Martin MacDonald - Santa Monica College

Professor: Martin MacDonald

Department: Mathematics

College: Santa Monica College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• 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:

His tests are very difficult and tricky. This is not the guy you want to take for a summer or winter class unless you're ready to jeopardize your gpa. He will fail you. He's a nice guy, but now approachable. If you attend the first class, you can get a taste of what the rest of the semester will be like.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I got an A in his class. He is not good at teaching, but the exams are pretty easy and you get partial credits for trying. I wonder if the people said his exams were hard have done all his previous exams or not. Don't expect to get an A in math if you are not working for it. If you can learn on your own, take his class. If not, stay away.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

macdonald is a bad teacher. he rambles a lot and makes it confusing to understand the material. attendance is mandatory. homework counts less than 10% of total grade. does not have extra credit. tests have 5 question each, extremely hard. gives partial credit to tests, average grades in class is C. really hard to get an A. needs to make test easier

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH78
• 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:

A lot of people are hating on him because he's old and loud, but he explains the material slow and goes over all the theory you need to know. Assigns non mandatory homework only for reference. I passed calc with him he's good.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH4295
• 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:

give you a hard time when u ask something. i hv never rated a professor, but i hv to let u guys know... do not take him! make the same joke through out the course.....so annoying

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• 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:

Tests are fair, material is fairly difficult. He repeats a few theorems from the book and does a few examples in class. That is the extent of his teaching. He gets annoyed easily. He tends to ramble, and often does not answer the question you've asked, or completely misunderstands the question. He gets problems wrong frequently. Tough.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is very old. This semester we missed class because he frecuently get sick. If you like math, this is not your guy. He always makes a lot of mistakes, however he is a nice guy. He is one of the easiest ones. After the break, the half of the class leaves. Easy A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

By far the worst teacher as far as teaching goes. Hes unorganized, unclear, doesn't let you ask questions, and he's senile. NOT recommended. If you know calc you could do well. If its your first time taking calc. good luck!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

math is my subject and I've always had A's in math. I took calculus before and I'm lucky because if I didn't I would have dropped the class because of his lack of clarity. Aside from being completely unclear and making very tricky tests, he makes MANY mistakes in example problems as well as test grading. ALWAYS grades tests wrong.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Here's the TRUTH: In all my years in school, he's by FAR the WORST teacher I've had. Do NOT take him. He's NOT clear whatsoever. His tests can be so tricky. U dont know ur grade until u see it after the final. I'm an A student and did NOT receive an A in this class. Save yourself some stress and do not take this class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Since I used the website, I though I'd input something. The honest truth: You won't learn anything from him, most of the time. His lectures are long, all over the place, and boring. He's a nice fellow, but just not very exciting or oriented in his lessons. HOWEVER, if you just read the chapters and do the HW: A guarenteed. 5 Qs per Exam. PartialCrd

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• 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:

Got an A even though i was totally expecting a B. Tests are 5 questions but he will give you half credit if you write anything down no matter how wrong. Go to Math 8 workshop they help. DO all the problems even the even ones because he takes most of his test from the even ?. If you can go to math lab and write down even answers. he is a nice person

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Won't destroy you for incorrect notation. He's practical, straight-forward and very helpful if you ask. Tests can be tricky, but he'll give you nearly half-credit just for trying. I really loved his class and recommend him highly, especially in comparison with the other teachers.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

Spending 30 minutes to explain a 2 minutes question? I do not recommend him unless you run out of choices.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH8
• 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:

This guy is nuts. The tests vary in difficulty but are generally easy. You don't actually have to go to class because he doesn't really teach so much as he writes the example from the book on the board but he's pretty entertaining in a wtf kind of way. He's pretty senile, forgets what he's doing a lot, and takes a long time doing an easy problem.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH08
• 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: N/A

Comment:

So I took Math 7 in Fall 05 and took MacDonald's class for the Summer of 08. I am no math whiz, but I did manage to pull an A. It's the standard: go to every class, do the homework, read your book/examples, and work on extra problems. He really makes you recall Math 7 and makes sure people understand. If you don't, raise your hand, don't be shy

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

don't take his class,my percentage is 98% right now, but i learn all by myself, he never explained the problems clearly. he always spent 1 hour to do one problem, but students still didn't get it; moreover, he always did wrong.and sometimes he is not so fair. i highly recommend Rodas Brian's class, i enrolled his Math 8 for fall.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

...I am an A student, but I warn you: don't take MacDonald unless you knew Calculus before. You might actually learn something in his class, but you will never get an A. that simple. I am trying to get mine now

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

Prof. MacDonald is very knowledgeable. The only problem with him is that he always gives the exams much harder than what you talk about in class. He actually gives material absolutely different from what was discussed. I am getting A (hopefully), but I had to do all the homework and study a lot at home. You never know what you'll get on the test.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH7
• 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:

Unless you have strong fundamental skills, you will find yourself lost in his dull speech, also he flies through sections. And the way he talks puts you right to sleep. And he's pretty straight about some odd personal references. I'm sure he's a great mathematician, but not a good presenter.