Karl Schaffer - De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

Professor: Karl Schaffer

Department: Mathematics

College: De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH22
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I wouldn't recommend taking his Discrete Math class unless you want an easy grade. This class is an important part of cs and I don't think that he teaches well. Lectures are super confusing. Tests are open book and notes. Hw was hard but easy points since he grades on effort. Nice guy but probably not the best option in the long run.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH22
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Terrible. Very disorganized, collects homework but doesn't check it. His tests are mostly multiple choice questions. He isn't hard but I didn't learn much from the class, regret taking it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH22
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He often has to repeat himself a lot in order for us to understand him. Even then, things still don't make sense. He is disorganized in class, and the homework is basically pointless. Tests are open notes, and he sometimes gives you practice tests (which are the same as the tests he gives you, just with different #s). Easy but bad teacher.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Schaffer cares about his students' success. He is extremely knowledgeable about the material and very approachable in that he welcomes questions. He gives multiple examples to explain a concept, and he caters to different types of learners(auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc). Take him! He was extremely inspirational. Recommended.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH044
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took him for Math 44 (Intro to Contemporary Math). It was one of the strangest and most difficult classes. I barely passed and it killed my GPA. Just take stats! He is a nice guy but is flustered. He's clearly a genius but he has no ability to teach. Do not recommend if you need to get a good GPA.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH44
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was challenging but interesting. It's definitely unlike any other math class I've taken. Very hands-on. There were three short 'essays' to write. I did all the homework, missed only two classes, and did well on only one of three tests. Professor is a bit scatterbrained at times but pulled through in the end. Recommended overall.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH22
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Though we were given tons of homework, tests are always based on them. So, it is essential and rewarding to do all of your homework. Pay attention in class and write down all the examples offered, then you will be fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH12
• Grade Received: N/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:

This professor has 3 exams (includes final), all 20% each of your grade. Homework 20%, In-class assignments/quizzes 20%. I suggest teaming w/ smart people. This guy is knowledgable BUT doesn't teach you much. Your on your own so get tutoring. When students asks for help, he'll show you half way then expect you to solve the rest. Good luck!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a class where your hard work will pay off. Come to every class and Do ALL assignments and you will pass. The test are not high stakes..3 exams, 15% each = 45% of ur grade. U play games n participate in class..wrk in groups. Write journals..n 2 short papers. But its worth it! U learn activities to use in ur classroom n alternative techniques

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He does not know how to teach students. Everybody felt they lost their stuff during class. However, not that hard at all tests, and he will not fail you, but you MUST get good midterms grades. I got Ds and still failed on final and then passed with a C

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• 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:

Excellent Teacher. I use many of the methods he taught in my classroom.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's really nice and was helpful, if you asked. I thought the class was interesting because of some of the different concepts we learned. Just do the work he assigns and you'll be fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I got a B in the class by some miracle. I bombed every test (C- to Ds) but I turned in all the homework and class assignments. He is very helpful; I thought I was understanding the material until I got my test grades back, but the class is structured so you can still pass even when all looks bleak.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH22
• 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:

He's the worst option for Math22 class, since he's not clear and the lectures are all useless. The questions that appears on the exams are totally new and he never practices any of them. Office hours are useless as well, since he doesn't answer any math questions at the office hours. Whatever you ask him, he'll reply, "oh I went over this before."

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH12
• 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:

Half the class dropped, the other half was lost the entire quarter. He goes way too fast, and doesn't slow down for anyone. Luckily I had already learned most of the concepts in this class from a Calculus course prior to this one, or else I'd imagine I'd be in the same boat as everyone else.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• 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:

He will say one thing and then take it back later. He doesn't listen to what is being asked. And when you ask to clarify he tells you to ask the rest of the class. This is supposed to be about learning to teach elem. level math and different ways of looking at it. He doesn't do that. DO NOT TAKE THIS TEACHER.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• 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:

Let me start off by saying he is a very nice man but a HORRIBLE TEACHER! I learned NOTHING useful the entire quarter and he would quiz us on things he NEVER taught! He would give out a testâ?¦ then teach you the material that was on it 3 weeks later. He gave out a test the ENTIRE class failed then refused to curve it or let us make corrections.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH12
• 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:

Prof. Schaffer is a great guy, not so great with the teaching. He goes WAY too fast for anyone in the class to comprehend what he even started doing. He is very helpful when you ask help, but often times, we ask for too much help. If you HAVE to take his class, I suggest reading the material ahead of time before class, way ahead of time.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• 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 nice guy! Most of the class you?re in groups and he gives you a problem (usually from upcoming homework) to work on, then goes over it. Pretty easy class, attendance is mandatory- he will drop you. Easy A if you keep up with all homework and participate

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH46
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The material is hard but.. no joke u will pass even if u fail all tests. However, u MUST do everything single thing he assigns and get the highest possible score. I did this and got an A.