Kris De Volder - University of British Columbia

Professor: Kris De Volder

Department: TBD

College: University of British Columbia

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CPSC411
• 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:

Very interesting course. We implemented a compiler for a small language. In general, the course was taught well. The extra discussion on interface method calls was neat (good practice for reading research papers). Dr. De Volder was available to help during office hours or to chat about programming languages. The textbook was okay, but not great.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CPSC411
• 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:

Showed up late to almost every class. Changed the marking scheme at will. Did not manage time well in giving out assignments. Terrible teaching style, he is very hard to understand. The course itself is awesome, we implemented an entire compiler. Just don't take it with Kris.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CPSC111
• 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:

Chris is extremely organized and always has his notes posted prior to class. Very Prompt on the WebCT boards and easily approachable. I guess people give him bad reviews because they find CS too hard. He's a great prof and you will not find a more organized course then CS111 at UBC

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CPSC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is trying to be a good prof, but his messy teaching suckssss. Monotonous tone makes u sleepy. AVOID HIM AT ALL COSTS in lower level CPSC.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CPSC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

he was ok, i guess... u can tell he's a nice guy and is TRYING to be a helpful prof, but midway thru the course he got kinda annoying wif all his inclass examples... i give him credit for trying, but he is far from being a great prof...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CPSC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kris was a nice guy, no doubt. But he can't teach. His lectures are extremely boring. We were very behind compared to the other classes and because of that we were forced to skip some of the most important topics that needed to be covered in class (ie. Sorting, Searching, etc). However, The course was fun. He was just a bad teacher.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

i don't even care about kris' teaching style or not i just wanted to recommend NEVER taking comp sci EVER!!!!!! what the h was i thinking???? The assignments take over your life and new friends can be found in the comp sci basement at 1am on a sunday night boooooo

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

extremely boring instructor I met in UBC. He SHOULD NOT be a teacher. His teaching is killing. I really really regret taking his course, making me suffering the whole semester.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the hardest 3rd year CS course, bar none. But the prof is excellent: organized, has a clear teaching style, smart. But let's be honest: nothing is going to make this material easy to grasp. Frankly, I'd recommend against taking this course. The midterms were brutal but the final was fair.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• 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:

Ahhhh I hate this course

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My advice is to study hard for the midterms - if it comes down to it, memorize the code examples from class (even if kris claims it's not the way to study) - you'll at least get a passing mark that way! Forget about the bonus questions.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• 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:

Stay away, oh child of CS.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• 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:

Went to every lecture BUT ONE. Notes are horrible, unclear, not up-to-date. It's really hard to listen, jot down new stuff and understand at the same time, especially when he goes thru the slide really quickly. Asks questions but provides no answers.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HARD course, EXCELLENT prof. His notes are clear, he shows exactly what to do in lecture, and exams are exactly the same as homework. Maybe people who found this course too hard should have come to class once in a while!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• 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:

This is gonna be scary

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interesting course, horrible prof. Doesn't know how to teach, unclear notes. He's totaly useless. A baboon would've been better. At least baboons are cool and like bannanas.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Class average on the first midterm: 51%. Don't take this course if you want to do well... The guy doesn't explain well and god knows he isn't easy...

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• 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:

Ask him how you can do better on the next exam, and he replies with "you either get it or you don't". Hello!!! Why the hell do we need you for then! Just a warning, if you don't need 311, DO NOT TAKE IT. Taking this course is a MISTAKE.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CPSC311
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

HORRIBLE! Class average for the 1st midterm was 50%, failure rate was 50%. Called his students "stupid" on the first day of class. Called them "brainless" a month later. What kind of instructor is that?!?!? Not helpful

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CPSC411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What a hard ass! Not very helpful in class or outside and his assignments were bad, so was the exam. Just glad I finished the course. Maybe it has something to do with Belgium.