Sam Cirka - British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Sam Cirka

Department: Computer Science

College: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His classes have always the same format, he will give theory and after demonstrate what he is talking about. Labs have hard parts, easily solved with his in-class explanations. Take care with the quiz, most part is trick questions. This course really requires outside class time. He answers emails quickly and helpful.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He barely teaches you 1+1 in class and expect you to solve Calculus. The course starts off easy, and then as the ship goes into the deep sea, he kicks you off the boat and good luck learning swim. He definitely knows his stuff, but man, I would never take his class again. There are so much bugs within lecture and assignment labs, it's infuriating

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The best professor at bcit. He is a real professional. His lectures are tough. The course is quite intensive. Material is very practical. Very nice projects and interesting final exam.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Unorganized and unorganized... all over the place.... He does not know his development tool very well. He knows Java by theory but does not know how to code.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Sam is helpful, but lectures can drag on. Make sure to spend a lot of time on homework. He was a bit unorganized in the last half of the semester, however.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 2613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Sorry Sam, super dull lectures, doesn't go over everything.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pragmatic Industry expert. Teaches best practices.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Lectures barely scrap the surface of what you will be required to know. You will spend ALOT of time reading online Java Tutorials! Exam questions are designed to confuse, not teach best practices. Doesn't follow Java coding conventions. The textbook is a MUST, but never used in class - most exam questions are taken from the text, though.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

There's a lot of spelling mistakes on the PowerPoint/quizzes/exams. Industry-standard work expected from students who have barely even touched Java programming. No communication outside of class. Does not respond to e-mails within 3 business days. If the program does not compile, you get a zero.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• 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:

Not a terrible teacher, but not very good either. He knows his Java, no question, but his expectation of a class that is essentially a beginner class is off the mark. He breezes over important material, yet seems to linger on other subjects that you find have nothing to do with the labs. Very unorganized. Multiple choice tests are BRUTAL!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COMP2613
• 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 is definitely all over the place while teaching, he sidetracks and starts teaching at the end of the class thus making the whole class in 10 minutes which wont help the average students. His materials are extremely hard and if you fall behind than say goodbye to c average

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COMP2711
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Material is relatively simple, exams and assignments are very difficult. I think the goal is to teach/learn the material. Good teacher though, I wouldnt want him in an advanced course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COMP2611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Teaches course with recycled powerpoints from previous years and lecture slides not ofter up to date. Lab and project assignments identical to previous years. Mumbles comprehensively in class, appears disorganized, usually 2/10 incorrect answers to quizzes in answer key, ignores student emails for help. A nice guy but too lazy to effectively teach.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COMP2611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent - BCIT should clone him

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 3711
• 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:

Didn't expect all that java programming

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COMP4955
• 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:

Expects industry-standard work from students who have never been exposed to it