John Berry - Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA

Professor: John Berry

Department: Computer Information Systems

College: Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CIS15A
• 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 don't really recommend his online class. He is absent most of the time and never answers questions. He grades extremely slow. His modules do not really help at all, so I have to rely on other online resources. You will be lost in this course unless you have some experience with basic programming. Take another professor for this course.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CIS15AG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Seems very lazy and doesn't explain concepts at all. I used the book more than the online modules provided by him. Grades extremely late, give sparse comments, and you have no idea if you're doing anything right. Never replies to comments from the online forum either. Easy grader, not-so hot teacher.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CISB
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is independent study plus 6 projects that will never be looked at or even run. He will talk for 5 minutes, program quietly for 15 minutes, ask himself why it isn't running for the next 5 minutes and finally run it and explain for 5 minutes. rinse lather repeat. that's a third of the time spent actually teaching and the rest spent preping

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CIS27A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

It literally took him the whole quarter to grade the second project (there are 5 projects) AND he cancelled the final! If you're not a CS/Engineering major and you desperate for an A, do take this class. Otherwise, STAY AWAY!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CIS27A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Always late. Assignments graded *very* late. You will have to work on 3-4 projects without getting any feedback on your earlier efforts. Very easy grader. Terrible meandering lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CIS15A
• 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:

Overall he was rather inconsistent and lazy. It took him months to return a single assignment (after the quarter was over). Don't expect to learn anything from lectures. Steers students in the wrong direction when it comes to programming principles.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CIS15A
• 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:

Seems a bit lazy, boring, and disorganized. Takes half an hour to explain a 5-minute concept; doesn't always reply to E-mails. At least the chosen book (C++ by Stroustrup) is pretty good. In fact, bypassing class and just using the book is probably more conducive to actual learning. Probably an Easy A if you need the credits though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CIS027A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

When there are students in class, which can barely keep up with new material, he usually slows down. Class can be very boring at times due to this. If a good portion of the class is falling behind, He will cancel or postpone HW altogether. There was no final in my class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CIS27A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class relies upon using the Eclipse tool for Java. Downloaded as instructed, there were essential Utilities that didn't work on my PC. Prof did not help; said, "Huh, that's strange." Period. He writes code in silence as you watch on projection screen. The class is for new non-programmers, yet some fundamentals are taught by rote, not explained.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CIS15A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very laid back so you are going to have to push yourself to learn the stuff. But he's very helpful when you ask him questions. He might seem a bit lazy, but if you push yourself, you learn a lot because he'll cover a lot of topic, you will have to learn the details.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

teacher was cofused, cancelled final because could not get the notes posted in time

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

AVOID If Possible! "Text" is a reference guide. Good if you know things already. Class was on-line only and he didn't respond unless had the Dean intercede! Most of his "lecture" was pointing to Microsoft pages. Not much of "why". I'm glad I had other resources (people and books) available.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In his defense, he did suffer having his class website hacked and he had to do a lot of rebuilding. Additionally, he experienced medical problems during the semester involving "Take it Easy".

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Currently taking class (on-line only). Feedback minimal (month after turning in assignment.) Textbook is a pocket reference manual, with little instructional value. Links to his examples don't work. Doesn't respond in timely manner. Final covers topics only touched upon in the last couple of lessons. Make sure you have other resources available!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CIS15
• 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:

He was not very helpful. Class is fairly easy though. OK if you don't mind not getting much help.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I'm just taking CIS 19A class (online)... Completely useless. The teacher is almost never present to answer any questions. If you are self motivated, and like to work on your own - good for you ;) If you need any help from a teacher ... go somewhere else. It's a disaster .... ;(

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: JAVA27B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took 27B online with this teacher. But he didn't answer any email or message (or answered very late). He doesn't care about students and what they learn. His class is a waste of time. I discourage anyone who wants to take his classes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• 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:

This is an online class. Instructor was ABSENT and UNRESPONSIVE to online and email inquiries. Total waste of time, I dropped the course

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CIS19A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Does not respond to questions in good time, takes weeks to grade assignments. Textbook is outdated. Online notes had broken links, not put together very well. Worst online course I have ever taken. I withdrew to take it again with another professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CIS15C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Does not answer questions, return grading on time, or update modules. Very lazy and irresponsible. I regret taking this course.