David Checkland - Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Professor: David Checkland

Department: Philosophy

College: Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• 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:

An excellent professor who knows the subject matter inside and out. Also knows about current research in other fields, making for excellent lectures that explain the material from many different perspectives. Provides excellent feedback on essays. I don't think students realise how useful and important this is. Want to say more ++ but no room.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHL923
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fair, considerate, legit brilliant. Like an encyclopedia. A few short writing assignments, one longer. Tests were short and long answer q's, given in advance for home prep. Sometimes goes off topic in class, but will answer 1000 q's if need be. He seemed happy to accommodate students when ppl asked him in advance. Try to participate!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor was looking for a conversation in class rather than pure teaching, which I think is fine but took time to realize. I tried writing my own view on a topic however he preferred that I wrote in accordance with what he said during class. He is very willing to discuss things outside of class which is nice but I did not do - my mistake.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's actually so boring, you end up teaching yourself the material. He is really accessible outside of class (which is nice), but his lectures are super boring and useless (just kinda talks about his life and his dog). Just skip class and teach yourself the stuff. Oh, but he's a tough marker too.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He just blabs on in class about his life and then expects us to write an analysis of philosophical work. For someone who has no philosophy knowledge, it was hard to understand how to interpret texts. No matter what time I went to his office hours, there was an hour wait. DOES NOT reply to emails and is RUDE.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He gives way too many anecdotes, often the same ones from previous classes, which quickly become very dull. Wish he spent more time breaking down the texts because he did that very well. Go into class already having done the readings and then take lots of notes of what he says. He gave us the final exam questions weeks before the exam so huge plus

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHL201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

awesome

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable. Breaks down text very well in lectures. Quirky and very intelligent.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

David Checkland is a great prof. He's pretty engaging but you really don't need to attend class because everything is in the textbook. But the textbook is kind of confusing so I do recommend going to class because Checkland gives good explanations and examples. But I only attended like 4 classes and ended up with a really good mark :)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy class, enjoyable content that is presented very well. Class attendance is not mandatory but recommended as most of the material is covered in the book. Two Essays and an Exam where the questions are given well before result in a very easy class if handled right. David is a great guy, who is always making jokes. Would recommend highly!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHL110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures outline exactly what he wants to see on the papers. Very nice and down to earth, overall great prof.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Boring lectures, does not explain content clearly. Always swamped during office hours. He posts the final exam questions beforehand but marks the final that much harder. Prefers short essays to long ones.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CPHL550
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I fairly easy class. Class consisted of one essay, one presentation and a final in-class exam essay. Essay is short (750 words), and the marking is relatively easy compared to other PHL profs. Participate in class and put some effort into the deliverables and you'll receive at least a B+.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHL550
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

My first time taking a philosophy class was with Dr. Checkland and I loved it! I did very well on the essays and understood all the topics even if I'm not a "philosophical" person. The class was easy. As long as you take notes and attend lectures!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't ever reply to e-mails, and he wasn't very interested in helping out students with questions. So if you're confused somewhere through out the course, you're own your own. He seems disinterested through out the course as well. Would avoid.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHL550
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good Prof, he knows what he is talking about and keeps students interested. Somewhat tough marker, but if you know what you are talking abot he will give you the marks.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I cannot say enough about this prof. Most helpful prof I have ever had. I was probably his most annoying student (emailing him 100's of times for one essay. But no matter what he is always willing to help. This prof truly loves what he does and could discuss philosophy for days! PICK HIM! No regrets!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ACS500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

According to him I didn't deserve the b + I got on my final paper... Oh, and the best part is he admitted that he hadn't even read it. Enough said.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ACS500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very boring Professor. I don't feel like he prepares us for essay style questions for the mid-term. I have to give him credit for one thing, he's funny as hell.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHL611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a good prof. If you don't understand what's going on, he has no problem taking time explaining it to you. Extremely helpful if you go to him in person. Some of the subject matter became uninteresting, but overall he's a good prof who is quite engaging. Pay attention and make sure you understand and you'll do fine.