Alex Bal - Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Professor: Alex Bal

Department: New Media Art

College: Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RTA933
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I've had Alex in the past before (RTA 101) and I wasn't too sure on how i felt about her. Then I took this class. AMAZING! honestly, try taking one of her smaller classes. She's a very down-to-earth person, and really cares about her students. This class was open ended, leaving you to choose the project to focus on, making it more personal.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She has this attendance checking system, but half the class leaves after that first hours. She posts the slides online so theres no reason to stay. Somehow I still learn a lot from the assignments. Half the portion that stays only stays because of their friends so they end up on netflix, tetris, etc. Anyways, take advantage and boost your GPA

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RTA220
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

ALEX! Incredibly insightful and amazing lectures! As long as you pay attention during class, you can seriously just reuse her lecture points in your papers... (ie your CONTENT MATTERS in your paper. Format / following guidelines / lateness? Not so much). Does a really good job at incorporating all student comments into the topic, so knowledgeable!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great Prof, Super Interesting Class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Though the course itself wasn't terrible, and was fairly easy to pass, I found the lectures tedious and dull. I frequently left after the first hour. Alex had a tendency to bicker with the other prof, making it difficult to accomplish anything, and the powerpoint slides were text heavy and not very helpful.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RTA220
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Some people might have found her annoying because she forced her own ideals onto her students, but I couldn't care less about that. She's an easy marker and responds to her emails quickly. The majority of the class was group projects and presentations. I wasn't there half the course and ended up with a 90%, so...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RTA220
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Alex Bal is amazing. She clearly cares about what she teaches, she is fun, entertaining, engaging and she knows what she's talking about. Full of knowledge and passion about art history, always sparks interesting class discussions, and she tries to inspire her students to dive deeper into various concepts. LOVE ALEX BAL 3 3 3

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

101 isn't a great class but it's not terrible. There is a lot of reading and writing but it's interesting content. Alex knows what she is talking about but sometimes can be a bit aggressive. She seems nice though because she would always smile at me in the halls.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

3 hour lectures felt really long but had interesting content. Alex worked hard to engage students. Presentations filled with interesting videos, no need to take notes, just learn! No tests on material, just writings on readings and two big essays! Super easy class even though material is high level. Found it relevant to today and Alex is smart!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

For my first year there were 2 professors who taught this class and they argued CONSTANTLY to the point where you didn't know who was right and who was wrong. Alex cut the other prof off A LOT as well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RTA220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Not really clear all the time, definitely ask questions

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very confusing and lectures hard to follow. Pretty brusque and sometimes rude with students who participate.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

- Funny and is relatable - Gives good examples and is clear with her views - Always responds to emails and gives good feedback

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

It was a good class to gain understanding to the fundamental theories of media studies. Instructions were typically quite confusing - different information would be given on Blackboard, by her, and from the TA. But she'll clear it up with a follow up announcement. Mid-term and final paper instructions are vague, more freedom with more uncertainty.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RTA101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This was the most disorganized class I have ever experienced. Details for assignments varied between assignment sheets, instructions in class, and instructions from TAs. Also incredibly condescending towards her students and acts as though the disorganization is their fault.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MPM107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Brings a fresh perspective on digital cultures and never ceases to force you to think about your internet presence. Yes, her instructions are a little vague, but if you follow the course syllabus and work hard, you'll be fine. She goes above and beyond for her students, if you're willing to do the same. Doesn't deserve poor ratings from lazy people

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MPM107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I don't even know what the point of this course was. We got nothing done, and I was constantly frustrated with it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MPM17
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is hands down the worst teacher I have ever had. She changes assignment guidelines and due dates with NO notice, so BEWARE! She also wastes the majority of class time rambling about irrelevant material and personal interests, then expects you to make up the material on your own. Very condescending, SHOULD NOT BE AN EDUCATOR!!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MPM16B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

worst teacher ever, class is a complete waste of time, obsessed with second life

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MPM17
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I cannot stress enough about making sure you stay organized and ahead of her. Alex Bal is extremely disorganized with her marking and assignment giving. She makes it seem that the fact that the class is behind is the students fault, when really her lectures are meaningless and do not deliver information that helps the course. Needs to get organized