Ben Schafer - University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

Professor: Ben Schafer

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very energetic BUT does not give good feedback nor does he do a good job at replying/getting back to you. Do not expect him to reply to your emails for questions about what you're doing or if you missed class for an excused absence, and if he does reply, it is very short and sometimes doesn't even answer what you were wanting answered.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS3610
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Schafer is a great professor. He is very lively and keeps you awake during lectures. The content can get difficult but that should be expected if you're this far in CS. This class requires a good amount of programming, but Schafer is very helpful if you reach out to him. Overall, he's a great teacher and this is a good class to take.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a nice guy but don't fall for it. In a class of math majors (most of them freshmen), he accused about 10 students of plagiarism, with little evidence. Because of this, he created an environment of paranoia and made students feel like they had no voice in the situation. Beware of this and be ready to stand up for yourself if needed

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really liked Dr. Schafer's class, and I am not into computer programming, just required to take a class for my major. SO GLAD it was Dr. Schafer. As long as you show you care, he is super helpful and his lectures are great. He applies what you are learning to your future career and is easy to talk to one on one. Great professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS3610
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall a great teacher. He is very smart and also has great teaching abilities. I learned a lot from this course and don't regret taking it at all. He is however VERY strict on grading. If it's not his line of thinking then your answer is wrong. This goes for test and HW. Also test tend to be essay.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a good professor, and is energetic during lectures. For many classes, once you get done with the assignment, you can leave. Get to work with Lego, Python, and Scratch. No tests except the final. Sometimes his instructions are a little vague, but if you ask, he'll tell you. I had no background in computers and am doing well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy! He is one of the few professors I've had that is intelligent and is actually an effective instructor too. Some of the assignments were challenging but in a really good way. Be careful about "plagiarism" though. He has no sympathy for people that take the smallest bits of code from their classmates. Overall though, he was stupendous!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS1120
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Schafer is a great professor! This online course is a tough one but if you give the time for it you learn A LOT, and Dr. Schafer gives a lot of help if you go see him! Roses are (255,15,15) Violets are (0,0,165) if you understand you must be in media computation!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really don't like this class. The homework assignments go unexplained and when you email and ask for help, his answers are not straight forward enough to actually help you with your program.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Intelligent, engaging educator that will somehow do the impossible make the topic of computer science interesting to you! It's hard to NOT pass this class. He pulls out all the stops to accommodate to you. Be warned that he is serious about plagiarism (copying code). So be careful when getting ANY help from classmates on homework.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS1140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very good professor. Enjoyed his class. Homework is easy. Easy grader. Puts all of his lectures online. Overall really good professor.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS1510
• 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:

GREAT teacher! Weekly homework, but it teaches you a lot. If you put in effort an A is definitely attainable. He's very helpful with questions, I would highly recommend him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: INTRO1510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. Have to go to class, but puts lectures online. Very helpful and clear. I knew nothing about programming prior to the class and thoroughly enjoyed it! Reading the textbook is helpful!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS1510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Schafer is really nice and will explain things over if you don't understand something. The class is not a cake walk, but as long as you keep up with the reading, pay attention in lectures, and do all the assigned work, then you will be fine. Skimming through the readings before the exam will help out a lot on the multiple choice part.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS1510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Schafer is a great professor. If you have questions he will answer them. One of the few professors who actually teaches during lecture instead of just lecturing.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS1510
• 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:

I love Schafer's class. He explains things very well and keeps class time interesting with a few jokes. He does give participation points, so you do better in the class if you show up and ask questions. He is well-organized, and he records his lectures so that you don't fall behind if you do miss class. Dr. Schafer is an excellent teacher!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Schafer's class is never boring. He's very up front about what he wants you to learn, and breaks it down into very manageable concepts. His tests are reasonable and strongly based on lecture. Programming assignment grading is a little difficult sometimes, but workload is not bad.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COMP053
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable and organized. It is obvious that he puts a lot of work into preparing for class. He is able to present complex material in everyday language. His tests are difficult, but the material is covered in class thoroughly. He is genuinely helpful cares about the students learning the material. Best Professor I've had to date.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, truly cares about students and really knows what he is talking about.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CSI
• 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:

Awesome professor. He cares about his students and explains, very well, everything he wants you to learn. There were 2 tests and the final... tests are exactly from what he covered in class. Dr.Schafer is the best professors I have ever had and I think he is one of the best professors if he isn't the best professor at UNI !