Steve Hammer - Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke, VA

Professor: Steve Hammer

Department: Mathematics

College: Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH176242
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best teachers I've ever had. His tests were hard, but his incredible teaching more than made up for it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MTH291
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hammer is the hardest grading math professor I have had at Western, but gives relatively easy tests. He is gives extremely knowledgeable In whatever he teaches, and gives entertaining lectures.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CALC1
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Whoa! Steve Hammer is an awesome professor! I would 100% recommend his class! However, he expects a lot out of his students, and gives very few grades. If you want to do well in his classes, you must do your homework.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MTH277
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

1 of the top 3 professors I've ever had. teaches in a simple understandable style. he loves to drop puns, jokes, & stories. provides real life applications of the material. he really understands your perspective as a student and does everything he can to help you do well and get it. very accessible outside class and will answer your questions

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MTH285LINALG
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Hammer is a great professor! He has a way of explaining mathematical concepts so that they make sense. His lectures are interesting and go into the why behind the concepts. Linear Algebra was my favorite class at VWCC and made me want to delve deeper into math. If you do the homework and work hard you'll do well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MTH241
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are not a fan or naturally gifted at mathematics, beware. Keep up with the homework and definitely ask him for help if needed. His lectures are funny and entertaining, but I sometimes got lost in the numbers when he went off topic. He allows cheat sheets for each test, but are not helpful if you don't understand the material.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MTH174
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Expects you know all material from previous classes and because of that, assumes you know it and skips those parts of problems

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MTH175176
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best math professors ever; made me work for my grade, but taught things in a clear and easy-to-understand way. Is willing to go out of the way to help his students if they ask.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MTH291
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I've had Mr. Hammer for multiple classes and he is one of the best teachers I've ever had. His teaching style is very direct as in he doesn't use any gimmicks, but teaches you math. It's also nice to have cool and funny stories in the morning to go with your math. Generally if you can do the homework, you can pass the tests easily. Amazing teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MTH241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hands down the best math teacher I have ever had. Tests are easier then you think they will be plus he lets you fill up a sheet of paper front and back and use it on the test. If you don't study and only use the sheet you can easily get at least a high C. If given the option, take him. I'm terrible at math and even I did extremely well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MTH175
• 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:

Have had him for three classes, and am a fan of his teaching style. He's fast-paced, but makes sure to help his students to understand the material, and is very open to questions. Would not recommend for summer courses because of difficult pace, but during the regular schedule, is very capable of teaching the material fully and efficiently.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH242
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had two classes with professor as a dual enrollment student in high school. He is by far one of the best professors I have ever had. Very clear in explanations and also adds perspective to what you learn by emphasizing what really gets used in the real world. He is very quirky and has a good sense of humor. Great professor!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MTH175287291
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Hammer is an extremely knowledgeable professor who really loves math. He is a great teacher, although his "only" fault may be occasionally assuming his students know more than they actually do. However, if you keep up with the homework and ask questions in class, he is more than willing to help. Office hours are also a great resource.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MTH157
• 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:

Extremely difficult class. Do not take it in the summer if you don't Love Math. He is entertaining. He is very fast paced. Know Statistics terminology before attempting this class, or you will feel like he's speaking a foreign language. I would say he has about a 30% drop rate.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MTH175
• 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:

I took many classes at Western with Hammer and while not the easiest, he was definitely one of the best professors I've ever had. Hammer will tell you straight up what you need to know, what you should study, and what could be on the test. He certainly won't spoon feed you the material, but he is happy to answer your questions. I highly recommend.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MTH157
• 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:

He is way too hard of a teacher. He offers no extra credit and expects you to remember everything.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MTH241
• 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:

AMAZING teacher! He was really good at keeping the subject fun. He cracks a lot of jokes and really knows what he's talking about. He was BY FAR one of the best math teachers I've EVER had.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MTH241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

GREAT PROFESSOR! Had him for Statistics. You can tell he really knows what he's talking about and he explains everything thoroughly. Would DEFINITELY recommend!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• 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:

AWESOME Teacher, keeps your attention

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MTH000
• 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:

I took Steve's PreCalc/Trig class right out of high school in 2000. Admittedly, I wasn't as focused as I should have been. Steve was AWESOME though. Very helpful, very thorough, and lectures were actually useful. Take any class from him if you have the chance. Also ask him about defending Sam Bowie.