David Fontana - American River College

Professor: David Fontana

Department: Mathematics

College: American River College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH400
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class was fine, he tends to ramble and go off on tangents a lot, but you still end up understanding the material. Tests were pretty easy, he gives you a test preview that is pretty much the same thing as the test. Prepare to be insulted by him though, the guy definitely has a superiority complex.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is really frustrating because he is always going off on different topics it is hard to follow. Very confusing class and he does not prepare you for the tests.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, really cares more about you understanding and comprehending the material than getting a perfect score. Unfortunately, his lectures are difficult to follow, and while he encourages questions, he often teases you for them.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is the worst teacher ever. He is all over the place in his lectures and just rambles incoherently at the class. Do yourself a favor and dont take this Professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• 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:

His lectures are disjointed, confusing. We gave up asking questions, he's just rude. The homework was due whenever, the tests were ridiculous. The book was good, but there was little connection between the book, the lectures, and the exams. It was like he could remember the lectures but not what they meant. Who knows what he was solving for!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

4 exams and 1 final. Exam previews are given, which is very helpful. Do all your homework and understand it. Do all the exam previews, and you will be fine. A review class, but you need to learn by yourself. Textbook is better than professor. No structure. Assuming you to know everything. Talking a lot of math history, which is boring and irrelevan

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• 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:

Lectures focus on the history and applications of math - fascinating, but it is left to the student to develop an understanding of basics. Do all the homework and read the textbook to learn the basics. He can be flippant and blunt which can be off-putting and discouraging to less confident students. Class would be amazing with Beacon-style help.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Smart,but lacks respect towards students .if asked a question he would stop,stare and make them feel stupid in front of the entire class if we didn't understand he said "well,lets imagine we understand"and continue the lecture with out explaining I got an A, despite me "never being an A student in his eyes" ,I worked hard simply to prove him wrong

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall Professor Fontana is very intellegent, but I had a hard time following his lectures. He tends to jump from topic to topic and go off on a bunch of random tangents, some were interesting but many people didn't like this because they didn't relate to any thing we were doing. I tried asking him for help once, but he made me feel really dumb :(

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are really boring and unorganized. He goes off on random tangents about space and it is hard to pay attention. Next thing you know, you're taking the tests and do not know how to do anything because he barely teaches. Ask for help and he will shut you down. Very smart guy, not a thorough and organized professor though.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH110
• 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:

By far the most useless professor I've taken in college so far, his lectures are dry, boring,inconsistent and sounds like you're listening to CSPAN. if you ask a question he instead belittles you in a pretentious fashion. I've learned everything using Khan Academy and Youtube, stay away from this guy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The best math instructor I have ever known. All you need is follow through and ask questions. He may appear as though he doesnt care but its his age too ...but he is really good and if you show interest he is willing to work with you

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

He goes very well with the book, sort of okay to understand his lessons. He is a very great teacher and responds to ALL E-Mails within a given time. He also likes to say great stories and history of math during his lectures. Make sure to keep asking questions so he may answer you and all lessons shall be clear. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome Prof! I'd take him for Calc (Math 400) if he'll ever teach it, unfortunately he said he won't :(. By far, the BEST Math Prof I've ever had! Very patient too, if you don't understand anything, he'll walk you through it. DO work, take notes, and you'll get the grade you deserve in the class. Always ask questions!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• 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:

He appears to be a really smart guy but he lacks the want or need to help others in any fashion. His lectures jump all over and aren't useful at all and he speaks very quietly i was a math major when i joined the class and decided to switch majors after having to deal with professor Fontana.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH400
• 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:

This guy is awesome. He was my first Calculus 1 & 4 teacher. Thank god I took him for Calc 1 because he got me to learn two things: (1) Calculus & Math are interesting (2) Getting A's in Math can only be done the hard way - by studying and doing tons of homework. If you are lazy - CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE. If you like to be inspired - Dave Fontana

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH330
• 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:

Goes through the book very quickly. Lots of homework and test are usually less than ten questions. He is entertaining and goes off topic often but if you ask him something then he will explain thoroughly. If you do bad on a test just talk with him and see what can be done, usually he allows test revisions. Do the HW and show up and you'll pass.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH330
• 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:

IN MATH 330 he is the awesome prof. but sometimes its hard to get him. n plus the exams are just 8 - 9 questions plus 100 points. for me its a average class

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Was not able to learn anything from him. Was hard to understand and I recommend taking someone else for math.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fontana is extremely smart, but terrible at getting others to understand the material he is attempting to teach. I didnt learn anything from his lectures and he jumps all over the place with topics. However, he does let you turn homework in whenever you want and his study guides are almost exactly the test questions.