I'm interested in learning more about Agile and possibly receiving a certification in this. I've conducted some research to identify online programs or webinars which there are a few. However, what I've found so far has been a bit pricey.
Anyone have suggestions on cost effective (or free) programs or websites that can teach Agile principles?
Thank you so much for your suggestions! Saving Changes...
Focus on gaining some basic knowledge, putting that into practice and then pursue certifications.
There are tons of free on-demand webinars available on this site, and lots of fairly cheap or even free resources available on the web. You could start by reading the agilemanifesto.org content but remember that was focused on software development. From there, you could look at PMI's Agile Practice Guide which I feel provides a good overview of key concepts and common frameworks.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Joshua RenderProduct Owner| CognizantHarrisville, Ny, United States
Udemy has a lot of cheap courses on Agile. You can often get them for around $10. KnowledgeHut has some that are more expensive, but they tend to be more refined and targeted.
As Kiron said, this website has a lot of free recorded seminars on the issue and the PMI Agile Practice Guide gives a good explanation on Agile. Saving Changes...
Wade HarshmanScrum Master| GDITIndianapolis, In, United States
I like Kiron and Joshua's recommendation. Just consider your source, though, because there's a lot of bad information about Agile out there. There are also plenty of worthless certifications, so the more information you have the better.
Many of the certifications out there are specific to certain Agile practices or frameworks. If you find yourself drawn to one of these, Scrum, XP, DSDM as examples, then you can focus your search for certifications. (In this context, I'd place the PMI-ACP as being one of those practice-oriented certifications, more geared towards project managers than Agile in the broader sense.) There aren't many general Agile certifications worth having unless you're coaching at an enterprise level or training certification classes yourself; and these require years of experience.
And as always, I recommend that you check your local job boards before spending any time and money on certifications. If no one in your area recognizes a certification, then it's really not worth the investment. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Agree with what's been posted. There are a plethora of affordable resources out there to help build your repertoire. Have fun! Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
The best way to learn about Agile is to do Agile, Read what you can, then apply an Agile mindset to everything you do. Saving Changes...
@Joshua Render Thanks so much I took a look at the Udemy website and found a course I'm going to register for.
@Wade Harshman - I've now bookmarked the alligence.org website and this is definitely a great resource. I like your suggestion on determining if I'm drawn to one specific practice in Agile. This was an aspect I had not even considered or thought of.
@Kiron Bondale, Andrew Craig and Stéphane Parent - your suggestions appeal to how I learn & that is also what I needed to focus on. I learn best by doing and also a visual learner. It's funny how we do not always go with what we know about ourselves initially. But, I'm glad that the three of you have been able to get me to shift my focus back to what works.
Thanks again to everyone - I'm encouraged & feel equipped to continue in this direction! If there's anyway I can be of help to you as well please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Saving Changes...
steve bairdTechnology Manager| State Farm InsuranceHudson, Il, United States
