Project 04 · Training program
Citizen Developer Program
Automation and AI are creating a gap between those who can build digital solutions and those who depend on IT for everything. Citizen developers are the bridge — but nobody teaches them to think with technical judgment before handing them a tool. This program solves that.
// the problem
It's not a Power Automate course
The market is full of tool tutorials. YouTube has thousands of 'how to do X in n8n' or 'your first Power App in 10 minutes' videos. The problem isn't a lack of tutorials — it's that teaching someone to use a tool doesn't teach them to solve problems with judgment.
A citizen developer who learns to drag controls without understanding when to automate, what not to automate, how to document what they build, or how to think about maintaining their solution, ends up creating the exact problem traditional IT was trying to avoid: fragile solutions nobody else can maintain.
This program teaches a mindset before a tool. Students learn n8n and Power Platform, yes — but the focus is on judgment: how to identify a good automation case, how to specify before building, how to document, and how to deliver something that outlives its creator. AI is integrated into every module from day one, not as a separate topic.
// the program
8 modules · 27 hours · 8 weeks
Synchronous cohorts of 8–12 people. Two weekly sessions of 1.5 hours. Each module combines theory, guided practice, and a real deliverable.
What low-code is and why it matters. Automation mindset: when to automate and when not to. Real use cases by industry. Introduction to AI as the citizen developer's copilot.
How to identify a good automation case. Specify the problem before touching a tool. Process mapping. Prioritization criteria: impact vs. effort.
Installation and setup (cloud and self-hosted). Essential nodes: HTTP, Webhook, Schedule. First integrations with Google Workspace and Slack. Using AI within workflows.
Error handling and conditional logic. Idempotency and retries. Database integrations. AI agents in n8n. Hands-on project: automating a real process.
Basic and advanced flows. Connectors and the Microsoft 365 environment. When to use Power Automate vs. n8n. Copilot in Power Automate.
Your first canvas app from scratch. Data modeling with Dataverse. When Canvas vs. Model-Driven. Designing usable interfaces.
Combining n8n + Power Platform in a hybrid flow. How to document a solution so someone else can maintain it. Versioning and handover. The difference between a solution that works and one that lasts.
Final project defense before the group. Rubric-based evaluation. Demo Day: each student presents the solution they built for a real problem at their job. Feedback and closing.
// the certification
A certification that validates competence, not attendance
A certification loses all its value if it only proves the student showed up. That's why it evaluates applied competence with a clear rubric.
| Criteria | Weight | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Functional final project | 40% | Technical review + live demo |
| Hands-on exercises per module | 30% | Documented flows/apps delivery |
| Participation and problem-solving | 20% | Rubric in synchronous sessions |
| Project technical documentation | 10% | Written delivery |
Minimum passing grade: 70% of total.
// who it's for
Five profiles that benefit
| Profile | Motivation |
|---|---|
| Administrative professional (HR, finance, operations) | Automate repetitive tasks in their current job |
| Entrepreneur / SMB owner | Digitize their business without hiring developers |
| Data or reporting analyst | Add automation to their current stack |
| Professional transitioning into tech | Certification to change roles |
| Public sector or corporate employee | Modernize internal processes |
"You won't learn to use a tool. You'll learn to solve real problems at your job with technology, without writing code."
// current status
Designed and ready. Looking for the first pilot.
The program is fully designed: the 8 modules, the evaluation rubric, the hands-on exercises, the student kit, and the instructor material. What's missing is running the first pilot with a real group to validate the design with evidence. If your company wants to train citizen developers with technical judgment — not just teach them to use tools — let's talk.
The complete program content — detailed syllabi, commercial kit, and instructor material — will be published after the first pilot, with real adoption metrics.