Studying Like a Solutions Architect: My Agile Learning Approach to AWS Certified AI Practitioner

Nicole Hargrove
Jul 15
3 min read

"Don't just prep for a test. Put your knowledge into practice along the way." —Nicole Ann Hargrove

I'm Learning the Agile Way

When I committed to earning the AWS Certified AI Practitioner credential, I knew I didn’t want to follow a typical study path.

Instead of passively consuming content or cramming for test day, I wanted to treat my learning experience like a real project. One that’s iterative, focused, and aligned with how I lead and learn best.

That’s why I chose an Agile Learning approach. The goal isn’t just knowledge acquisition, but building and applying that knowledge as I go.

What is Agile Learning?

Agile Learning takes the same principles that drive successful product teams and applies them to personal growth and skill-building.

Here is what that looks like

Break learning into time-boxed sprints.
Create a backlog of concepts, tools, and deliverables.
Complete task with intention and iteration.
Deliver real outcomes instead of just notes.
Reflect and adapt as you progress.

For me, that means managing my certification prep like a product build. I am using Jira boards, user stories, retrospectives, and documentation to guide the process.

How I Designed My Agile Learning Journey

I created a 60-day roadmap in Jira, using Scrum practices to manage my learning goals.

My Learning Epics

Each major goal is organized into an Epic

AWS Certification Learning Plan.
Real-World AWS AI Projects Builds.
GitHub Documentation & Portfolio.
Reflection & Showcase.

Sprint Schedule

Each sprint is two weeks long

Sprint 1: Certify & Reframe
Sprint 2: Build & Deploy
Spring 3: Showcase & Reflect

Sample Jira Stories

[Story] Complete AWS Skill Builder Learning Plan Modules 1 - 3.
[Task] Reframe AI project for GitHub documentation.
[Task] Design architecture diagram using draw.io.

I assign points to each story to track effort and focus on progress, not perfection.

From Monday.com to Jira: Transferable Skills in Action

In the past, I have used Trello and Monday.com to manage agile/scrum projects. That experience gave me a solid foundation in visual workflows, task tracking, and project organization.

So I decided to up skill using Jira. My core project management skills carried over nicely. I was able to quickly learn about Jira through various videos and documentation on YouTube and through documentation. It did not take me long to have my Jira project created with stories/tasks, epics, and links between. I was even able to create a custom dashboard. I am excited to use Jira's reporting capabilities.

Whether you are using Jira, Trello, Monday.com, or sticky notes, the important thing is how you think. Agile is not about the tool. It is about creating clarity, breaking down your goals, and learning through action.

Why Agile Learning Works for Me

This approach is helping me build more than technical knowledge. I am also developing stronger habits and creating meaningful outputs along the way.

This is what I am already noticing

✅ I’m learning in context, not isolation
✅ I’m producing deliverables that showcase growth
✅ I’m practicing reflection and iteration
✅ I’m making my learning visible and shareable

Agile Learning has turned my certification prep into a real-world leadership and learning project.

If you are preparing for a certification, exploring a new role, or diving into unfamiliar tech, try treating your learning like a build. Create sprints. Track your progress. Reflect often. Share your work.

This is how you move from prepping for a test to putting your knowledge into practice along the way.

Follow Along

Drop a comment if you are exploring Agile Learning or prepping for AWS AI Certified Practitioner exam. We can learn together.

Check out my GitHub repo: https://github.com/nicoleannhargrove/cole-aws-ai-practitioner-roadmap.git

Always remember to EMPOWER through sharing knowledge, create global IMPACT, and leave a LEGACY!