David Brown - Wilfrid Laurier University-Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: David Brown

Department: Computer Science

College: Wilfrid Laurier University-Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

After contacting him with questions or issues was somewhat frustrating but overall he is entertaining during lectures, knows his stuff, course is taught well, this wasn't me so I'm not sure, but I feel he isn't so willing to work with students to better understand when struggling.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CP164
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best Computer Science professor at Laurier. Explains all the concepts you need to know for the course with good examples.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Somewhat entertaining but does not encourage learning, just reiterating what he says. If you contact him for assistance be prepared to receive an email filled with caustic remarks in reply. Would recommend avoiding.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Sarcastic offseason Santa Clause

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's decent in lectures, somewhat entertaining, just be ready to code using the "David Brown Way". If you've ever coded before (especially in python) this will be a complete bird course.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Very to-the-point and concise prof. He's not a good prof in the sense that he'll baby students, give lots of opportunities for free marks and all, but he's a good prof in the sense that he's very fair. If you follow and understand the labs and assignments you will do well. He's also funny in lectures

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CP363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Best computer science prof at Laurier, if you disagree with that, than I am sure CS isnt for you and you should drop it now. Had 5 classes with him and never got any mark lower than 80%. Very great teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CP363
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Taken many CS courses at Laurier, and David Brown is hands-down one the best profs at Laurier, if not the best. His lectures are concise and designed for students of all backgrounds. Although he can be a tough marker, he deals in good faith. To top it off, he's also an hilarious guy. Keep up the great work Mr. Brown!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CP114
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

David Brown, even though he doesn't have a PHD, is one of the best profs in the department. Some might disagree with me and thats ok because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I am sure these individuals haven't tired other CS profs. Keep it up dbrown, you are the best!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CP164
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pretty entertaining and organized guy.. but i just dont get the point of his lectures about CODING and PROGRAMMING... when he doesnt even PROGRAM or write CODE during the lectures. Just explains a concept with words. Like come on.. have python/eclipse open during lecture and do practice questions from scratch and explain your techniques as you go

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CP164
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are more like shows. Seems to memorize the content and cannot explain it at all. Not much teaching, he just shows the code and quickly goes over it. Would expect the class to show you how to code, not just a code that's already done and what it does. Also, his answers to questions are not helpful at all

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CP317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would say that David Brown is one of the best computer science profs at Laurier. His explanations are clear, he's hilarious, and he's also a really nice guy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CP164
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Davy is a great explainer. His lectures help as he gives "subtle" tips for exams, and I personally find him really helpful in the lab while explaining stuff. Recommend him, but if you get him he's prob the only choice. Ps don't call him davy.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CP213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Responds to eMails really fast. Explains things well. All lecture notes are posted online. Assignments are fairly long and can sometimes be confusing. Tests and assignments are auto-graded; you get the marks back quickly but sometimes there's mistakes. The course is a lot of work but fair. Overall, Brown is one of the better profs for CP.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CP213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All assignments, the midterm and even the final were automarked. This was often full of errors and he's NOT very accessible if you want him to remark your assignment/test. I find this lazy and even disrespectful considering the cost of our tuition and the amount of money he makes. That said, his lectures are clear, concise and even entertaining.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CP164
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are good, but unnecessary if you have a firm grasp of the course concepts from the notes provided online. His humour is hit-or-miss (hit, for me) and very pun-heavy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Brown does have a sense of humor. However, he can get out of hand and make petty jokes. Speaks very clearly. Replies to any questions over e-mail very quickly. The workload is a little much. I took CP104, and CP164. Only problem is his lectures can get a little boring, but what lectures don't? Overall would recommend. Great prof.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CP104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

You must do things his way, in regards to how you code and document your code. Beware of adjusting to the "Laurier way" of coding. (Not hard)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CP202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not a very good teacher. Agree with below comments that he is more like a theatre performer than a teacher. Seems to memorize things word for word and doesn't offer insight and depth.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CP202
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

7-950 PM lecture. He cracks jokes and then laughs at them (they are not funny). He sounds scripted. You are better off reading the textbook and using his slides. There is no point of going to class because he does not expand on any of the points on his slides. This is the easiest CP course (next to cp102 ofc). Don't attend class.