Jack Porter - University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Professor: Jack Porter

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH291
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Porter is very well respected in his department, and for good reason. He knows his stuffthat is, if you can even hear him. The Honors version of the course he does even fewer examples so you will be even more lost. Be prepared for a third of your exams to be True/False questions. I will be avoiding his classes in the future if I can help it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH291
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Porter is a freaking awesome prof, he is incredibly helpful outside of class and is always accessible. He does test over things that he only talks about in lecture, so make sure to attend his lectures. He talks a little quiet, but if you are paying attention it is not hard to hear him. Highly recommend!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH590
• 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:

Although he can be hard to follow or even hear at times, Prof. Porter will go to great lengths to help students out when needed. I struggled in this class at first, but then I started meeting with him outside of class which really boosted my understanding of the material. He truly cares about students more so than any other prof I've encountered.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Don't know why his rating isn't higher. Yes, he talks kind of quiet, but if you are actually paying attention you can hear him clearly. Short but useful homework assignments, study guides match what is on the tests. Lectures can be kind of dull, especially when it is theory stuff. Don't overthink it and use your calculator, you'll be fine.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall, a very good professor. The two non-final tests were very similar to their study guides. However, only about 1/3 to 1/2 of the stuff on the final exam was reviewed in the final study guide. So look at your old tests while you're studying for the final! He's also very quiet - it's very helpful to sit near the front.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Porter deserves a higher rating than he has. He cares a great amount about his students, and he wants everyone to do well. He is very nice, and will do anything to help you out. He is a little bit soft spoken, but if you sit toward the front, it is not a problem. The tests are nearly identical to his study guides, but a little harder.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH291
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Thank goodness he uses a calculator. I tried this class without one and cried at all the arithmetic. This is math not 2nd grade. He is so nice in office hours and has a dry sense of humor. Talks softly tho so will have to listen closely.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• 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:

He made a class that was supposed to be an easy A into a hard class. The exams are almost identical to the problems on the study guides he releases. Very helpful in office hours.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Porter is a nice old man. course ranges from very difficult to very easy. tests are fair and similar to practice exams(throws in some curveballs though). he's soft spoken, so sit up front so that you can hear him. get a good grade on the first test as it is easier and will give you a cushion.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great teacher. If you pay attention in class and take halfway decent notes, then this class won't be a lot of trouble. He does a lot of example problems and his tests are just like his study guides, but there are occasionally some challenging problems. But if you go to class and pay attention, it shouldn't be difficult.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH365
• 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:

All he ever did was work problems in class and expected us to know how to do it on the homeworks/tests. I caught onto his style eventually; just be ready to ask questions if you get lost 'cause he moves really fast. He's a nice guy, though.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH530
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I heard this was a really easy class, but he wasn't the one teaching it then. He is so confusing and thinks everyone totally understands the most abstract points of math as well as he does. He brags about half the class getting A's and B's but ignores the other half of the class who is getting D's and F's.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH559
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Funny guy if you pay attention and catch the jokes---made the class really interesting. Speaks softly so sit up front. Very helpful in office hours.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH365
• 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:

He spoke so softly it was impossible to hear him! When you didn't understand something, he would tell you to see his GTA who couldn't speak English. He used different concepts than the book did, making it that much harder to study. I am a good math student and I had to withdrawl with a D because he refused to help me. Do NOT take his class!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• 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:

Took this in a large lecture... maybe he is better with smaller crowds, but he never turned away from the chalkboard. He told us that his TA's should be the helpers and not to bother him with any questions. First test was a breeze... second was killer.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

teacher told us not to come to him for help...tests had stuff from chapters that he said the test wouldnt' be over...more than half of the class dropped....shouldnt' happen in math 290....linear algebra should be pretty simple...but he makes it harder than it has to be, if you can take this class with someone else

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Clear and good explanations. Tests are hard but does offer day of review. Come to class and do homework guaranteed good grade.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

My TA told me that they were trying to center the class around a 'D' instead of a 'C' like most classes. For my major, any grade lower than a 'C' requires you to repeat the course. Other than this attempt to 'filter' out the students that don't belong in math or engineering, I feel he is a good teacher.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class was very boring to have to sit through. His tests were really hard and you had nothing to study for exams. Avoid his class if all possible!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHDMATH
• 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:

He's very cleaver, clear and human person. It was an honour for me to have spent some time with him in Lawrence ten years ago.