to the public. But, they must also communicate those ideas in a different language through technical writing. Without solid technical writing skills, Product Managers couldn’t tell developers what a product should do or how it should be improved.

Many think technical writing involves a lot of jargon and complicated language, but that’s not true at all. The best technical writers create product specs, features, and detailed requirements that can be understood by any developer, whether or not English is their first language.

Product Managers with good technical writing skills find that they can speed up the product development process because there are fewer misunderstandings between them and the development team.

How to improve your technical writing skills

A good way to start improving your technical writing skills is by looking through existing specification sheets and product briefs in your company. Also, be proactive about getting feedback from the development team to find where your writing can improve in clarity.

Technical skills make you a better Product Manager

As a Product Manager, there’s no need to completely master all these skills. Your goal isn’t to compete with your software development and data science colleagues. But, having a good grasp of these skills will help you stand out as a strong candidate during the interview process and succeed in the workplace once you land the job.

If you’re ready to start learning a new technical skill or building on your existing knowledge, check out our courses for free today.

Code Foundations Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Interested in learning how to code, but unsure where to start? Our Code Foundations domain provides an overview of the main applications of programming and teaches important concepts that you’ll find in every programming language. This content will prepare you to chart a course to a more technical c…

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