Gordon Cormack - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Gordon Cormack

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS145
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A really nice prod, though I have never carefully listened to him. His course is extremely easy and there is a curve. It is an easy-90 course. However, Prof. Cormack is not familiar with reading code.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good lecturer, he's interesting and the dude clearly knows his stuff. Attending lectures - assignments are easy, and the exams were very fair. My biggest complaint is just that sometimes he was a little all over the place (ie forgetting things and going back and changing what he said / doing things a little out of order)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I liked him. Funny guy, sometimes gets distracted. You learn a lot, but at the end of the course you don't really feel like you've learned anything.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS145
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was by far my least favourite class in my first term here. While the assignments were difficult but fair, as should be expected from an advanced course, the design of the course had major issues. Topics were not consistent and the lectures jumped around. The midterms and final felt disconnected from what we had actually learned, and were awful

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS136
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really knowledgeable and helpful professor who makes course easy to learn. Useful course materials and assignments help you do well on exams.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS136
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Cormack has been in the industry for decades and his experience shows in his lectures - he knows the ins and outs of what he is teaching and he does a damn good job of it. Definitely going to look for him in upper year courses, highly recommended.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS136
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He teaches the course at his own pace and in whatever order he feels like teaching when he comes to class. Notes are extremely unorganized and often incorrect when he writes on the board. I really found it hard to stay engaged in the information he presented in class, yet that's what his midterms would solely be based on.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS136
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic professor who is both inspiring for the course as well as careers in Computer Science in general.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Awesome prof! He's very well-organized, explains very clearly. Also very helpful outside the lectures) Makes a hard course very easy :)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Second time I've had this professor, other time was for cs136. He is great and I always learn the most from his lectures. His assignments are so structured and follow exactly from the lectures. If you have the chance take this guy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great explanations and a wonderful speaker.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• 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:

The go-to prof for cs241.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof overall

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A fun, enthusiastic lecturer. Really made this course enjoyable.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• 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:

The instructor's very clear in explaining ideas/concepts. Moreover, this course is pretty well designed - that you gain practical skills/knowledge beyond regular programming.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very enthusiastic, energetic lecturer. Doesn't provide slides but writes good notes. Helpful and answers questions well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof, had a lot of enthusiasm for the course. I'd love to have him as a Prof in the future.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best CS prof I have had to date. Assignments and exams were completely reasonable and fair in both this class, and when I had him for CS 136. Funny guy who really shows knowledge and interest in the things he is teaching.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof. His lectures were very interesting and his enthusiasm towards the course content helped me also be interested in the various aspects of the course. Fantastic!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very helpful on Piazza, and overall great teacher.