Harry Plantinga - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: Harry Plantinga

Department: Computer Science

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really great guy, cares about you and the material. Easy to follow and you really feel like you're working with him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

a bit scattered but knows his stuff

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: IS337
• Grade Received: A
• 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 was very difficult to follow. The homework and labs were straight forward, but the class was full of questions. I learned a lot, but the lectures were not well organized.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures didn't seem organized very well and it was hard to take good notes. Tests are difficult since there's a lot of material to keep track of.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are boring, and when he answers questions, I end up more confused than before he started. Tests are quite difficult. Projects are fun and interesting, though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IS171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Terribly boring lecturer. Not helpful at all when I needed a question answered. Thankfully, I was able to teach myself the information. His tests were really hard and the questions had nothing to do with what we had talked about in class or done in the assignments. Take spreadsheets with someone else.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: IDIS110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am sure Professor Plantinga means well in his teaching endeavors, however he fails to do so. Teaching an introductory technology class is obviously not his forté. He was not helpful and he did not invest himself in the success of his students. He based his tests on trivial information, and the amount of time I put into the class was not worth it

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: IDIS110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a fan at all. His quizzes are on tiny details that should not be needed and the instructions for labs/projects are not detailed or clear. I have heard way better things about other profs for this class. I recommend staying away...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

great prof, especially for 212 which he makes a very interesting and fun class. you make some cool programs. watch out for tests/exam especially, but if you had good programs can bring up grade.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing, amazing Prof! Very willing to help outside of class, great sense of humor. Knows his stuff, and is willing to explain things multiple times to students. Writes challenging tests, but don't let that stop you from taking his classes! He also baked us brownies. All in all, Prof. Plantinga is one of the best in his department.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I wouldn't not have minded this class, but H. Plantinga was a horrible teacher. He didn't even know what he was talking about!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RIT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

OK, RIT is not fun. Plantinga takes it too serious. He is a good prof but he makes you work in RIT. I sometimes had to work for hours on the homework... for RIT... hours! Sometimes it is difficult to get him to help you but when he does, he helps a lot.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RIT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I just hope you can read directions if you are in his class...dont expect to get much help from his lectures. On a positive note, this is a great class to play solitaire in. Overall, hes not too bad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Big step up on difficulty from 108/212. Exams and tests are not extremely hard, although programs can be somewhat timeconsuming.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I just didn't like the class. We never had enough time to talk about subject for the day. There is never enough time to get the days lab done in class. The final project is hard. I felt like a baby that was thrown in water and told to swim. Try someone else. I hear Nyhoff's not bad

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Quite a bit harder than CS 108/112, but he makes class fun, and there's some interesting stuff we learned. Don't bother getting the book. Tests aren't too bad, hardly any homework, programs require a bit of work, but there's only a few

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Makes class fun. Exams aren't too hard, and neither are the programs. hardly any hw, don't need to do any of the readings really!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CPSC230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is a piece of cake if you put a little effort into it. Very smart guy but is so unprepared its kind of annoying. Uses poor examples and is disorganized, but he's great when you ask questions. Great sense of humor, though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CPSC230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

most animated CPSC prof, he's cool. class is hard though...