Offered by SchoolDay Academy, powered by Coursera
Introduction
Imagine designing an entire software system simply by describing what you want it to do. With AI-powered development tools, that future is already here. The AI-Powered Software and System Design course, offered by SchoolDay Academy (powered by Coursera), gives learners hands-on experience using artificial intelligence to plan, build, and optimize modern software systems.
Created by DeepLearning.AI and taught by Laurence Moroney, one of the world’s leading voices in applied AI education, this 3-module course (about 10 hours total) helps teachers, technologists, and students explore how large language models (LLMs) are transforming the way software is designed, coded, and managed.
As part of the Generative AI for Software Development Professional Certificate, this course provides both foundational understanding and practical projects that bridge human creativity with AI efficiency.
Why This Course Matters for Educators and Developers
Software design is no longer just about writing code—it’s about designing systems that think, adapt, and evolve with AI assistance. For CTE instructors, technology educators, and STEM coordinators, this course offers the tools to teach students how to work with AI as a co-developer—an essential skill for the future workforce.
The AI-Powered Software and System Design course helps educators and professionals:
- Understand how AI models assist in software architecture and system design.
- Introduce students to LLM-driven development tools for real-world coding projects.
- Explore database design, optimization, and secure coding practices using AI guidance.
- Prepare learners for emerging AI-integrated roles in software engineering and IT.
- Earn a shareable professional certificate while deepening AI literacy.
Whether you’re modernizing curriculum or expanding your own expertise, this course helps bridge today’s teaching with tomorrow’s technologies.
What You’ll Learn
Through interactive lessons and hands-on projects, you’ll discover how to combine AI’s problem-solving power with classic software design principles. You’ll learn to:
- Design and implement software architectures guided by AI insights.
- Create and optimize databases from scratch using LLM-assisted techniques.
- Apply advanced design patterns to improve code quality and maintainability.
- Build secure, scalable applications that integrate with APIs like DALL-E.
- Refactor existing applications using AI-driven analysis and performance tuning.
Each module builds your confidence in using AI tools to design smarter, cleaner, and more efficient systems.
Applied Learning Projects
Learning by doing is at the heart of this course. You’ll complete projects that demonstrate how AI enhances software engineering processes, including:
- Designing a modular software system from natural-language specifications.
- Implementing a database for an e-commerce platform, optimized through AI.
- Building a configurable app that interacts with external APIs like DALL-E.
- Using AI to detect code vulnerabilities and improve performance.
- Applying “Gang of Four” design patterns to refactor and streamline existing systems.
By the end, you’ll have a portfolio of AI-enhanced projects showcasing your ability to merge human logic with machine intelligence.
Why SchoolDay Academy Recommends This Course
At SchoolDay Academy (SDA), we empower educators and professionals to prepare students for the future of work—where AI and human creativity work side by side. The AI-Powered Software and System Design course from DeepLearning.AI exemplifies the next evolution in technical education: integrating AI tools directly into the software development process.
This course stands out because it:
- Equips teachers to bring AI-driven coding practices into CTE and STEM classrooms.
- Builds foundational skills for AI-assisted engineering and data management.
- Promotes secure, efficient, and scalable coding practices for real-world applications.
- Includes Coursera Coach, an interactive AI learning companion for real-time support.
- Is available through SDA’s affordable PD model—$149 per user annually, with district pricing as low as $100 per seat.
It’s an essential course for educators ready to lead the next generation of software innovators.
Conclusion & Call to Action
AI isn’t replacing software developers—it’s amplifying their creativity and productivity. The AI-Powered Software and System Design course, offered by SchoolDay Academy (powered by Coursera), teaches you how to collaborate with AI tools to build smarter systems and stronger code.
Start learning today and guide your students—and yourself—into the future of AI-powered software development.