How Labs, Mentorship, and Assessments Work

Cloudegree's learning model goes beyond video lectures and readings. Every program is built around three pillars: hands-on labs, expert mentorship, and structured assessments. Here's how each one works.

Hands-On Labs

Labs are where learning becomes real. Instead of just reading about cloud services, you provision, configure, and troubleshoot them yourself.

How Labs Are Delivered

Labs are embedded directly within each bootcamp module. When you reach a lab exercise, you'll:

Read the lab brief — a description of the scenario, objectives, and expected outcome
Work in your own cloud environment — using free-tier accounts on Azure, AWS, or GCP (depending on your bootcamp)
Follow guided steps — step-by-step instructions that walk you through the task while explaining the concepts
Complete the deliverable — produce a working deployment, configuration, or architecture that meets the requirements
Submit or demonstrate — share your results during the live session or submit screenshots/documentation

Types of Lab Exercises

| Lab Type | Description | Example | |----------|-------------|---------| | Guided Labs | Step-by-step walkthroughs | Deploy a web app to Azure App Service | | Challenge Labs | Objective-based with minimal guidance | Design a highly available architecture for a given workload | | Project Labs | Multi-session projects that build on each other | Build a complete CI/CD pipeline from scratch | | Exam Scenario Labs | Certification-focused practice | Replicate AZ-305 architecture design tasks |

What You Need for Labs

A laptop or desktop with a modern browser
A free-tier cloud account (Azure, AWS, or GCP — setup instructions provided)
Basic command-line familiarity (taught in Foundation programs)
Stable internet connection

No paid cloud resources required. All labs are designed to work within free-tier limits. If a lab requires paid services, temporary credentials or shared environments are provided.

Mentorship

Every learner has the option to work with experienced cloud professionals who provide personalized guidance, career advice, and technical support.

Meet the Mentors

| Mentor | Certifications | Specialties | |--------|---------------|-------------| | Kevin Ngwa | Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, GCP Professional | Cloud Architecture, DevOps, Migration Strategy | | Sarah Chen | Azure DevOps Engineer, Kubernetes Administrator | CI/CD, Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code | | Marcus Johnson | Azure Security Engineer, AWS Security Specialist | Cloud Security, Compliance, Zero Trust Architecture |

Mentorship Options

During a Bootcamp

Every bootcamp includes the option to add mentorship:

| Add-On Package | Sessions | Price | Includes | |---------------|----------|-------|----------| | Lite | 2 sessions | €20 | Email support, resource access | | Plus | 4 sessions | €35 | Priority email, project review, study materials | | Max | 8 sessions | €60 | 24/7 chat, project review, career guidance, interview prep |

Standalone Mentorship

Available to anyone, even without a bootcamp enrollment:

| Option | Price | Details | |--------|-------|---------| | 15-min Quick Call | €5 | Focused question or career check-in | | 30-min Session | €12 | Deep dive into a specific challenge | | 60-min Session | €30 | Comprehensive session for complex topics | | CV / LinkedIn Review | €10 | Professional profile optimization | | Mock Interview | €10 | Practice with real interview scenarios | | Architecture Review | €10 | Expert feedback on your cloud designs |

Monthly Plans

For ongoing support:

| Plan | Price/Month | Benefits | |------|------------|----------| | Starter | €19 | 1×30 min session, chat support | | Pro | €39 | 2×30 min sessions, priority chat, group mentorship | | Elite | €79 | 2×60 min sessions, priority booking, exam readiness |

Certification Exam Prep

Dedicated packages for exam preparation:

| Package | Price | Includes | |---------|-------|----------| | Basic | €49 | 2×30 min sessions, study plan, practice questions | | Standard | €99 | 4×30 min sessions, personalized plan, practice exams | | Premium | €199 | 6×60 min sessions, custom roadmap, full exam suite, exam day strategy |

How Mentorship Sessions Work

Book a session at /mentoring — select your preferred mentor, type, and time
Complete payment — sessions are confirmed after payment verification
Attend via video call — sessions are conducted through Calendly-scheduled video calls
Receive follow-up — notes, resources, and action items shared after the session

Group Mentorship

Prefer learning with others? Join weekly group sessions:

Weekly Q&A — €5/week — open question-and-answer sessions
Monthly Study Groups — €15/month — 4 weekly sessions plus community access

Assessments

Assessments measure your understanding and readiness throughout the learning journey. They're designed to be practical, not just theoretical.

Types of Assessments

Knowledge Checks

Short quizzes embedded within each module to verify key concept understanding. These are self-paced and can be retaken.

Lab Deliverables

Hands-on submissions that demonstrate practical ability:

Cloud environment screenshots showing completed deployments
Configuration files and architecture diagrams
Written explanations of design decisions

Practice Exams (Certification Tracks Only)

Full-length, timed practice exams that mirror the format of vendor certification exams:

Multiple-choice and scenario-based questions
Domain-weighted scoring to identify weak areas
Detailed explanations for every answer

Capstone Projects (Skill Bootcamps)

End-of-bootcamp projects that tie everything together:

Design, build, and document a complete cloud solution
Present your architecture and implementation decisions
Receive feedback from instructors and peers
Add the project to your professional portfolio

Assessment Philosophy

Cloudegree assessments follow these principles:

Practical over theoretical — we test what you can build, not what you can memorize
Formative, not punitive — assessments help you learn, not just grade you
Feedback-rich — every submission gets meaningful feedback
Portfolio-ready — your best work becomes proof of your skills

How It All Fits Together

Here's how a typical bootcamp week looks:

| Day | Activity | Type | |-----|----------|------| | Monday | Live session: concept introduction + demo | Lecture + Lab | | Tuesday | Self-paced lab exercise | Hands-on Practice | | Wednesday | Group study or mentorship session (optional) | Collaboration | | Thursday | Challenge lab or practice exam | Assessment | | Friday | Live Q&A, review, and prep for next week | Community |

Next Steps

Sign up for a bootcamp: /bootcamps
Book a mentorship session: /mentoring
Check lab requirements: Lab Access & Tooling
Explore the platform: Platform Walkthrough