John Beckwith - Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

Professor: John Beckwith

Department: Mathematics

College: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MA4760
• 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:

when he does algebra he sometimes does more than one step at a time. this may make it difficult for some but he was a good professor for me.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MA4770
• 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:

explains the material well in steps that can lose some students, but was a good fit for me.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

John is a surreal dude. I still can't get over how many times I heard "type of thing" during this class. Looking back, the class was kind of fun and just bizarre to think about. Taking John's class will severely improve your opinion of every other professor, teacher, instructor, person, and human being you've ever dealt with.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Beckwith is a great teacher. If you honestly go to class and do your homework he basically hands you an A. Unfortunately, homework is optional so you need to motivate yourself to do it and do it well, but doing that and going to class will likely earn you an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

Worthless. I can't believe he's paid! Trails on about one problem for an hour, which doesn't teach you anything. Only method of teaching is solving problems, but teaching nothing. I'm not saying he's hard, because he will curve, but only to pass students so he feels like a teacher. You'll prolly pass, but IT WILL screw you for future classes!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

Oh my...90% of the time I'm not sure if he's covering the material in the book or off on his own little tangent, makes learning a lot of the material very difficult as the book doesn't have great examples (if any at all). Does grade very fairly on tests however. Wouldn't recommend him, even if you do understand math easily

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

John's a good guy. At first, it may not seem like you're grasping a single word he says. Looking back, I realized that I really did learn a lot. His tests are the best I've ever had! They're fair and to the point. Don't stress after the first week. Sit there and try your best and you will surpass the others in the class and get a nice A or B.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst math teacher at tech yet. Rambles on and randomly switches to other questions without telling you. Does not realize that the blank stares on students faces means they dont know what he is talking about. Avoid his classes if you want a teacher who teaches

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

I took this class and did just fine in it, but his teaching style was subpar. "Just crank and grind and you will get this answer" If you like learning an entire chapter from 1 proof this is for you. Exams curved, final grades were not. 1 person in my class got an A on the final exam (out of 60)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

He has a very nice curve for the class. Guarantee at least %50 on each exam and only basic questions were on it not to mention he curved our final grade also. All you had to do was to study the old exams and you're good to go. No homework was required to do for this class but if you want to get a decent grade then do it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you like classes where the material is covered slower than a glaciers movement then you'll really enjoy this class. "Do you understand that type of thing"

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

One thing people need to learn is that this is college. You can't expect your professors to spoon feed you everything. Beckwith puts the material in his own words, which makes class a lot of fun. He only puts the basics on his tests. Most of the people who are unhappy with him are people who need someone to blame for not doing well in a class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

statistics is boring, but probably not beckwith's fault. exam questions are difficult, partial credit and grading are more than fair.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MA3710
• 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:

beckwith: "so as you can see... type of thing...okay?" beckwith: "so does that make sense?" student: "what are you talking about ?!?!?" beckwith: "ummmmm...."

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!! This professor is a bad one. His examples and notes are useless, and he has actually gotten confused by his own examples numerous times in class. His exams are hard, and he doesn't offer review. He taught 2 sections of Calc 3 in Fall '05. We were the only sections that were unable to take the university Calc 3 exam.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MA3160CALC3
• 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:

Avoid at all costs. A complete ****. Can't teach a damn thing and then exams are harder then hell. He tells you he curves at the end but I can't understand how he does it when percentage wise I have one thing and then I get one grade lower. Holds grudges if you don't have a perfect attendance record even though he donesn't teach anything.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: STATISTICS
• 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:

Doesn't help you understand, bad examples and notes that go no where. Should not be a teacher in any respect!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

He is a terrible prof. He doesn’t know what he is talking about and constantly says "that type of thing" and "ummmmmmmm". I've never seen a person stand at the board and say "um" for 30 seconds because he gets lost. His exams are also very difficult. Defiantly avoid this one!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MA3160
• 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:

He is the biggest moron ever. He knows calc 3 but teaches lika an idiot. You have to go to every class to understand what is going to be on the tests. You can do fine in the class but if you need help he won't help you. He thinks he is better then everyone. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MA31603710
• 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:

WOW. Can't believe that hard earned tution money pays for this flipping animal that says nothing but "all that jazz" to not teach and fail students because of his insane exams. good luck with this one folks.