Marek Hatala - Simon Fraser University Surrey, Surrey, BC

Professor: Marek Hatala

Department: Computer Science

College: Simon Fraser University Surrey, Surrey, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was dumb taking up 4 courses with this prof while working part-time job with 4 days a week. If you are not familiar with programming or you do it as a hobby. I wouldn't recommend taking him. I would advise however if you're someone like me take 3 courses max. He's really helpful its just his exams are way too hard for me. I have to re-take this..

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If value ur personal worth, dun take. lectures r unclear and expect you to learn without teaching you anything.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most professors want you to succeed, not this one. Gets bored if he doesn't pick on people for no reason and likes to find people to fail.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lecture concepts were often difficult to grasp and were not provided to us in whole once the lecture was done, so it was hard to refer back to and figure out most of our assignments. He has a very "you're on your own" mentality when it comes to course work. If you care about your gpa don't take this course with him lol

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great prof. Lectures are really helpful, There is a bit of workload but he is helpful along with labs. Fair in marking and also gives out bonus marks for doing something extra. Lectures are fun with him

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Super hard prof, but he is really helpful during his office hours. I claim he is one of the top 5 profs i had in SIAT SFU. Think of him as a more mature version of Russel Taylor!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: IAT265
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He gives assignments every week but assignments aren't challenging especially with the help of labs and TA's. He even puts bonus marks for every assignment which aren't that challenging either. He teaches Java Swing very clear, his class will help you boost your programming skills

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof ever in SIAT. He gave out lab challenge without checking his own code. Everyone got the same syntax error he refused to answer anyone because it is a 'challenge'. And at the end of the challenge he said all of us are not 'qualified' because student at the other lab solved and we didn't. What kind of prof is it???

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are clear. Be prepared to play with PHP and MySQL, and to learn a lot. Excellent teacher!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Marek actually has a funny sense of humour. 352 is SFU's only IAT gatekeeper course (Google it), but it's not that bad. The 4 assignments build on top of each other, so you make a website by the end, in PHP and MySQL. Integrating Twitter Flickr was stupid though - even the TA had trouble. QuizzesFinal: not hard if you study well. STUDY!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he knows the material well, but can barely communicate it to students. he often confuses himself with his own statements/arguments. the lectures were useless. this class covers too many topics at once, it's too broad. the class is poorly structured and taught by a researcher type of prof. avoid taking any of his courses at all cost!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• 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:

Since more than half of the class failed the course, we had a make up final in the beginning later semester. The make up exam was even harder so no one passed. Stupid, unreasonable, evil and unfair prof who enjoys failing students.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• 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:

terrible at explaining concepts. he's trying to cover all comp sci concepts in this class, and he's doing a terrible job. very muddy explanations and poorly written slides which were essentially plagerised from the readings. he requires you to read 40 extra pages per week from external sources Marek, you cant teach. DONT TAKE THIS CLASS!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Brutal exams that do not relate to the assignment material. Expects ALL extra-readings material to be fully read (and memorized), as they will be on the exam. Poor assignments, unclear instructions. Heart of stone. Will stay clear and advise that everyone else does the same.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COMP353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I have him in the most difficult exam in my life (PhD defense). He is the best I ever seen (to the point, clear, relaxed, useful feedback ...). Thanks Dr. Hatala

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• 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:

bad at explaning, has a heart of stone. reminds me of stalin.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: IAT352
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

terrible at explaining, didn't understand some of his own assignment, unreachable for extra help, and NOT hot

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ITEC426
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very bad explainer.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: WCT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Pet store project done over a million times with exams that have you memorize lists of data.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ITEC4257
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

hah.. you gotta be kidding me with the course materials. But guess what.. kid u not.. its true.. u r suppose to learn all that.. and the bonus stuff.. woooo.. thats gonna take a little while for u to figure out if u r not already familiar with that tech.