James Skidmore - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: James Skidmore

Department: Languages

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL1103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

It wasn't what I expected from "ethics" class but it was enlightening still. I enjoyed the discussions. No reason why a person should not pass this class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GER298
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Engaging, funny and a wealth of information

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GER271
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The content was very interesting and was taught differently than most online classes. Each module had 4-6 items such as a reading or a video and each item had a question that we had to discuss with our peers. He also gave lots of feedback on assignments. This course wasn't easy, but you can still get a good grade if you put in the time and effort.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good survey of German culture. Prof has dry sense of humour. :)

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class online as an elective, and put more effort into this course than those mandatory for my degree. The readings were long, and lectures were very basic with minimal information. Found his voice to be very irritating. The final paper was worth 35% of my mark and the word count was 750 words! I didn't get much out of the course...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GER383
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All learning done by reading - did not teach. Deadlines changed constantly, no feedback. No idea what he wanted. Material interesting, would have been great if there was someone teaching it. If all I wanted to do was read to learn, I could have saved myself tuition fees

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• 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:

Probably one of the worst profs. I've ever dealt with based on every factor you can think of. He has the worst communication with students in general and does not understand that student's frustrations of the things he does.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GERM382
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

prof had no interest in the class. Was a DE course, textbooks were late, we never got feedback, constantly changed deadlines, never answered student questions. It was like he was not even teaching!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GERM383
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy feels no responsibility toward his students what so ever. Textbooks were two months late (blamed it on the publisher yet that has never happened in any other class ever) constantly posted the discussions late, changed due dates every friggen day, doesn't evaluate essay proposal unit right before the actual essay is due. DISORGANIZED moron!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GER271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took this course DE during the Fall. It's set up like a lot of his other DE courses - he relies heavily on ACE to interact with students. Thought I was doing quite well until the exam - very hard and almost punitive in attempting to show what students do and don't know.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• 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:

The course is terrible and the prof is the worst I've ever had! In my opinion, he actually discourages students from discussing grades that they think are unfair (right in the course syllabus he posts a link to an article about his "opinion on grade inflation" written about how students complain too much about their grades. Avoid if you can!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is defenitely challenging and u have to do a lot of work to succed in it. The class is definitely challenging and you have to do a lot of work to succeed in it. I think he thinks he is funny. So he is a bit arrogant in his own way. His video lectures are poorly presented. It seems that he is not well prepared when he records his lectures.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• 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:

Took this class in DE. One of the best courses I took all year! Its easy to do well in if you do the work. There is a lot of work, but doing work for Skid's class was a welcome break from my other courses. He really challenges the students, but is a fair marker! Amazing class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GER271
• 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:

Not only was Skid a bit of an egotistical jerk, he thought he was funny too. The final paper we had to write, he gave me a 55% on, even though i had worked my ass off. He then told me to 'have a nice summer'. sure. yah, ill keep that in mind now that im taking courses to make up for the mark u gave me. needless to say, im not a german major anymore

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GER271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

my biggest complain would have to be he gives NO clue as to what to study for the exam and it's based on the entire course. Exam very very difficult, and makes it even more difficult when you don't even know what to study. unfair on demands of students!!! lighten up!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GER271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

my biggest complain would have to be he gives NO clue as to what to study for the exam and it's based on the entire course. Exam very very difficult, and makes it even more difficult when you don't even know what to study. unfair on demands of students!!! lighten up!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GER271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I hated this course. It was boring and it ruined my interest in German history. Way too many picky, stupid things on uwace, and Skid was completely unhelpful in every possible way. The textbook sucked.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GER272
• 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:

I took this class in DE and it was awesome. The way everything is set out makes it fairly simple to follow along. The text is pretty interesting and so are the movies. I totally recommend this class in distance ed.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GER359
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Skidmore puts great care and detail into his preparation for class and his lectures are intended to give a more in depth analysis on concepts learned at home. His courses are intended to make students think and ask questions on their own. Very personable and approachable. If you're interested in German film, this is a great course!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GER202
• 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:

He was very rude and not helpful!