Why bootcamps simply don't work for Data Science?

Unlike trendy "bootcamps,"  our programs are built upon decades of training experience, partnerships with major universities and our proven Story-Centered Curriculum from Socratic Arts.

Story-Centered Curricula

We call our mentored courses "Story-Centered Curricula" because each course centers on a rich, engaging story, which is closely analogous to situations our students experience or will soon experience in their real-world work. The students play a central role in the story, where they work as to achieve one or more significant objectives over a series of tasks. Students, often working in small groups, are given detailed information about the simulated company they are working for together with detailed and authentic projects. Supporting materials and resources are provided, and expert mentors are available to answer questions and point students in the right direction when needed.

The Best Way To Learn Is Through Experience

A story-centered curriculum gives students the experience they need to succeed in the professional workplace. The SCC methodology has shown to consistently outperform both classroom and traditional online courses in the transfer of skills from the learning environment to the work place. SCC implements true learning-by-doing, integrating all aspects of real-world tasks, as opposed to teaching skills independently without context.

Where Bootcamps Get It Wrong

Software Development and Data Science bootcamps may work for people who just want to learn the basics. What these fast-paced programs lack is the lessons and experience of delivering business value via substantial end-to-end projects. This experience can only be gained on a longer timeline. Students who desire full mastery of professional-level technical skills should look beyond bootcamps.

Problems with bootcamps:

They needlessly require substantial background and pre-work as prerequisites for admission

Many have become highly selective

They are too short and, thus, too intense; 10-12 weeks is simply not enough time to learn a completely new set of skills and to have multiple end-to-end project experiences

Their curricula are not designed by pedagogical experts; the curricula typically are composed of lectures (which are not an effective vehicle for learning) and a collection of ad hoc projects

Mentoring also tends to be ad hoc; a student's experience is all too often completely dependent on the quality of the mentor he or she is assigned

Programs tend to be very expensive, especially considered in terms of the amount students learn given what they pay.