Karim Altaii - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Karim Altaii

Department: Science

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Altaii is smart, knowledgeable, and cares a lot about his students. He sometimes roasts students who have no idea about the homework. Be prepared to do the homework. Expect to work hard and learn a lot of materials. I had two classes with him and he is respectful and helpful.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Karim is clearly knowledgeable, but does not possess the ability to convey this effectively to students. Fails to facilitate a productive learning environment by degrading students who ask questions to clarify understanding. Is the least flexible professor I've dealt with at JMU and has unrealistic expectations for an introductory-level course.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He wants you to learn and succeed . He definitely does not believe in spoon feeding knowledge. He is fair and expects you to attend all lectures and labs and do your homework.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest class and teacher I've ever had. He's a sweet man but he will push you to the breaking point. You will suffer. He required we make up snow days by coming in for 7am classes. The fact no buses were running that early didn't bother him. He has good intentions but I don't think his form of character building belongs in a foundation course.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a sweet pea. He cares a lot about his students and is passionate about the subject matter.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ISAT310
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Expects you to know every word in every chapter in the thermal book. Has completely unreasonable expectations. Makes you feel stupid when you ask questions. His exams are painful, stressful, and NOT fair. You're doing homework on one section of material, while quizzing on a different section of material, and testing on another. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Altaii is very straightforward in the sense if you put in the work you will receive the grade you deserve. The material is tough but if you do the homework and ask well formulated questions he will be more than happy to help you out.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ISAT310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a bad person, but he does fails to facilitate a productive learning environment by degrading students who ask questions and being gratuitously strict on weird things. He's a smart guy, but not a particularly good teacher. The class is harder than it needs to be, and if you're sectoring in energy, there's no way to avoid him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HT1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ISAT310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've never met a teacher with an ego like this guy. I've had him for the past two years and he verbally degrades students who ask questions. He does not clarify anything you ask him - he just dances around it. He schedules exams and makeup classes at whatever time he feels, regardless of the fact that students may have other classes at that time.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ISAT310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's brilliant and can be okay, but he doesn't know how to explain concepts to people who don't already know it. He makes students feel stupid for asking questions. Oh, and he's really arrogant. Good luck.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Avoid Altaii, he has a temper and unreasonably hard tests.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The first time heard him tell a student that he wouldn't answer their question "because they should know that", I lost all respect. Perhaps he has forgotten that student tuition pays his salary. I'm told if you take a higher level class he's ok, but he should not teach 212. I know other students that feet this way.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• 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:

The worst teacher I have had at JMU. Biased towards certain people. Before the final last year I set up an appointment with him to ask questions, he shows up 45 minutes late and tells me "it's not his problem" and that he has to leave in 10 minutes. If you like your GPA...DON'T TAKE HIM.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very strick attendence policy backed by daily homework. EXTREMELY hard tests. The final exam had a %20 of your exam grade question covering materials that Altaii said would not be on the exam. Altaii is a petty man. Altaii avoided an after semester meeting to discuss exam/grade. NOT A STRAIT UP TEACHER. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Take Chen - much better!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Just like the people before me, 212 was by far the hardest class I have taken in ISAT. Altaii can be kind of rough, he definitely makes you feel stupid when you ask questions in class,almost always late to office hours(why is he always so busy?)With that aside, you really do learn a lot despite the hard tests and hw.If you enjoy it, 310 awaits you.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not helpful at all - went to his office many times and he told me I was wasting my time. Test are rediculous. Makes you feel stupid in class. I managed an A average on my labs and quizzes, C on homeworks but the Tests were able to bring me to an F. 10-15 hrs/week doing the work and another 10hrs for the test all wasted towards an F. Unbelievable.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Rough teacher, fun class, Altaii does not speak very clearly but is a kind guy, if you ask question he does try to make you feel stupid sometimes, TEST ARE RIDICULOUS!!! very hard, studied 5+ hours for each and only managed 70's... go to P. Henriksen with Questions and do well on labs it will help your grades enormously!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ISAT414
• 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:

GREAT TEACHER! He makes you work hard in his classes but truly wants you to learn. I had him for most of my Energy classes. If you show interest and respect him and the material, you will do fine. He, like most of the Energy concentration professors, is overly willing to help you out. Try him out.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ISAT212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doing well on the homework =/= doing well on the tests. You forget two or three equations on your equation sheet and you'll get ravaged by the tests. Good teacher, but tests are ridiculous. Doesn't tell you ANYTHING that will be on the tests. That said, actually do the work and you *might* be able to get a "B".