Maxine Shao - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Maxine Shao

Department: Physics

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Shao is indeed passionate and approachable, but! but! I don't think she is a good professor for Physics Beginner! If you already learned physics in the past and good at it, then this class is easy A. If you are new to physics, you probably will find it very hard to understand.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHSY1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Shao is a great teacher and really passionate about physics. But sometimes I feel like she couldn't get some point across to students. Feel free to ask her question after class, she would love to talk. The lectures sometimes could be a bit boring. The test she provides could sometimes be unclear but you can argue the point back to the test.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHSY1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She was an awesome professor! Her lectures were never boring and it was always funny to talk to her. Great professor!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS51LAB
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor overall. Will perform the lab beforehand and make a difficult lab easy. Unlike other professors, she only expects lab reports to be 1-2 pages long with minimal writing and calculations. It can be difficult to get 100% on reports and quizzes, but the scores I got was enough for me to get a good grade.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS50L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the best physics professor at SJSU. She understands that physics is hard, and she tries to make it easy for students. She does all the problems before assigning it to students.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS50
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took her for phy lab. She made it easy for students. Just read the lab book before coming to class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS01
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

"Master" Shao is a smart, fun dork of a teacher who really gets the struggles of a student and really wants her students to pass. Her lectures can get long, but her handwriting is terrible, so definitely listen to her as she goes or else you'll miss it. Physics was always hard for me but she made it simple and easy

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Maxine has such a great personality! She's always excited to teach. Each chapter is covered within only one lecture, so there is a lot to learn in a short amount of time. But she gives lots of examples and assigns groups for group questions. Workload is light but important. Does practice tests in class, but actual tests are a little more difficult.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHSY1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super nice lady, wants everyone to pass. Class is fairly easy, homework isn't too difficult. My issues is that she's a terrible lecturer. She jumps from topic to topic and doesn't do a good job fulling explaining things. I had a really hard time following during lecture, so I just learned everything from the book.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS50
• 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:

She is an amazing lab instructor. She practically gives you everything you need to write on the reports and tells you exactly how to do the experiment. Just come to lab. She is always willing to help and answer questions. She is super fun and keeps the lab interesting .

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Physics is a difficult subject so if you do not make inferences for yourself or practice homework problems and think about what you are learning then you will not understand her lectures or homework questions. The goal is to think and think hard. Although this class is easy it takes time and effort to get an a so do not be lazy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She loves physics. But her lectures are confusing. Her exams are hard even though I attended the lectures and read the textbook. We have 3 written assignments, 3 exams but the lowest exam is dropped, and a final. When one ask her a question, Shao answers in a way that makes everyone more confuse.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• 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:

This class should be easy. I took it a long time ago at a different 4yr university and received an A. Shao makes the subject very confusing. Her explanations are convoluted --she has a hard time relating info to realistic examples in a simple, understandable way. I wish I hadn't taken this class with her. I had a high GPA before this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved her as a person. Her lectures were funny and she's nice. But her exams dropped my GPA. I did study in advance before each exam, asked for help when I nedded it, and everything. But her exams were very difficult for me. I love Physics but I won't be taking another class for it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• 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:

She is an amazing professor; she is clear, helpful, and enthusiastic. To get a good grade, just show to up lecture(trust me,its worth it).You need the textbook,she assigns homework from every chapter & its due three times during the semester.I am selling the book for $100 (only been used once).If you're interested, email me at adatruong17@yahoo.com

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She's really enthusiastic about teaching physics and wants everyone to pass, so she grades on a curve and no one really got a grade lower than a C-. You don't have to come to class, but I did because she's hilarious to listen to and does not bore the class. (:

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• 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:

She is HILARIOUS! Going to lecture is totally worth it cause this lady is crazy and so entertaining! She goes off on weird tangents, acts things out and is just totally strange but funny. Her tests are pretty easy, she does a review before each test which is very helpful. You have to write one paper but its easy and shes an easy grader so no biggie

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Had her for astronomy lab & she was awesome. Her lectures were easy to understand, she was always willing to answer questions & she drops your lowest lab grade, which means if you do well you can skip the last class. I recommend her to everyone looking to take a lab to fill their G.E.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS001
• 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:

Great teacher, extremely helpful. The book is needed for homework. There are a few unannounced pop quizzes throughout the semester which require attendance.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2
• 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:

lab instructoer was amazing