Donald Sparks - Los Angeles Pierce College (was Pierce College )

Professor: Donald Sparks

Department: Physics & Planetary Sciences

College: Los Angeles Pierce College (was Pierce College )

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS6
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Avoid like the plague, do NOT take his class. Barely lectures. Waits till last minute to upload HW which is very difficult, because he doesnt explain anything. When you ask questions he gives vague answers that don't help. Grades harshly, lowers your test score if you have a dispute about an answer. If you are having probs he will tell you to drop.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very good demonstrations and knows the labs well enough to make them fun. Homework is given online and mostly problems from the text. Gives points just for attempting all problems. Tests are hard but he does put the formulas on the board. You have to put in time doing labs, HW and attend class but grading scale is fairly lenient if you do the work.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS6
• 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:

Worst teacher ever in the history of teachers. He ends lecturing on one section a week before the test while lecturing new sectons fo two days and assigning a new hw assignment which has nothing to do with the test my recommendation if you are past W early drop ride it cuz 55 is a c if no 55 by the last drop date take the w this teacher even ignore

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO3
• 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:

I really liked this class. He's a really good teacher and the subject was interesting.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO3
• 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:

Horrible, expects you to know everything. Doesn't explain anything even when asked. Takes attendance, seating chart. Keeps you til the very end of class or later. Lectures before the test.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHY06
• 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:

Nice guy, cracks funny jokes. When it comes to classwork, you spend HOURS doing HW, 'cuz he doesn't explain clearly in lectures. You must do homework, picks students to write on HW solutions on board. Takes roll every class. Full time students, avoid! You will spend HOURS just doing homework. Run for the exits for your own GPA's sake!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS006
• 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:

He's a funny guy. But he he sucks as a teacher. Made phys twice as hard. I understood phys for engineers a lot easier than his class, and its a lot more difficult...

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR3
• 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:

He cracks some funny jokes, but that's the only good thing about him. Doesn't teach well, and gives assignments that he barely explains. Has a seating chart and takes attendance, and grading scale is raised after missing 8 hours, which is a little more than two class sessions. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Sparks is a funny guy, he keeps his lectures entertaining, but he is a horrible teacher. If you do not already have a solid understanding of Physics, avoid this professor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHI3415
• 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:

Homework and test are both hard and complicated

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS006
• 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:

Decent guy, but a horrible teacher. Never fully explains, will give formulas but not how to use them, concepts but not how to apply them. You will have to learn everything yourself from the book. Ask questions but you wont get good answers. Lots of homework that YOU have to figure out how to do. Rarely admits he is wrong. Very tough grader. AVOID!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHY6
• 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:

Do not take this guy. Tried him for two months and then had to drop. What a waste of time and a semester. Does not know how to teach.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS06
• 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:

Sparks is a great teacher, if you are lazy then don't even think about it! He expects a lot for you. Don't be late and ask questions and go to office hours if you can. Lots of work! Do well on HW, LABS, show up to class, speak up and put problems on the bored and u will pass. If you want an A then study the concepts and examples he does in class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS6
• 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:

Pretty nice guy. His lectures were fun and entertaining. Here is a list of some IMPORTANT things to know about this Physics 6 class...1)Don't be late!! He is big on attendance. 2)He will NEVER let the class leave early. 3)Makes you do homework problems on the board like it was elementary school. 4)Tests are more about principles instead of numbers.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AST104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took him in the summer. You will do almot everything that a normal semester has in work, except for maybe 3 labs. Extremly hard but learned alot. More helpful to women, especially if you call him on his meaness. Just about all of the comments on this site are on target.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Physic6/3415: Must attend lecture and participate, must complete hw, exams are difficult applies homework, labs, and definitions. He is not very helpful with homework questions in person it is better to email him. His lectures were entertaining. Physics is a hard subject and he makes you earn your grade no extra credit.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHY3415
• 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:

Great Teacher. Before, Physics was like a foreign language to me. Now I completely understand it. I am extremely appreciative to him for elevating my confidence with the subject.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO101
• 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:

Had his Astronomy lecture class several years ago; interesting to see he's STILL a bad instructor! Completely unhelpful. Spent so much time ridiculing students who dared asked questions that by mid-semester, NO ONE (not an exaggeration) would ask him questions anymore. Pulled crap like lecturing for 30-45 minutes RIGHT BEFORE a test. HATED him!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTRONOMY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

fun teacher, explains a lot. but if your clueless about anything, then i think you should not take the class. and if your just there for points then gtfo of class, but he does help you when you need it, but will try to make you learn the subject by your own way, basicly teaching yourself for future refference. but other then that Very good teacher.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS6
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is horrible..he never explains a****..according to him u r supposed to kno everything..his labs r disaster...i dropped his class the third week.