Professor: Matt Insall
Department: Mathematics
College: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Rating # 1
Overview:
- Course: MATH308
- Grade Received: D-
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The tests are mostly multiple choice and very hard. Miss 3 of them and you are already at a C on the test.
Rating # 2
Overview:
- Course: MATH3304
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Smart man, but awful teacher. If you want to teach yourself the whole course, go ahead and take it with him. However, good luck.
Rating # 3
Overview:
- Course: MATH3304
- Grade Received: WD
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
This guy is probably so smart, its not his fault he can't communicate what hes trying to teach in a way that his students could possibly understand.
Rating # 4
Overview:
- Course: MATH1208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Often goes off on random tangents in the middle of a lecture. He writes all of the tests himself, and a lot of the questions were things that no one in the class had ever seen before. If you don't like wasting all of your time reading a text book for no reason, avoid Insall's classes like the plague. Maybe more so.
Rating # 5
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His philosophy for teaching a class is that he shouldn't cover all the material. Instead the students should read the textbook and teach themselves everything. He uses class to answer any questions but spends more time on unrelated tangents. On the first test of the semester, he only covered about 20% of what was tested. He's slow to grade anything
Rating # 6
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
A math student's student's math teacher. The greatest I've ever had. He comes from a tradition where it's more important to help students UNDERSTAND material, as opposed to covering everything. Work to understand, and he will upgrade your mind. You don't need to be a math major or a genius to do well, but you do need to be eager, flexible and open.
Rating # 7
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- 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 first day of class I wanted to transfer. We started with a lecture on writing, then did some kind of weird ritual to create an ID number. There was no linear algebra to speak of. The syllabus is unclear, no notes of tests, homework, grading, and all that's mentioned are weekly blog posts. Do not take.
Rating # 8
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Nothing is clearly explained in the syllabus, the grading is a convoluted competitive system, where you earn points in class based on unclear criteria, and seems entirely arbitrary. No book is used, and no real assignments are given. There are no tests, and a huge time commitment outside of class (for online discussion) is expected. Avoid.
Rating # 9
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No part of his class is well explained. The grading is an incomprehensible, arbitrary, COMPETITIVE points system, assignments are unclear and useless, tests are nonexistent, he expects unreasonable time commitments outside of class, and, to top it off, Dr. Insall often insists that "It is not [his] job to teach you." Avoid at all costs.
Rating # 10
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Insall knows math very well. Often is too technical with his explanations of the material. His tests are more about constructing proofs of theorems than working problems, and don't expect traditional instruction in class. Forces you to teach yourself, then come to him with questions. Avoid him if possible, since he won't teach the material!
Rating # 11
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- 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:
Wants to teach anything but the material. I.E. loves to talk about notation or dead mathematicians, but don't expect to spend time on things on the test. Case in point: spent more time explaining what "homogenous" means in chemistry (not at all important) than what it means in the context of linear algebra. Takes forever to say nothing.
Rating # 12
Overview:
- Course: MATH204
- 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:
I will never EVER take another class with him. In fact, I will change majors before I have to take another class with him.
Rating # 13
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- 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:
Insall just wants students to do well. He's not a bad guy; he's friendly if you get to know him. His class is a challenge, but I believe people need to be challenged on a daily basis in order to be successful. If you pay attention and study, you will do well, just like in any other class. I recommend Insall for students serious about learning.
Rating # 14
Overview:
- Course: LINEARALGEBRA
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Hated this class. Worst class I ever took. Don't take it with Insall. Way more work than it should be. He expects you to spend more time on work in this class than the rest of your more important classes. This class killed my 4.0. If you take this class just make sure you don't get insall.
Rating # 15
Overview:
- Course: 208
- 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:
very anal about how answers are to be written if it is not like his it is wrong
Rating # 16
Overview:
- Course: MATH308
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I took linear during the summer. The class notes didn't help much since they were all theory. However the yahoo group he set up gave all the students tons of example problems. The summer session was the only math class I got an A in. Take linear with Insall in the summer if possible.
Rating # 17
Overview:
- Course: MATH204
- 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:
Math majors should take him otherwise save yourself. I like most students hated him. His grading is bad and baised, if your answer is not like his (by the way his test/quizes/homework are essay form)then it is wrong. I had a test with absolutely no marks on it and got an 910/1000
Rating # 18
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- 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:
Actually some of the best test that I took. Not all over explaining and can get pretty confused at times. but overall a good professor.
Rating # 19
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- 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:
Wanted to see me about a test grade, waited 30 minutes to show up and dicussed it with me for 3 minutes, for a meeting he wanted. Puts his time way above the students. Half math class, half engish class.
Rating # 20
Overview:
- Course: MATH208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
If you take his class seriously, it will be easy. He really understands his stuff and wants you to understand it too. It just takes time and energy to do well. But you'll learn a lot.
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