Peter Norman - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Peter Norman

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Norman expects a lot from his students, but does everything he can to help them get there. Throughout the semester he would ask the class questions regarding the material and review topics which were not understood. Always very helpful with questions in class and during office hours.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH235
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really entertaining lectures. Is much quicker than you would think for a man his age. Class is easy if you do all the homework

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He tries very hard to get you to understand what he is teaching you. He gives a lot of examples, and takes time to answer questions and make things clearer. This is an extremely fast-paced class and there are a lot of concepts, which he will occasionally ask about to make sure you're paying attention. And he ties everything back to itself. Amazing!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CALC127H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are willing to go to him for help during his office hours, it's basically like having a very patient, competent tutor. The in-class instruction has limited use, he mumbles and isn't always clear. If you are willing to really work for it, you can succeed, but it's not an easy class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Occasionally needs to take breaks due to his age, so lectures can be frustrating, but office hours are great. Fair grader, if he makes a mistake he will correct it. Does expect you to actually work. He tries to make it interesting with various applications. He's a grandfatherly sort who just wants you to do your best.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CALC127H
• 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:

Peter is honestly absolutely horrendous at explaining things. Most people just stop taking notes because they're so hard to follow. He's a really nice guy, and brilliant, just not a good teacher. For calc 127H, if you have a solid background knowledge of calculus, it will be a fairly easy class. If not...good luck.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class was easy if you had background knowledge of calculus. New subjects were hard to learn because he does not explain well in class. In office hours, though, you can get a great explanation.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• 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:

You can barely understand what he says due to his mumbling and he is unable to properly clarify math in general.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• 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 had this professor for two classes and he was HORRIBLE. The entire class would congregate after lecture and talka bout how no one knew what he was talking about. He is too fast, too mumbly, and expects you to know everything already. I switched out of that class and joined a different professor who has a really good reputation. ADVICE: STAY OUT!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Homework and quizzes were a big part of the grade. Quizzes were extremely easy, he always told us what would be on them. Some questions on the tests were a little challenging, but he gave us practice tests that were almost identical to the actual tests we took. If you go to class and his office hours, you are sure to do well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH235
• 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:

Peter lectured too fast for me. Way too fast! Lectures were not very helpful because of this. I expected a better grade than I received because of the harsh homework grading. As such, too much of the grade is from homework for my tastes. The book he used was good at times though a little hard to reference material. At times he is funny.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH461
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy but he is often very confusing and does not explain well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• 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:

If I had known that his honors class was going to be the mess that it turned out to be, I would absolutely not have taken it. Goes off on tangents and tests are HARD!!! At times I would almost swear that most of his exam questions were at no point ever lectured about in class. STAY AWAY!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are absolute gibberish ("Have you been to Quabbin Reservoir? That's your homework!")+ Assigns arbitrary problems ("I assigned that? I don't know why. That's a terrible question. Do it anyway.") Hey, if you know already have a thorough knowledge of Calc, this should be amusing. Go for it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 563611
• 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:

He is very brilliant and eager to help you understand the material. Unfortunately, very confusing lectures, not clear about grading or material coverage. Somehow I got an A in both of his courses, but in retrospect, I didn't learn anything because I was confused the entire semester.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• 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 not a bad guy, but you don't know how he grades. Puts a lot of emphasis on homework, which are a lot of obscure questions. I got a B- but I had an A test average. Very vague about grading.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 462
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Anyone who complains about Prof Norman obviously is bad at Math. he may be a little unclear at times, but if you have any intelligence, you know what questions to ask. He is a brilliant professor, and gives interesting lectures.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He can not teach. he can't even make a complete thought. He's a great guy, but he should not be teaching. Half the time he goes off on tangents that have nothing to do with what he is trying to teach!!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is a premed course. Premed students don't like any class that might damage their perfect grade point average. Don't take my fellow classmates seriously when they complain about Prof. Norman.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH127H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ok,he's a great guy, but lacks the teaching skills; he's not a hard grader. If possible explore other options.