Dawn McKinney - University of South Alabama

Professor: Dawn McKinney

Department: Computer Science

College: University of South Alabama

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CSC120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've had Prof. McKinney for CSC 108 & 120. Sometimes she dumps things on you that haven't been covered in lecture, but overall I'd say my experience is mostly positive. She's nice, explains new concepts fairly well, and will help you if you ask. She can be a bit disorganized, but overall the class isn't that hard. I'd take her again.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CSC120
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think overall, Ms. McKinney was a great teacher. She is absolutely willing to help if you ask her. This was a team based learning class for me, so beware of group work, iRats, tRats, etc. Also, you will need the book since she cannot cover everything in class. This is a programming class, so this will be a time consuming class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CSC120
• 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:

It has been a horrible experience taking CSC 120 with her. I have had to teach myself everything in Java. She skips over the basics and dives right into complex topics, so don't ever expect to leave class understanding what was gone over. She's nice and is somewhat helpful one-on-one, but it's a nightmare in a classroom setting.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CSC120
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have taken her for two different courses and in both she has been absolutely TERRIBLE at explaining what is going on. I am currently in her CSC120 class and haven't managed to learn a single thing about programming from her. The only reason I am passing is that I spend countless hours teaching myself from the book and getting help from others.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CSC120
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's a nice lady and is willing to help. The problem with her is she is sometimes unorganized. She also teaches important info that can be used in lab programs the day after it's due so students, especially beginner programmers don't really learn. You will teach yourself because she goes over complex stuff, she doesn't do basics.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CIS115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Will never take again. I had her for beginning programming, and what should be an easy class turned into a nightmare due to her being unclear and inpatient. Never have I been intimidated asking a question for fear of being embarrassed by her. Group work just doesn't work for this class, and she loves it. Grades were always late being posted. Avoid

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CSC121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This lady "teaches" only vague concepts and almost no code at all. She's nice as a person, but when it comes to lectures, 50% of the time she has no idea what's going on, and the other 50% of the time none of us do. Projects are super ambiguous and no one knows what to do, so you have to teach yourself Java. But be nice, and she'll be nice in back

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CIS115
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Get ready to teach yourself and make friends. She appears to be way too unorganized and tries to constantly cram everything in the last few minutes of class and at the beginning of class she waists time setting up or checking her emails or whatever. Worst teacher for a major required course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CSC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof McKinney was and is an awesome professor. Really made people think about whether or not they wanted to join computer science. She essentially showed that computer science isn't all about game development and that there are far more lucrative and stable jobs out there. Props for having great lecturers too. Really lucky to have a great team.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ms McKinney has big ideas, and tries to fit more in her classes than it will hold. Consequently, It seems like we were always rushing, and at the end, without a big sense of accomplishment. If you enjoy working in teams, doing presentations, and having a vague agenda then she's a great teacher. I prefer more structure and direction.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CIS115
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She just can't teach. In a recent survey of all my friends who've ever had her for any class: she cannot teach. She understands her subject very well, and is helpful one on one, but in a classroom environment, she's just useless. If you take her, be ready to teach yourself everything. Also, make friends, because you'll need them in this major.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CIS115101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I probably would have liked this class better if it wasn't Team-based Learning (though I don't know if that is a permanent thing). There were five quizzes that were all multiple choice. The three tests were a combination of multiple choice and hand coding. There were also four Programming Projects. Reading the book is a must for this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CIS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She cares about her students- but she is spastic a lot of the times which can make her somewhat hard to understand. However, you ask her for help she will always have an answer or at least point you in the right direction

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CIS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Seemed like a cool older hippie type at first, but soon found out her "carefree ways" screw you over in the end. She freaks out at the end of the semester trying to get things done all at once. Huge lack of organization.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CIS101
• 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:

She's very nice, cares a lot about her students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CIS150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The class is extremely easy and the teacher is helpful. Take her if you must, thats all i can say. I totally believe you can pass that class no matter the teacher you took.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CIS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pitiful excuse for a Freshmen Seminar teacher. Seemed like a cool older hippie type at first, but soon found out her "carefree ways" screws you over in the end. She freaks out at the end of the semester trying to get things done all at once. Huge lack of organization.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CIS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is a top notch professor. Really helpful, extremely caring, and will go the extra mile to make sure you succeed.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CIS120
• 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:

great teacher i think is the best I ve had in my career.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CIS121
• 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:

Awesome teacher. CIS121 is a lot easier than CIS120. She is really easy at grading, the only hard part of the class is the grad student who grades your programs. Easy class, easy A.