Knowledge United

This course is delivered by a Knowledge United's Preferred Partner, Prototest.  Prototest is an ASTQB Accredited Courses Provider.

Course Description

The Fundamentals of Software Testing course is a 3-day course taught by certified software quality professionals. The course is designed for people new to the testing profession or for people wanting to review the fundamentals of testing software. Students receive a PDF version of our Student Workbook including labs, examples, and glossary; and a Certificate of Completion. The American Software Qualifications Testing Board (ASTQB) Certification can also be obtained by taking and passing the ASTQB Certification - Foundation Level Exam after the course. A voucher code for the exam will be given to students so they can arrange a testing center after the class.

Method of Instruction

Fundamentals is available in a public, open-enrollment format and as a private on-site class.  The course is approximately 75% knowledge transfer and 25% skills-based.

Target Audience

• Primary: New, junior, and mid-level testers
• Secondary:
• All level of testers wanting a refresher
• Test Managers
• Developers
• Business Analysts
• Product and Project Managers

Course Level

Beginning and Intermediate

Prerequisites

• Required: Familiarity with the software development life cycle
• Recommended: Familiarity with software testing and quality assurance processes

Tools for ASTCB Exam Self-Study

• The ASTQB CTFL Syllabus is available for free download on the ASTQB website and is a good study guide
• Recommended Reading "Software Testing Foundations: A Study Guide for the Certified Tester Exam" by Andreas Spillner, Tilo Linz and Hans Schaefer. This is an optional book that you can purchase to study before the class.
• Instructor will walk through a sample exam with the students to help prepare them for the exam and answer any questions
• We will be available after the course and before the exam to answer any questions

Course Objectives

You will be provided live instruction, information and interactive lab exercises for the students to be able to meet the objectives listed below, as well as to pass the ASTQB CTFL exam after the course.

• Understand the objectives of Software Testing
• Know the history of software testing
• Understand what constitutes a good and effective test
• Be familiar with industry standards that might be used to improve the software testing process.
• Find ways to improve the current testing practices

• Understand how testing fits within the Software Development Lifecycle
• Distinguish Quality Assurance from testing and describe quality attributes
• Appreciate the effects that different software development models have on the testing process

• Understand the value in a formal test process
• Know the importance of creating a comprehensive test strategy
• Learn to outline the elements of a complete test plan
• Learn to write a thorough Defect Management Plan
• Understand ways to measure process and product quality

• Breakdown the various components of software testing
• Understand verification testing and the most commonly used methods
• Recognize various validation techniques and approaches
• Grasp the method of designing tests by decomposing the system into testable components
• Implement six test case development techniques
• Utilize the techniques for designing tests, including checklists, tables, maps, outlines, spreadsheets, templates, etc.
• Understand the purpose and basic considerations for specialized tests.
• Learn to identify origins of defects and how to write an effective defect report
• Be familiar with the various tools available for the testing process

Course Outline

• Overview Of Software Testing
• Define Software Testing
• Provide a Brief History
• Testing within an Organization
• Components of a Successful Test
• Characteristics of a Successful Test
• Description and Examples of Testware
• Quality Assurance And Standards
• Define Quality Assurance
• Explain the Test Process
• Describe Software Development Models
• Review the Standards Organizations
• Describe Configuration Management
• Verification
• Define Verification Testing
• Review Roles and Responsibilities for Verification Testing
• Describe Verification Techniques and Tools
• Validation
• Define Validation Testing
• Describe the Various Techniques
• Describe the Validation Approaches
• Test Management
• Tasks on the testing team from Manager to Tester
• Test Estimation
• Factors Influencing Test
• Test Approaches
• Types of Risk
• Test Progress Monitoring
• Test Control
• Test Planning
• Elements of a Test Plan
• Factors that Affect Test Planning
• Test Strategy and Development
• Test Development Process
• Test Case Development Techniques
• Building Test Scripts and Sets
• Test Execution
• Application Ready for Test
• Preparation
• Setup Script
• Execute Test Cases
• Analyze Test Results
• Sources of Failure
• Defect Management
• Origins of Defects
• Cost of Defects
• Defect Lifecycle
• Writing a Defect Management Plan
• Measurement and Reporting
• Why and What we Measure
• Product Characteristics
• Process Measurements
• Test Effectiveness Measures
• Product Quality
• Specialized Tests
• GUI Testing
• Usability Testing
• Beta Testing
• Web-Based Testing
• Localization Testing
• Installation Testing
• Recovery Testing
• Security Testing
• Performance Testing
• Portability Testing
• Test Tools
• Test Management Tools
• Test Automation Tools
• Static Analyzers
• Capture Playback Tools
• Coverage Analyzers
• Specialized Tools
• Optional Labs
• Triangle Exercise
• Testing Crossword Puzzle

Course Structure

On the first day of the course, the instructor will cover an overview of software testing, the difference between quality assurance and testing, and the difference between verification and validation techniques.  The overview of software testing will focus on defining software testing, recanting the history of the profession, describing the characteristics of a good test professional, determining what makes a test successful, and describing the various types of testware.  The section on quality assurance and testing will cover the meaning of quality assurance and how it differs from testing.  The section will also include an overview of the test process, a description of software development models and how they impact testing, a description and contact information for the various standards organizations, and a review of configuration management.  Verification is a key component of software testing.  The course will describe the importance of verification testing and the most commonly used methods within the software industry.  Then we will discuss validation and how it differs from verification.  Validation is the process of executing an application to find its defects.  The course will cover the various types and approaches within validation testing. 

The second day of the course will focus on test strategy, planning and development.  How does a tester determine how to decompose an application to ensure a thorough test process?  The instructor will describe an effective test strategy and provide the steps and necessary tools to successfully execute a process for developing test sets, scripts and cases.  Planning is the key ingredient to success in most professions and it also holds true for software testing.  Students will walk away from the course understanding the elements of a complete test plan.  The test development portion of the course will dissect six development techniques to implement into your test program.

The final day of the course will consist of learning about specialized tests, defect management, test tools and test metrics.  Testing, like most professions, contains areas of specialization.  At the end of the day, you will have twelve specialized tests to use while testing your application.  Defects, bugs, issues...regardless of how they are referenced; they all require a defined lifecycle and reporting process.  This course will provide you with the knowledge and resources that will enable you to go back to your company and implement an effective Defect Management Plan.  Test improvements, like home improvements, require the right kind of tools.  The instructor will educate you on the tools necessary to get the test job done right!  How many requirements have test cases and how many of those test cases have uncovered bugs?  Providing accurate test metrics is a way to keep all project participants and management up to date on the testing status.  Fundamentals of Software Testing will teach you ways to measure process and product quality.

The ASTQB Exam will be arranged by student at a local training center.

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Onsite / Private Class

We can provide this class onsite to your team as a standard class or customized to meet your specific needs. Request a quote today.

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