How to Learn Web Test Automation in a Matter of Hours?

Yes, it is not only possible. Most of the attendants to my one-day training achieved this for over ten years.

Only a few hours to learn web test automation? Yes. Let’s be clear with the definition of ‘learned’ first. Learn ≠ Master.

A Metaphor: learning to drive won’t take long, maybe just a couple of hours for a newbie to drive the car in an empty car park. Of course, that’s no enough to pass the driving test. Still requires many days of practice. However, most people can learn the fundmentals of driving in a short time.

There is always a different levels in any skill. Practice is always required to move up levels.

E2E test automation skill, like car-driving, fits in very-easy-and-very-quick-to-learn category, if under proper guidance.

Mastering real web test automation takes years, myself is an example. My daughter started writing raw Selenium WebDriver tests at the age of 12. Based on my assessment, her current test automation level is still at Level 2.5 of AgileWay Continuous Testing Grading (better than ~95%. Wondering my level? Level 4).

“E2E Web Automation is super practical. You cannot learn Test Automation by reading blogs and watching tutorial videos. The only practical way is via intensive guided hands-on exercises.” — Zhimin Zhan

If, after learning for a few hours, a student can write simple but good-quality user-login and sign-up automated tests independently at work (for real use), I consider it a successful learning (fulfilling the claim: learn web test automation in hours), as this beginner, besides producing useful outcome with newly-learned skills, has a good level of confidence and inspiration for further improvement. Regardless of skills, continuous learning and practice are always required for any serious learner.

Table Of Contents
· A Few Hours, Really?
· Basic Knowledge of Learning Web Test Automation
· My Teaching Secrets
· How do I inject confidence into attendants (of my training) towards the end?

A Few Hours, Really?

I know most people will agree with the above in principle but remain doubtful about “a matter of hours”. Maybe only for people with experience? No, there is no prerequisite at all. If there is, only one: can browse websites (which every primary school student can).

Sound unbelievable? It is true. I have verified with my daughter (age 12) and many manual testers who attended my one-day training. If you follow the resources in the article, you probably can verify that with yourself (taking the factors without me being the instructor for you), today.

The Michel Thomas Method
“LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE IN HOURS, NOT YEARS” the claim on its web page.

https://www.michelthomas.com/

One graphic designer, after attending my training, was quite excited. He told me, "Your training style is like the Michel Thomas Method”. I never heard of it before. After some research, I could see his points. The Michel-Thomas Method, based on my understanding, is using a series of well-designed & related (means using just learned) exercises to introduce new words and grammar.

Compared to a new language, learning web test automation is easier, as it is more hands-on and satisfying, under proper coaching.

Basic Knowledge of Learning Web Test Automation

For a complete beginner, Web Test Automation means we write automated scripts to drive the controls, e.g. Link or Button, on web pages in a browser for testing purposes. No need to explain the web. The keyword here is “automated script”.

In other words, we learn how to write automated scripts. Four factors would determine the effectiveness of learning: