David Mitchell - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: David Mitchell

Department: Computer Science

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I find it funny that the one professor that is actually competent at SFU has the lowest rating. To do well in 225 all you have to do is attend classes and take the notes - assignments are fair and intro C++ concepts. I wish he taught more classes since he's one of the few profs at SFU who is fluent in English and helpful/approachable.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• 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:

David teaches computer science correctly by not using slideshows. The material is commonly known to be hard. David is also very approachable. Computer Science might not be the right fit for you if you think this is too hard.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Decent prof, but be sure to take a lot of notes from lecture since he does not post it. Lab assignments are alright and he does give enough time to complete them. Expect quizzes to cover material from class only, not the textbook.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent prof. He goes over things very slow so everyone had a chance to take notes. Code portion are posted on his site. Quiz were self-explanatory if you read over the notes. Finals were very similar to the quizzes. He doesn't use a mic so make sure to sit in the front.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Unsure why people dislike this prof. I think he is a solid choice for 225. You must go to the lectures to be successful as he doesn't upload notes. This sem, he slowed down and you were able to write down the notes. You cant take photos in his class. The quizzes and final aren't bad; understand the code from the website and processes from notes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Too easy quizzes and final exam. 40% of the students in the class receive 90%+ but only 1520% can get A grades.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Either you listen to him and find notes somewhere or you take notes and miss the class, learn from notes. However, he goes through data structures pretty solid but doesn't gets into coding part much. Don't expect to code much in his class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His notes are all hand written and you are expected to copy them down (no taking pictures) instead of reading them from somewhere else. What bothered me is that his quizzes/tests and his assignments and labs are not in line. We will get a test on a topic that we haven't had the chance to practice because its lab or assignment isn't due for a month!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• 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:

First of all, it is impossible to keep up with him in class as he throws up slides and expects you to write it down meanwhile he never posts them. 2nd, he grades assignments with a mythical scale where you get 30% even though you matched his test case output. This guy should not be a prof as he lacks the utmost basic skills. Seriously, AVOID HIM!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Tried really hard to not rate him a 1/5. 2/5 is purely for the sake of gpa boosting he offers. He gives the easiest assignments and quizzes in all the cmpt courses I have taken. The course material is in my opinion, only scratching the surface. Take 225 with him if you just want a high grade. If you do want to learn something, don't.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice person but you'll be too busy catching up to taking notes that you won't learn anything in class. What's worse is that he keeps saying "I know students can't catch up but you don't need to write these down!" okay but what are we supposed to do instead? the textbook is too big if we don't take notes we'll have no source for the final.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Quizzes and assignments were easy and not very helpful. Didn't learn much about coding. However, it's important to go to classes and take notes.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't like organizing office hours but his lectures are clear and he will help you if you ask. The assignments and tests are easy, just follow the logic of his pseudocode. Overhead and Powerpoint slides used in lecture with labs and assignments in C++.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Class material is very easy but problem is he doesn't upload his lecture slides to course website so you have to come to class and take notes(or copy notes from a friend). He also go over his lecture pretty fast so you need to write fast to keep up with his lecture. Quizes and assignments are very easy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Came into the final with an A, did well on it. Got a B-. Came in to discuss and he "had to scale down the class"...? His grades aren't reflective of how well you know the material, only politicsquota.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is really nice. Quizzes were easy and clear, but his style in final is different. You should memorize programing staff for final. final is difficult. don forget, read codes clearly for final (and some quizzes) He is nice and helpful

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very unorganized prof with assignments that are very vague. TIP: Although the quiz doesn't require you to write code and he says that the final exam will just be a longer version of a quiz, make sure you memorize all the code (eg: quicksort), because half of the exam will require you to memorize the code he puts on his website.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very straightforward. Tests are based completely on his lecture notes and things he uploads to the course page. He is a much better lecturer/professor than the reviews on this site would indicate. Very available too.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is the best prof, he can deliberately explain your question which is much better than most of the Political Science profs that I have seen in SFU, questions are encouraged in the class. For everyone else who left the bad comment, I don't think they can pass any course in any university. Attend class and visit the office hour if u have questions!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CMPT225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lack of clarity is inevitable. Absolutely boring. Myself though, I studied at home and I studied a lot. I am pretty sure I am going to fail with exam a week away. Good luck whoever takes it with him