6-Week PSD-I Study Plan

This plan will guide you through preparing for the Professional Scrum Developer I (PSD-I) certification using focused study blocks and proven learning techniques. Each week has a goal, study tasks, and regular review sessions. The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused study followed by short breaks) will help maintain focus, while Spaced Repetition ensures you retain the information over time.

Plan Overview:

• Study Duration: 2-3 hours/day, 5 days a week.
• Pomodoro Sessions: 25-minute study blocks with 5-minute breaks, and a 15–20-minute break after every 4 sessions.
• Spaced Repetition: Review the material at increasing intervals (1 day, 3 days, 7 days, etc.).

Week 1: Understanding the Scrum Framework

Goal: Grasp the core concepts of Scrum, including roles, events, and artifacts.

Day 1-2: Scrum Roles

Task 1:

• Read: Study the responsibilities and characteristics of the three Scrum roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros reading through official Scrum resources and case studies that explain how each role functions in real-world Scrum teams.

Task 2:

• Write Summaries: Write a brief summary of each role's key responsibilities and their impact on a Scrum team. This helps reinforce your understanding and allows you to reflect on how these roles interconnect.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 1 Pomodoro summarizing each role (3 summaries total).

Task 3:

• Create Visuals: Draw a diagram or flowchart that visualizes how the three roles interact during a sprint.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to create a visual aid that highlights key interactions.

Day 3-4: Scrum Events

Task 1:

• Study: Learn about the key events in Scrum: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. Focus on understanding the purpose and flow of each event.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros reading about each event and its role in the sprint cycle.

Task 2:

• Create a Timeline: Draw a timeline of a typical sprint and indicate when each event occurs. Label the specific goals and outputs of each event.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to sketch out and label this timeline.

Task 3:

• Explain Events: Practice explaining the purpose of each Scrum event in your own words. This verbalization process will help solidify your understanding.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro for this explanation activity.

Day 5: Scrum Artifacts

Task 1:

• Learn: Study the three Scrum artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment. Focus on how each artifact contributes to managing work and delivering value.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros learning the purpose and structure of each artifact.

Task 2:

• Analyze Examples: Look at examples of real Scrum artifacts (if available through case studies or online). Try to understand how they are structured and maintained.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to analyze and reflect on the examples.

Task 3:

• Self-Quiz: Create a quiz or a list of questions to test your understanding of each artifact. For example, ask yourself what differentiates the product backlog from the sprint backlog.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to quiz yourself.

End-of-Week Review:

• Review Scrum Framework: Review all notes, diagrams, and summaries from the week to ensure you remember key concepts.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros reviewing all of the material from the week.

Week 2: Scrum Development Practices

Goal: Learn and apply Scrum development practices such as Continuous Integration (CI), Test-Driven Development (TDD), and Automated Testing.

Day 1-2: Continuous Integration (CI)

Task 1:

• Study: Learn about the process of Continuous Integration, focusing on its benefits, the steps involved, and tools commonly used (e.g., Jenkins, Travis CI).
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros reading articles and watching tutorials on CI.

Task 2:

• Document CI Process: Write a step-by-step guide on how CI is set up in a project, from committing code to automating tests.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to document this process.

Task 3:

• Summarize: Write a summary of how CI improves product quality and reduces integration risks.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to summarize.

Day 3-4: Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Task 1:

• Study: Focus on the principles of TDD, including its cycle: Write test → Write code → Refactor. Understand how writing tests before coding ensures code quality.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 2 Pomodoros to study TDD from official resources or practical examples.

Task 2:

• Watch TDD in Action: Watch a coding demonstration or tutorial where a developer writes TDD tests. Pay attention to the way tests are written and executed.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to watch and take notes.

Task 3:

• Practice: If you have basic coding skills, try writing a simple TDD test (e.g., a test for adding two numbers) before writing the code.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro for hands-on practice.

Day 5: Automated Testing

Task 1:

• Study: Learn about automated testing, focusing on different types (unit tests, integration tests, end-to-end tests). Understand how automated testing fits into the Scrum process.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 2 Pomodoros to read and understand different testing types.

Task 2:

• Research Tools: Research popular tools used for automated testing, such as JUnit (for Java), PyTest (for Python), and Selenium (for browser testing).
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 1 Pomodoro researching testing tools.

Task 3:

• Write a Test: If you have coding experience, try writing a simple automated test using a testing tool like PyTest or JUnit. Even if you don’t code, understanding the structure of a test case is valuable.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro for hands-on testing practice.

End-of-Week Review:

• Review CI, TDD, and Automated Testing: Use 2 Pomodoros to review and reinforce all key concepts learned this week through summaries, notes, and examples.

Week 3: Managing Products with Agility

Goal: Understand how to manage product goals, backlogs, and deliver incrementally in Scrum.

Day 1-2: Product Goals and Roadmaps

Task 1:

• Study: Read about how the Product Owner sets long-term product goals and creates roadmaps to break them down into short-term objectives.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros studying product goals and roadmaps.

Task 2:

• Research Real Examples: Find and analyze examples of product roadmaps in Scrum projects. Reflect on how roadmaps evolve as the project progresses.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to analyze examples.

Task 3:

• Create a Mock Roadmap: Based on what you’ve learned, create a mock product roadmap for a sample project. Focus on setting realistic goals and milestones.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro for roadmap creation.

Day 3-4: Product Backlog Management

Task 1:

• Study: Learn how the Product Owner manages the product backlog, including how items are prioritized, added, and refined.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros studying backlog management.

Task 2:

• Create User Stories: Practice writing product backlog items as user stories. For example: “As a user, I want to be able to filter search results by date so that I can find recent content.”
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro for writing and reviewing user stories.

Task 3:

• Analyze Refinement Practices: Look into how backlog refinement is done in real Scrum teams. What techniques are used to clarify and break down large tasks?
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to research refinement practices.

Day 5: Incremental Delivery

Task 1:

• Study: Learn about the benefits of delivering product increments regularly. Study how this approach reduces risk and ensures continuous feedback.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros on this.

Task 2:

• Review Case Studies: Find case studies that demonstrate the success of incremental delivery. Analyze how teams handled feedback and adapted after each

Task 2:

• Review Case Studies: Find case studies that demonstrate the success of incremental delivery. Analyze how teams handled feedback and adapted after each increment.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro to read and analyze case studies where Scrum teams successfully delivered incremental value and adapted based on feedback.

Task 3:

• Write Reflections: Write a reflection on how incremental delivery aligns with Agile principles and how it mitigates risks in product development.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 1 Pomodoro writing and reflecting.

End-of-Week Review:

• Review Agile Product Management Concepts: Use 2 Pomodoros to revisit all concepts covered this week, such as backlog management, product roadmaps, and incremental delivery. Focus on how they work together to ensure flexibility and value delivery.

Spaced Repetition:

• Briefly review this material on Days 3, 5, and 7 of Week 4 to reinforce understanding.

Week 4: Advanced Scrum Concepts and Exam Preparation

Goal: Solidify advanced Scrum practices and begin intense exam preparation through practice questions and mock exams.

Day 1-2: Scaling Scrum

Task 1:

• Study: Read about how Scrum is scaled in larger organizations, focusing on frameworks such as Scaled Scrum and Nexus. Understand the challenges of scaling Scrum across multiple teams.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 2 Pomodoros to study scaling frameworks.

Task 2:

• Analyze Scaling Challenges: Learn about the specific challenges Scrum teams face when scaling and how frameworks like Nexus handle dependencies, coordination, and integration.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 1 Pomodoro analyzing these challenges.

Task 3:

• Summarize: Write a summary of the key principles of scaling Scrum and how they differ from standard Scrum processes.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 1 Pomodoro for this task.

Day 3-5: Exam-Specific Preparation

Task 1:

• Practice Exams: Start taking mock PSD-I exams online. Answer questions under timed conditions to simulate real exam scenarios.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 3 Pomodoros per day for practice exams (1 Pomodoro per section).

Task 2:

• Review Mistakes: After each practice exam, review your mistakes carefully and note down the topics that need further study.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 1 Pomodoro reviewing and re-studying weak areas.

Task 3:

• Reinforce Core Concepts: Go back to difficult concepts from previous weeks (e.g., Scrum roles, events, artifacts) and use visual aids or flashcards to reinforce your understanding.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 2 Pomodoros to review these difficult concepts.

Week 5: Intensive Mock Exams and Review

Goal: Finalize preparation by taking multiple mock exams and focusing on weak areas.

Day 1-3: Full Mock Exams

Task 1:

• Full Mock Exam: Take a full-length mock exam each day under timed conditions, aiming for 85% or higher to meet the passing score for PSD-I.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 4 Pomodoros per day for each full mock exam (1 Pomodoro for each section of the exam).

Task 2:

• Post-Exam Review: After each mock exam, review your results and note the questions you answered incorrectly. Focus on understanding why the correct answers are right and how to avoid similar mistakes.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros reviewing answers and revisiting weak areas.

Day 4-5: Final Review

Task 1:

• Final Knowledge Review: Review all flashcards, diagrams, notes, and summaries from the last 5 weeks. Focus on any remaining weak spots and ensure you’re confident with key concepts.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 2 Pomodoros per day reviewing all key material.

Task 2:

• Self-Quizzes: Test yourself with short quizzes on the most difficult areas. Focus on clearing up any lingering confusion before moving on.
• Pomodoro Focus: Spend 1 Pomodoro per day on self-quizzing.

Week 6: Final Exam Preparation and Relaxation

Goal: Rest, review lightly, and prepare mentally for the exam.

Day 1-2: Light Review

Task 1:

• Light Review: Spend some time reviewing essential concepts but avoid intense study sessions. Focus on summarizing what you’ve learned in a relaxed, low-pressure environment.
• Pomodoro Focus: Use 2 Pomodoros per day for light review.

Task 2:

• Take Breaks: Make sure to rest properly and manage stress before the exam day.

Day 3-5: Exam Day Preparation

• Prepare: Ensure that you have everything ready for the exam, including your study materials, testing setup (if online), and any necessary paperwork.
• Rest: Prioritize a good night’s sleep before the exam and keep calm throughout the exam process.

Summary:

This 6-week PSD-I study plan breaks down each core area into manageable daily tasks. By combining focused study sessions using the Pomodoro Technique with regular reviews through Spaced Repetition, you’ll build a strong understanding of Scrum concepts and techniques. Consistent practice exams will help you familiarize yourself with the exam format and boost your confidence for the real test. Stay consistent, and you’ll be well-prepared to pass the PSD-I exam!