Ellen Pader - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Ellen Pader

Department: Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENVIRDES205
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Pader challenges her students' worldview through her class. You come away with an understanding of how the built environment shapes human relations to their environment. She teaches the sociocultural perspective, which is paramount for designing healthy and happy communities. I highly recommend this class. You will take away a lot.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SUSTCOMM110
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is a nice lady but she always says quit please even when no one is talking. Shes one of those yoga people that has you take 2 minutes of silence at the start of each class. Feels like you are always writing reflection/opinion papers and taking stupid iclicker quizzes on the readings but you cant get the questions right. Pretty easy class overal

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RP577
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Only thing that I wish was different about this class was the name of the class. Other than that, I thought it was great and I got a ton out of it. If you work hard you'll be fine. Shes also incredibly understanding so if something is going on, tell her. She is super willing to work with you on things.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SCD110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Shes is going to make you work for the grade but who says that is a bad thing? If you put the work in you're going to get a ton out and it will really set you up for success for the rest of your academic career. She is very specific for instructions on assignments and if you follow them you do well, if you don't you wont. People are being dramatic!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PUBPADM110
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculously hard grader for a 100-level class, and also super rude and defensive. Miscommunicates often and gets offended if you try to clarify. Generally awful to our TA, also.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SUSTCOMM110
• 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:

Ellen is one of the most caring professors I have ever been involved with. She is one of the few teachers I've ever had who actually cares about what she teaches and preaches. She is so passionate and honestly cares about her students' well-being and learning. Open your mind when you have her as a professor! You will learn valuable life skills.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RP693
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pader is a great teacher and I don't understand peoples reviews on here. As long as you come in with a willingness to learn and to work hard it's a fine class. I would definitely take her again.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RP678
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

We had to determine whether landlords in various counties purposefully put up roadblocks to determine whether they're biased. This type of assignment was to further her OWN research!!! Furthermore, we were expected to draw conclusions from UNFOUNDED claims of potential racism!! Also, she always interrupts our group discussions!! AVOID!!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PUBPA110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is one of three classes I've taken with this professor, along with RegPl577 and SusComm205. 2 I've done ok in, 1 I have done badly in. She nitpicks about getting things done the way she wants and her group projects are unorthodox, because you often have to figure a lot out for yourself. But if you ask for help outside class, she helps a lot.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENVDES205
• 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:

No tests. At all. Lots of projects though, long ones with confusing instructions, with your group members. And you need your group to work with you. Lots of reading. Gives papers with fairly little time given when she gave it out. If you are a good writer, projects get good grades, as long as you have the time to complete them.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SC205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I have ever had. Treats everyone like they are in kindergarten. Starts yelling if she hears the tiniest noise at all. Assignment instructions are way more complex and convoluted than they need to be. Explicitly says she never gives out A's. NEVER TAKE THIS CLASS UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SUSTCOMM205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's just awful. She took what seemed to be a promising class and ruined it with insignificant lectures and disconnected assignments. It's a team-based learning class but all the learning must be done exactly her way. Plus, she yells 'QUIET PLEASE' a lot, when there's just the slightest peep. Unpleasant, uninspiring, not fun.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENDES205
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Like being treated like you're 5 years old again? Well than this class is for you! Its team-based-learning but she doesn't understand technology (classic). If you do everything you only get a B. Every project is just using the same 5 terms you learned in the beginning over and over again. Avoid avoid Avoid! If you don't need this class drop now!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: EVNDES205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class wasn't nearly as bad as many have claimed. As long as you come with an open mind and put in somewhat of an effort, you will get a lot out of it. Her grading isn't nearly as bad as some have claimed, although one of the TA's was pretty harsh. I found her to be TOO specific on what she wanted, but when the papers came back, she was fair.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENVDES205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She rushes through her Ppt slides. Hard grader, too. If you cover all the criteria in a project, you get a B. You must go "above and beyond" if you ever expect to get an A. Tests are multiple choice but she can be tricky. Readings are ~10 pages before class. Gotta show up to class. You'll learn, but it wont be a lot of fun.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENVIRDES205
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is a shame. Dynamics of Human Habitation sounds like an awesome class but Dr. Pader destroys it. Prepare to be treated like you're in 7th grade again. I recommend a stop by the U Pub before class to nullify her child-like speech and awful class structure.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RP693
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Initially, you think "Oh, she's not that bad." Then the assignments begin -pointless, never-ending, arbitrarily graded assignments. Manages the impressive task of being detailed, yet incomprehensibly vague. She would likely say that students have to be comfortable w/ ambiguity. A willingness to tolerate incompetent pedagogy would be more accurate.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RGPL600
• 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:

She was TERRIBLE as a teacher! Her course was all about how NOT to be subjective in the field of Planning, yet her grading was completely subjective! The ENTIRE class had problems with her (all 30), and she didn't know how to work the program (MaxQDGay) that she wanted us to be able to work. I guess get on her good side if you want a decent grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENVIR205
• 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:

absolutely the worst teacher ever. she doesnt know a thing and you wont learn one thing in this pointless class. this is the only class she teaches and she is a joke. do not take. she sucks and so does her lame class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BAD100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is VERY opinionated and teaches to convince her students to believe her point of view, not develop their own opinions and conclusions. Doing all the work will not guarantee you a good grade. Lots of reading and work. WORST PROFESSOR I HAVE EVER HAD! Good intentions but that doesn't make up for anything! DO NOT TAKE ANY OF HER CLASSES! RUN!