Certified ScrumMaster®: Virtual In-House Training This course covers Scrum and the principles and tools required to be an effective ScrumMaster. You will come away with a good understanding of the Scrum framework and the underlying principles required to make effective decisions regarding the application of Scrum to different situations. At the end of the course, you will receive membership to the Scrum Alliance for two years and, following completion of an online test, will become a Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster®. Our Certified Scrum Trainers pay the initial, two-year membership fee for each student who successfully completes our Certified ScrumMaster® course. This membership fee also covers the cost of the CSM Test. A link to the test will be sent to you following your course. The CSM test has a passing score of 37 out of 50 questions within a 60-minute timeframe. You will have two attempts within 90 days after you receive your welcome e-mail to pass the test at no cost. After two attempts or 90 days, you will be charged $25 for each additional attempt. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Provide a clear understanding of the fundamental principles of Scrum Use the principles, practices, and tools required to be an effective ScrumMaster Make effective decisions regarding the application of the Scrum framework to different situations, including: Practical, project-proven practices The essentials for getting a project off on the right foot How to write user stories and structure your product backlog How to help both new and experienced teams be more successful How to successfully scale Scrum Tips and tricks from the instructor's many years of using Scrum in a wide variety of environments Getting Started Introduction Course structure Course goals and objectives Agile Principles and Scrum Overview Agile Principles Lean Principles Process control models Incremental and Iterative development Shifting the focus on product management Overview of the Scrum process The Team Dedicated cross-functional teams T-shaped people Sprint Planning Team capacity Facilitating the Sprint Planning meeting The Sprint backlog Sprint Burndown chart Scrum Roles and Responsibilities The team and building effective teams ScrumMaster responsibilities Product Owner responsibilities The Scrum project community What happens to traditional roles in Scrum? Scrum Meetings Daily Scrum Reviews Retrospectives Product Backlog and User Stories Product backlog characteristics User stories Getting your first backlog Getting backlog items ready Slicing User stories Estimation for Forward Planning Why comparative estimation works Planning poker Affinity estimation Release Planning and Tracking Progress Velocity Release planning Tracking release progress Scaling Scrum Scrum of Scrums Scaling the product backlog Scaling across a program and business areas Distributed teams
Certified ScrumMaster®: In-House Training This course covers Scrum and the principles and tools required to be an effective ScrumMaster. You will come away with a good understanding of the Scrum framework and the underlying principles required to make effective decisions regarding the application of Scrum to different situations. At the end of the course, you will receive membership to the Scrum Alliance for two years and, following completion of an online test, will become a Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster®. Our Certified Scrum Trainers pay the initial, two-year membership fee for each student who successfully completes our Certified ScrumMaster® course. This membership fee also covers the cost of the CSM Test. A link to the test will be sent to you following your course. The CSM test has a passing score of 37 out of 50 questions within a 60-minute timeframe. You will have two attempts within 90 days after you receive your welcome e-mail to pass the test at no cost. After two attempts or 90 days, you will be charged $25 for each additional attempt. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Provide a clear understanding of the fundamental principles of Scrum Use the principles, practices, and tools required to be an effective ScrumMaster Make effective decisions regarding the application of the Scrum framework to different situations, including: Practical, project-proven practices The essentials for getting a project off on the right foot How to write user stories and structure your product backlog How to help both new and experienced teams be more successful How to successfully scale Scrum Tips and tricks from the instructor's many years of using Scrum in a wide variety of environments Getting Started Introduction Course structure Course goals and objectives Agile Principles and Scrum Overview Agile Principles Lean Principles Process control models Incremental and Iterative development Shifting the focus on product management Overview of the Scrum process The Team Dedicated cross-functional teams T-shaped people Sprint Planning Team capacity Facilitating the Sprint Planning meeting The Sprint backlog Sprint Burndown chart Scrum Roles and Responsibilities The team and building effective teams ScrumMaster responsibilities Product Owner responsibilities The Scrum project community What happens to traditional roles in Scrum? Scrum Meetings Daily Scrum Reviews Retrospectives Product Backlog and User Stories Product backlog characteristics User stories Getting your first backlog Getting backlog items ready Slicing User stories Estimation for Forward Planning Why comparative estimation works Planning poker Affinity estimation Release Planning and Tracking Progress Velocity Release planning Tracking release progress Scaling Scrum Scrum of Scrums Scaling the product backlog Scaling across a program and business areas Distributed teams
This course is your one stop destination for everything you need to know about Agile Project Management. The course covers core concepts of Agile Scrum, Product ownership, Business analysis, Project delivery, Using User stories and Agile Kanban Productivity and Efficiency. All examples and facts are based on real industry experience and research.
Read and discuss Jane Austen's first novel - a most amusing satirical classic! Highlights Join this book club and gain extra motivation to read in English 6 hours of live classes to help you develop fluent speaking in English Study this classic Austen novel and increase your knowledge of the gothic Be corrected by an expert English teacher to remove errors and mistakes Practise and develop your English online in this 6 week advanced book club course using the classic Jane Austen novel Northanger Abbey. Each week you read some chapters, discuss them in class and improve specific areas of vocabulary or grammar while also examining literary aspects of the novel. Personalised feedback improves your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The Book Club book Northanger Abbey is the first novel by Jane Austen, one of Britain's most loved novelists. Catherine Morland, seventeen, has left her village for the first time and is living in the town of Bath. She goes to dances, the theatre, and talks to her new friends Isabella Thorpe and Eleanor Tilney, who lives at Northanger Abbey and has a rather attractive brother... Catherine learns some lessons about life - about friends, about money, and of course, about love. Geoff says: "This is Jane Austen's first novel. Our heroine loves books and is always reading the scary popular "gothic" stories of the time - which makes for many funny moments. We read the original text of Northanger Abbey, which is relatively short (approx 77000 words)."
Scrum Master Exam Prep: Virtual In-House Training This workshop prepares you for the Scrum.org Professional Scrum Master (PSM)™ I certification. A voucher for the exam and the access information you will need to take the exam will be provided to you via email after you have completed the course. NOTE: If you have participated in any of IIL's other Scrum workshops, you can bypass this program and focus on reading/studying the Scrum Guide and taking practice exams from Scrum.org. A Scrum Master helps project teams properly use the Scrum framework, increasing the likelihood of the project's overall success. Scrum Masters understand Scrum values, practices, and applications and provide a level of knowledge and expertise above and beyond that of typical project managers. Scrum Masters act as 'servant leaders', helping the rest of the Scrum Team work together and learn the Scrum framework. Scrum Masters also protect the team from both internal and external distractions. The Professional Scrum Master™ I (PSM I) certificate is a Scrum.org credential that enables successful candidates to demonstrate a fundamental level of Scrum mastery. PSM I credential holders will grasp Scrum as described in The Scrum Guide™1 and recognize how those concepts can be applied. They will also share a consistent terminology and approach to Scrum with other certified professionals. Scrum.org does not require that you take their own sponsored or any preparatory training. However, training can facilitate your preparation for this credential. And this course is based on IIL's Scrum Master Workshop, which is aligned with The Scrum Guide™ and was built based on PSM I credentialed expertise. It will provide you with the information you need to pass the exam and IIL will make the arrangements for your online exam. You will be provided with an exam code and instructions, so that you can take the exam at your convenience, any time you are ready after the course. Passwords have no expiration date, but they are valid for one attempt only. What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Successfully prepare for the Scrum.org PSM I exam Comprehend the Agile Manifesto and mindset Explain the fundamental principles of Scrum, including events, artifacts, and roles Guide the Scrum team in their responsibilities Define Ready and Done Write requirements in the form of user stories Estimate using planning poker and prioritize using MoSCoW Facilitate the team through the 5 Sprint events Fulfill the role of Scrum Master in a Scrum project Create Information Radiators to enable transparency Define the structure of the retrospective Getting Started Introductions Workshop orientation Exam prep preview Foundation Concepts Agile History, Values, and Mindset Introduction to Scrum Scrum events Scrum artifacts Scrum Roles and Responsibilities Product Owner responsibilities Scrum Master responsibilities The Team responsibilities Cross-functional teams Building effective teams The Product Backlog and User Stories The Product Backlog User Stories Definition of Done Backlog grooming Estimating User Stories Story points, planning poker Prioritizing User Stories The Sprint Team capacity and velocity The Sprint Planning Meeting The Sprint Backlog The Sprint Learning to self-manage, self-organize, self-improve Sprint Review and Retrospective Project Progress and Completion The Daily Scrum The Task Board and The Burndown Chart Information Radiators Closing a Scrum Project Summary and Next Steps Review of course goals, objectives, and content Exam prep next steps
Agile Release Plans: Virtual In-House Training While many Agile frameworks provide guidance on a focus on value and iterative development, many do not explain how that value is delivered to the customer. Release Plans have become an accepted and common practice to bridge the gap between the Product Vision and the Product Backlog (Agile requirements). In this course, you will be provided with an introduction to Agile and to Scrum, the most utilized Agile framework. You will also learn how the Vision, Roadmap, and Charter help to establish the Release Plan. The goal of this course is to equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to build Release Plans to ensure you deliver the most value to your customers. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Recall the Scrum framework elements (roles, events, and artifacts) Examine the benefits of Agile Develop a Product Vision and Roadmap Create an Agile Project Charter Prepare a Release Plan Write user stories to support a Product Backlog Foundation Concepts Introduction to Scrum Scrum Overview Agile Benefits Product Definition Business Goals Product Vision Product Roadmap Agile Project Charter Product Scope Project Risks Release Deadlines Sprint Durations Team Norms Release Planning Release Plan Process Select Stories and a Release Date Product Backlog User stories Building the product backlog Product Backlog Refinement Transitioning to the Scrum Team
Scrum Product Owner Exam Prep: In-House Training This workshop prepares you for the Scrum.org PSPO™ I certification. A voucher for the exam and the access information you will need to take the exam will be provided to you via email after you have completed the course. NOTE: If you have participated in any of IIL's other Scrum workshops, you can bypass this program and focus on reading/studying the Scrum Guide and taking practice exams from Scrum.org The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team. The Product Owner must be knowledgeable, available, and empowered to make decisions quickly in order for an Agile project to be successful. The Product Owner's key accountability is the Product Backlog. Managing, maintaining, and evolving the Product Backlog involves: Establishing a clear vision that engages the Development Team and stakeholders Clearly expressing Product Backlog items Ordering the items in the Product Backlog to best achieve the vision and goals Ensuring that the Product Backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all Working with the Development Team throughout the project to create a product that fits the customer's need What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Successfully prepare for the Scrum.org PSPO I exam Identify the characteristics of a successful Product Owner Create a powerful vision statement Apply techniques to understand your customers and the market Manage and engage stakeholders Write effective user stories with acceptance criteria Utilize techniques to visualize and prioritize the Product Backlog Participate in the 5 Scrum events as the Product Owner Understand the Product Owner's role in closing a Scrum project Getting Started Introductions Workshop orientation Exam prep preview Fundamentals Recap Agile Manifesto, values, and mindset Product Owner characteristics Good vs. great Product Owner Product Ownership Product ownership Project vision Understand your customers and market Personas Stakeholder management and engagement The Product Backlog User Stories and Acceptance Criteria Preparing User Stories for a Sprint The Product Backlog Visualizing the Product Backlog Product Backlog Prioritization Technical Debt Sprint Planning and Daily Standups Sprint Planning Planning Poker Team Engagement Daily Standups Sprint Review, Retrospectives, and Closing Sprint Reviews Key Agile Patterns Retrospectives Closing the Project
Virtual Agile Teams: In-House Training Agile teams are a must in this world of intense competition, marketing demands, and changing expectations. Global virtual teaming has become a necessity as organizations become increasingly distributed, with suppliers and clients actively engaged in joint projects. Agile Teams now work across geographical, organizational, and cultural boundaries to deliver solutions and services to global users. Distance and differences may amplify the effect of issues and factors that are relatively straightforward for co-located Agile teams. This workshop delivers practical concepts and techniques that participants will start using immediately with their virtual Agile teams. The goal of the course is to enable you to successfully execute your preferred Agile or Scrum methods in a virtual project team environment. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the characteristics of a virtual team and how they differ from a co-located team Build an effective virtual Agile team using a Team Charter approach Develop Release Plans, including prioritizing user stories, with a virtual Agile Team Construct a Sprint plan, including effective user story estimates, virtually Execute a Sprint, including essential Agile or Scrum ceremonies, virtually Conduct effective virtual meetings in an environment supportive of Agile and Scrum methods Foundation Concepts Agile Mindset and Values Agile Benefits and Methods Scrum Overview Co-located vs. Virtual Teams Forming Virtual Agile Teams Exploring Virtual Leadership Focusing on Virtual Agile Leaders Developing a Virtual Agile Team Charter Meeting Team Challenges in a Virtual Environment Planning Releases with a Virtual Agile Team Planning releases overview Estimating user stories Prioritizing user stories Setting release parameters Getting consensus on the release plan Planning a Sprint for a Virtual Project Sprint Planning Overview Confirming Sprint Scope with Virtual Agile Teams Developing a Sprint Delivery Plan for Virtual Agile Teams Running a Sprint in a Virtual Environment Self-organizing a Sprint for a Virtual Agile Team Using Scrum tools in a Virtual Environment Conducting End of Sprint Meetings in a Virtual Environment Iterating as a Virtual Agile Team Creating an Environment for Success Piloting a virtual Agile team Creating an Agile-friendly virtual environment
LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, GRAPHIC NOVELS Katie Blagden is a Literary Agent at The Ampersand Agency, representing authors and author-illustrators across various genres and age ranges. She previously worked with Arabella Stein at the Bright Agency, where she helped launch their Literary list. Her notable projects include the Arcana duology by Sam Prentice-Jones (Macmillan US / Hot Key Books) and The River Thief by Hannah Peck (Piccadilly Press). In all areas Katie seeks commercial, plot-driven ideas with a great hook. In adult fiction, Katie specialises in, and is drawn to, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Magical Realism and Horror. She is particularly looking for works that cross genre lines or subvert reader expectations. She loves Babel by R. F. Kuang; Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell; Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik; Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich; The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers; The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin; Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree; The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters; Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke; The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey; One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston; Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao; The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch; The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo; Kindred by Octavia E. Butler; Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin; all and anything by Terry Pratchett! Graphic Novels favoured by Katie are across all ages and include the likes of Homebody by Theo Parish; Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe; Lumber Janes by N. D. Stevens et al; On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden; Through The Woods by Emma Carrol; The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen; Heartstopper by Alice Oseman; El Deafo by Cece Bell; Roller Girls by Victoria Jamieson; Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett; Faith by Jody Houser. For Graphic Novels, Katie is currently only considering Author-Illustrators (or Author/Illustrator pairings). In children’s, Katie specialises in Middle Grade, YA and Crossover Fiction, She is looking for fast, funny and action-packed Middle Grade. In YA, she is drawn to grounded or contemporary SFF, queer stories and fairytale or folktale inspired works. Examples of books in this area Katie loves are All That's Left in the World by Erik J Brown; The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness; Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas; Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi; The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave; Holes by Louis Sachar; Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo; Gone by Michael Grant; His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman; Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell; The Dark Lady by Akala; Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan; The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper; Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Katie is an advocate for centring traditionally underrepresented voices, and actively works to discover and develop authors and author-illustrators from diverse backgrounds. Katie’s previous experience includes marketing, bookselling and advertising. She also appeared as a contributor on the Graham Norton Book Club for Audible for all six seasons. When she’s not reading, you can find Katie playing Dungeons & Dragons, trying a new crafty hobby (before abandoning it for something new), or spoiling her dog Poe. Katie would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first three chapters (Max 5000 words) of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Katie is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 3rd September 2025
LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Francesca Riccardi is a literary agent at Kate Nash Literary Agency. She has previously worked in sales roles at HarperCollins, Constable & Robinson, Atlantic Books (where she was recognised as a 2017 Bookseller Rising Star), and most recently was sales and marketing director for Canelo. She has worked with authors including Holly Seddon, Rachel Lynch, Cesca Major, Robert Fabbri, Marion Todd, M C Beaton, Catherine Ryan Howard, and Phil Rickman. Francesca is looking for character-driven popular commercial adult fiction across all genres. She loves books with a strong voice and sense of place, and is particularly interested in stories that are high concept, appealing to a millennial audience, and showcase lesser known experiences and/or female and diverse narratives. Francesca would like you to submit the first 5000 words of your manuscript, a synopsis and your cover letter in that order in one single Word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Francesca is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print). By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Tuesday 26th August 2025