  We present an investigation regarding the challenges faced by student teams
across four consecutive iterations of a team-focused, project-based course in
software engineering. The studied period includes the switch to fully online
activities in the spring of 2020, and covers the return to face-to-face
teaching two years later. We cover the feedback provided by over 1,500
students, collected in a free-text form on the basis of a survey. A qualitative
research method was utilized to discern and examine the challenges and
perceived benefits of a course that was conducted entirely online. We show that
technical challenges remain a constant in project-based courses, with time
management being the most affected by the move to online. Students reported
that the effective use of collaborative tools eased team organization and
communication while online. We conclude by providing a number of action points
regarding the integration of online activities in face-to-face course unfolding
related to project management, communication tools, the importance of teamwork,
and of active mentor participation.
