Marvin Ortel - University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI

Professor: Marvin Ortel

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Ortel is very kind and smart. However, he is not good at teaching. He would write the theorems and recite them once (impossible to grasp), then he would talk about random stuff. He only works a few problems in class, so doing the homework takes time. You pretty much have to learn from the book. Tests aren't that hard, but I want to learn stuff

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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 is difficult to understand. I would take a different prof if I had to take this class again.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH402
• 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:

Awesome class!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Enthusiastic as heck, but often gets sidetracked on a random topic. He's challenging and a bit boring, it gets hard to stay awake in class after the first few weeks. Exams are always the same format, and can be tough. Study a lot and use the book and lecture notes to get through.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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:

Dr. Ortel is a very interesting professor. He usually talks about how mathematicians should think. Thus, he makes some topics easier to understand. However, he does NOT talk about the assigned topic for the day and loses most people. Tests are easy to make up for it. Good professor, but needs to go more on track.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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:

Ortel was very difficult to understand. He tends to go off on tangents that don't relate to the material he is teaching. His tests are easy if you are willing to learn the material on your own, though. If you like to learn a lot in lecture, I would avoid this professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ortel is an extremely brilliant man. Because of this, his students aren't able to connect with him and consequently find him "boring" or that he "goes off on a tangent," when in fact (if you can comprehend him) he can teach you better than any other professor bar none.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures can be pretty boring but you can tell he is enthusiastic about teaching math. tests are really straight forward and easy. If you dont wanna go to class, at least show up for the review sessions which are basically the 4-5 class sessions before the test date. its helpful. if you want an A, take his class

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Honestly his class is a little easier when compared to other professors, but his teaching style is boring. He talks about too much stuff that has nothing to do with the lesson, and because he does that for so long,it really makes u not pay attention anymore. Sometimes he would talk about the history of math or something, I mean no one really cares.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH243
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

In the time period between spring break and finals, i've only attended TWO class periods...INCLUDING THE FINAL. Honestly, you don't even have to attend his lectures. Just go in for the first half of the semester and then just don't come back at all until finals. One caveat: you'll be doing a lot of independent studying. However, it's simple, PROMIS

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH243
• 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:

class is simple! you can do half of the assigned homework, ace the exams, and get an A. I'm kinda lucky he subbed for professor siu and taught this class for the remaining semester. nice guy too

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Just reenforcing what everyone else has said. Professor Ortel's class is very easy if you are diligent and attend the lectures regularly. His exam review sessions are the most helpful, and if you understand the material that is gone over, you can get a 100% without a problem.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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:

He's so far the BEST professor I've had at UH. Very enthusiastic about math, and LOVES algebra. Lectures are actually really interesting, and you should score a 100 on all the exams if you take notes, do the homeworks, and just pay attention during class. His tests are straight forward and nothing tricky. I wish he taught 243 too.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are generally pretty dry, but he does very helpful examples, as well as plenty of test prep. Additionally, in case of any blatant curiosity, those jerks in the back corner of the room have been averaging a 97% over all 3 midterms.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He spends A LOT of time going off on random topics (HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA). But if you can get past his rants, hw is manageable and he goes over EASY review problems that'll be on EASY exams. TA is super helpful. Don't be like the jerks in the back corner of class making hard for everyone else rather than leave. No one is forcing you to stay, jerks!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A LARGE portion of the class is him going WAY off-tangent on random topics (HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA). If you can make it past his rants, hw is manageable and he reviews easy problems that'll be on exams. Don't be like the jerks in the back corner of class making the whole process worse rather than leave. No one is forcing you to stay!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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:

Probably one of the best math profs at UH. He's a little nutty; I don't remember a lecture where he didn't go way off tangent. Favorite quote: "High School Algebra" (everyone who took him knows what I'm talking about). Exams are EASY versions of the lect. examples. I HIGHLY suggest you take this guy if you can (his sections are all probably full).

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• 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:

Pretty terrible. If you want to learn math dont take his class. Every lecture he goes off on random theories that dont apply to the math at all! By far the worst teach I have ever had, I am honestly surprised to see positive ratings. Lectures are 100% useless because he rarely shows any examples. I taught myself all the material by using youtube.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ortel is one of the best professors in the UH Math department. He gives just the right amount of homework, and spends a LOT of time reviewing for exams. He also genuinely cares about his students. I thoroughly enjoyed taking his Differential Equations class, even though I didn't so as well as I would've hoped. I thought it was a valuable experience

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CALC242
• 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:

really good at explaining how to do problems. the lectures are theory/problems (but you only need to know how to do problems for tests) and he likes to hold review sessions before the test, so those are really helpful. i would definitely take him again. HOWEVER, check your work carefully on tests because he will mark off a lot if you're not careful