Ananda Weerasinghe - Iowa State University

Professor: Ananda Weerasinghe

Department: Mathematics

College: Iowa State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Weerasinghe has the best handwriting by far of any professor, and he really understands Analysis well. Even though tests reflect the material, he is a very tough grader and will give 0 points for test problems - despite good attempts. There were 2 midterms (20% each), homework that can get challenging due every week (30%) and final (30%).

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Weerasinghe showed that he cared about you as a student, but his teaching style is not very effective. Office hours help or they can confuse you even more. His lectures can be confusing at times and is not very good at answering questions. If you read the chapters of the book thoroughly you will understand the content and will be fine.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH414
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Weerasinghe is a very competent and nice professor. The class itself takes a very long time to fully comprehend what's going on, but he can help a lot in office hours. The two midterms were fair but the final exam was a true ballbuster. He did curve the final grade by 10%+. He also only gave out 6 homework assignments, but they were difficult.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH414
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I thought Weerasinghe was clear in his explanation of course content. I especially liked that he would explain things at an intuitive level rather than explain using proofs and definitions when introducing new topics, but the content does take a lot of time to learn. He has a great sense of humor, and I would always look forward to his class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was the first time I have ever taken a math class like this one. The professor clearly knew what he was talking about but the ideas still would remain vague. He can be a bit savage at times and call you out if you're not paying attention. He likes to crack jokes often. His tests are usually pretty challenging. Study and read the textbook!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH414
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not the most exciting class or lecturer by any means. I think he did an ok job. If you're taking 414 he teaches it fine but the class is pretty boring. You still want to go to lecture though because he announces HW and exams in class. The HW was hard but the exams were easier than he made them out to be. He would go through HW in class however.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Weerasinghe will make you want to drop out of engineering. He doesn't curve tests even if the average is in the low 60s.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH266
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't be scared off by the first exam. Our class average on the first exam was 42%. It's a lot to take in but if you actually do the homework and pay attention in class, you'll pass. He really cares about the class and is happy to help out during office hours. He does skip some steps occasionally but if you know that going in, it's not too hard.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH266
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Adjusting to his style and accent is tricky, but honestly he is a great professor. A large percentage of the class dropped out but he truly cares. He even set up an after hours problem solving session for people who wanted extra help on Mondays at 4PM. After I began attending those I got 100% on the remaining quizzes and homeworks.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 414
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Weerasinghe was by far the worst professor I have had at Iowa State. He has a thick accent that is hard to understand. Also he does not understand what you are asking when you ask questions. His tests are terrible. He thinks the material is easy and will "make fun" of you for not understanding. Do NOT take a class from him!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very tough professor, but he wants you to learn the material and succeed. By far the best professor I've had in the math department. If you take notes, go to class, do the homework, and put in the effort, you will do well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

People who say he's the worst teacher ever are just mad that they got a hard teacher. He is the hardest math teacher I've gotten, but he is fair. He really wants you to succeed, but you have to put effort. A lot of effort. If you want to learn calc III, take this guy. If you want to slide by tests by cramming and not practicing. You will not pass.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH267
• 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:

He has very good handwriting and decent speaking skills. He tries to make jokes a lot that are not funny. If you ask questions, he will usually not understand. He will work solutions out for you if you give him specific problems though. Tests were VERY hard. Very boring lecture. He skips a lot of inermediate steps which makes it hard to follow.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While the professor made the class hard enough that half the students dropped by midterm, he quickly realized that having the other half fail wouldn't look good so he let up on the harsh grading a little.. there was a curve. Did learn a LOT from him though, and enjoyed the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Weerasinghe is a tough grader, but did an excellent job of explaining material, and took a vested interest in his students' well-being.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This guy is awesome. He is really funny and he makes class enjoyable. Plus Calc 3 is an easy class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. He is flexible with you if you get sick or have reasonable reasons for missing class. He wants you to succeed but the material is difficult.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a hard teacher but he knows his information. He is a nice guy and is intersted in your success. He has an accent that is hard to understand but very neat handwriting so it makes up for it. He also makes a lot of funny jokes in class that keep the class laughing. Overall a good teacher but not an easy A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst professor i have ever had! His tests were unbelievable hard and not similar to the information covered in class. I learned everything from my TA because he cannot teach

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• 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:

Horrible professor! Extremely difficult, change to a different professor if you have to take this class!