The Practice is not the Performance: Why project-based learning fails
I attended a university with a strong co-op program, and I personally believe it is the best possible solution. Classes were focused on theory and my three 6-month co-ops were spent working on meaningful software projects at real companies. As a result, I was able to build up a solid background in Computer Science theory, didn&#x27;t have to deal with the shortcomings of group class projects, and learned how to ship production-worthy code under the mentorship of real, senior engineers (and got paid to boot).<p>Why more universities don&#x27;t leverage co-op programs, especially given the exorbitant and rising cost of college tuition in the US, is beyond me.