Thomas Allen - University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD

Professor: Thomas Allen

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WILL NEVER AGAIN TAKE A CLASS WITH PROFESSOR ALLEN AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT RECOMMEND!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is by far the worst instructor I have EVER had! His discussions are the worst (the subject lines alone make me want to scream!) He makes so many mistakes in his communications to the students but yet takes off points from us if we do the same. He really makes me not interested in the class. I will never take another class with him.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is very confusing. The instructions are not clear. There are grammatical errors in class announcments and the Professors writing is confusing. I often have to read his feedback two or three times to get an idea of what he is trying to communicate. Class participation is unusual and heavy compared to the points you can achieve.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

From what I read here and what I read in his announcements, I dropped the class. His "group discussion" expectations were a lot higher than I have experienced.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very confusing and most of what he says contradicts himself. He adds extra steps for assignments that is not included in the rubric. No really clear what he is asking most times.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Unhelpful when asked for clarity. Most projects are over complicated, like he is trying to prove his class is still needed. Instructions are not clear, constantly miscommunicates. This is my only B in college.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The professor was very vague with feedback and could not make his mind up on how he was grading the material. This should have been a fairly simple class and he made it so frustrating that if I could fire him, I would.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Immensely enjoyed course material, but was learned that even though the professor had spelling/grammar errors in his syllabus, online discussion posts, and assignment rubrics, I was penalized points for the same mistakes in my assignments. I will never take him again. I argued with I'm constantly over grading. Not ever very clear in expectations.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Thomas Allen is one of the worst instructors I have encountered at UMUC. He gives very vague directions, his discussions are horrible, he doesn't answer student's questions and belittles the students that ask them, and his class was disorganized. He also gives requirements for assignments which are different then what is required by the rubrics.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable and even though I went in worried about learning he made the journey quite fun. There are a lot of lab assignments weekly and you have to stay on top of them. He will give a grace period but will penalize you vice giving you a zero. Learned a lot in his class and he uses a common sense approach to his class. Excellent teacher.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found that professor was more interested in nitpicking minor details rather than teaching the materials. I found that using the required software was easy, but navigating through what was expected in some of the projects was a little disorganized. I feel that this professor was a little disrespectful at times.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This Professor was not 'easy' he made me think and that is what made the class worth taking. Professor Allen was helpful and consistent, he answered questions and graded our work in a timely fashion. Most importantly for me was his consistently positive feedback throughout the course. I would enjoy taking another class with him anytime.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• 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:

Professor had requirements stated clearly. Always answered my questions when needed. If you deviate from the class requirements points were taken away. Do not understand why students have problems with this professor when everything is spelled out to get good grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• 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:

I have this Professor for IFSM 201. He was very spcific about the way he wanted projects. I was an hour late on a project, we could not have given me credit but he make my grade donw by about a third

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• 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:

Graded assignments based on things that had nothing to do with the subject material. Took away points for typo's and errors when there exists the same thing in his announcements and critiques. I do not recommend.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IFSM201
• 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:

Syllabus & expectations were unclear and constanly changing. Points were taken off assignments for requirements that were never given in the project instructions. Students had to guess at what he wanted, and if we asked a question he just blew us off or acted as if we were making up problems that didn't exist. Easy class, AWFUL instructor.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: IFSM304
• 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:

This Professor is the reason I left UMUC. Absolutely horrible clarity... course content filled with misspellings and his use of grammar was tragic. He was difficult to deal with. I got an A, but I would rather have gotten a D and learned something.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: IFSM304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Horrible! very disorganized and it looks like he took the whole class from a different professor because he doesnt know the instructions to the assignments himself. he always says to "feel free and contact him with questions about your grade" but when you do he argues with you. I hated him so badly but the content of the class was easy. Be prepared

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: IFSM304
• 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:

Professor Allen is very difficult to communicate with. His class layout is really confusing as is his syllabus. If you ask him questions regarding the syllabus, he will most likely refer you to the syllabus and insist that it is "quite clear." He becomes very indignant if you tell him something doesn't work or needs clarified. Very unhelpful!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CSIA302
• 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:

Got an A in the course, but it was anything but easy. I admittedly am not a computer whiz, but Prof. Allen also needs to refine his teaching style. He was VERY unclear, very confusing and didn't always respond to disputes. Also, he spent all semester emphasizing certain things that were then not even mentioned ONCE on the final. Nice guy but odd