William Keith Nicholson - University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Professor: William Keith Nicholson

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although he is very passionate about mathematics and his research in the field, his ability to communicate course material on a beginner level is in need of improvement. If you are able to learn course material on your own with next to no help needed from a professor, then you will probably be fine in his class. If you are not, then avoid.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He cares a lot and you know he knows what he's talking about but it's very difficult to learn in his lectures. Don't fall behind! It is possible to teach the course to yourself!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

After taking MATH211 with him, I found his lecture slides incredibly over-detailed. He clearly understands the material and is passionate about it. He can be entertaining at times, but this doesn't make up for his somewhat poor teaching methods. I recommend taking it with another prof unless you are up for achallenge. Tests/assignments were fair.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a terrible prof but I would recommend look elsewhere. His lectures are almost entirely proofs and are resemble a textbook. If possible try and different prof if not, then to do well you are better off doing the homework alongside looking at his posted notes and studying practice exams before the midterm and final.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am unwilling to say that he is a bad Prof however there are things that may lend that opinion. His lecture slides are borderline over detailed and are rarely well explained. He speaks quietly and at times seems to ramble however he appears to be knowledgeable and passionate. Most of the course will require you to do many hours of extra reading.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a bad prof, knew his stuff and really cared about teaching, the only problem was with his small messy handwriting

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is experienced prof, but does not teach well. Lectures too hard to understand. Speaks very softly, you have to sit in front to hear him. You have to work on your own, as his lectures are not that helpful.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Speaks very softly, try to sit in the front for his lecture. The lecture notes were posted either 5 minutes before class or after class and he gets down to business right when class starts and goes very fast so reading the textbook before class is helpful. Exams were fair, there won't be anything on the exam that he didn't cover in class

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No help at all. Doesn't post lecture notes until a few days after class. When I have gone to office hours he was no help and just tried to get me to leave as quickly as possible. Not prepared for class and rude to students that have difficulty with the course

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He gets a lot of hate. I can understand why, coming into this class I had never done proofs before and I was struggling to follow in lecture. However, once I got the hang of how proofs work the class became easier. I started the semester thinking this was my hardest class, left thinking it was my easiest. The tests are easier than the assignments.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

So long as you've done some proofs before, the class isn't too hard. Nicholson is no help though, if you're having trouble. He said "no comment" when asked about what would be on the midterm or final. Assignments can be tough,but the midterm and final were a lot easier. He posts all his notes and doesn't cover anything not posted in lecture.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH311
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His slides were organized but his microscopic handwriting and mumbling made it difficult to follow in class. He's too detailed when it comes to explanation + rude. We skipped the last two sections because he couldn't keep up with the schedule. The assignments are challenging and your answers are scrutinized. Just read the book and solve examples.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Too many mistakes during lectures lead to confusion. Very unfriendly if you ask him a question, and had a hard time keeping up with his own schedule. Expects student to teach themselves, as "it's not his job to teach the students everything". This should attest to the qualities of the lectures. Very intelligent, but terrible at teaching.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His notes are quite useless, his explanations either makes no sense, or is overly detailed on the useless parts.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. He thoroughly understands his stuff and tries his best to get the rest of the class to understand as well. Bit of a quiet speaker with messy notes, but if you sit near the front and follow along the class becomes quite enjoyable.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• 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:

I thought he would be an okay teacher since he wrote the textbook, but oh my goodness, his teaching is just horrible! His writing is so messy and small you can't understand anything, he makes many mistakes which confuses you like no other, and honestly he is friendly but I do not recommend him if you can't learn the course on your own.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• 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:

DONT enroll in his section he is by far the worst prof i have ever seen in my life he is unclear unhelpful and just doesn't know how to teach i could get better knowledge on youtube.....

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I sat near the front and showed up every class. Never cracked the text book. He does make many mistakes in his lecture notes but if you pay attention you can figure it out. He is a nice prof and lots of examples from lectures were similar to midterms and final, however if you already struggle with the subject of math, find a different professor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• 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:

Hand writing is illegible, clarity is obsolete. Examples? Once in a blue moon. Urges you to ask questions, but does an inadequate job of answering. If you want to take math 211, take it with another prof.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH211
• 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:

AVOID AT ALL COSTS, very confusing. His notes are all over the place, had to teach myself from the textbook he wrote and the textbook was equally confusing. Learned more from 3 hour review session than I did the whole semester from him. Doesnt keep students connected through blackboard, had to use my friends to view slides and other relevant info.