Debra Caires - San Jose State University

Professor: Debra Caires

Department: TBD

College: San Jose State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Debra wants the best for students but a lot of this class is just busy work for the sake of it. She makes you install Adobe bloatware for the final portfolio under the premise that "future employers will like this". Honestly, future employers would rather see you take on coding projects rather than show them you can make a pretty webpage on AdobeXD

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I don't see why there's so many bad reviews; all she does is lecture on career topics to help you succeed in your job search. While the work that's graded is completely useless in terms of your career, the class is seriously an easy A. Class is typically lecture Mon/Tues, in class activity Wed/Thurs. Only big deal was the prototype project, ez A+

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This was a very useless class. I was hoping I could learn how to write technical reports, but instead, we spent 90% of the class going over resumes and interviewing. The grading criteria makes no sense, and I received 0s on multiple assignments I did and turned in on time.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Some of the stuff we learned in class was very useful (like writing resumes or interviewing at companies). Most the rest of the class was useless busy work. She is a very nice teacher, but I would avoid her if you can.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

1. Buy the access code only, dont buy the book 2. Online quizzes due every sunday 3. Activities in class matter and you have to submit in-class work DURING class. They are easy. 4. Always come to class 5. Work on your portfolio ahead of time 6. Easy grader

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CMPE294
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She gave us so many assignments that eventually she herself forgot some of them. We got feedbacks on our very first draft of abstract after we submitted our final paper. Nice person, bad teacher. I think she gave everybody a B at the end.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CMPE294
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lacks clear process and makes you work on multiple assignments simultaneously. Grading criteria was tough. Grades didn't reflect effort that was put in. However, she does help with soft skill development.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 100W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

1. The book cost around 50 bucks to take quiz. The quiz is full of bs. 2. I am shocked of how much of BS she can come up with. 3. On the first class, she asked us to read others' POC without telling us what she wants, and expect us to know by reading others'. 4. 75% of classes just sitting on the front and write recommendations for former studen

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Debra teaches skills that can be used on a career fast-track. Her class is very different and pushes students out of the comfort zone. You must ask questions if you're confused. Study for the grammar test, it's very difficult. Tip: Don't do only the bare minimum on Proof of Concept assignments. The work WILL pile up if it is left incomplete.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Debra is the sweetest person. If you get to know her, she is incredibly nice and will do whatever she can to help you prosper. The class format changed this semester, so it was significantly easier, there's no semester long project. Like another review said, the grammar final at the end is really difficult, we got a pre final assessment though.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Debra is not only a great teacher, she is an awesome career coach. This class is not about coding or program design, but about how to write professional communications, sell yourself on the job market, and get a job. However, do not expect an easy A: you will need to put in some time. Beware of her grammar exam, it is hard, really hard.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Debra is a nice person. However, she tried to achieve too many things for students all at once. And thus, her course resulted in many students not knowing what to do and confused. I couldn't really recall what I had learned in the class as she always said a lot of technical terms without giving good examples. I wish she can improve the class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 100W
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Debra has an admirable vision for the class but falls short when it comes to implementation. Entire class hinges on project which will be a ton of work, and might suck if you get burned with a bad client. Only meets for lecture once a week but a ton of assignments and documentation will bog you down. However she is very open to help when needed.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class consists of 1 big project( pick project and group wisely), 5 blogs that you have to write and publish, 1 grammar test, Resume work, Agile terminology throughout the course, lots of homework, presentations, WebEx meetings with the professor and your group (2-3 times per week).Only take this class if you have lot of free time or good luck

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

You don't learn anything technical from this class, nor you do any technical writing. This class will suck up all of your time with group meetings and lots of homework. It'a lot of self learning for the projects and totally not worth the time and effort at the end. A lot of students can't escape from this class coz of limited sections offered :(

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Debra has very good intentions. She wants to teach you the standard practices of the industry. She assigns a semester long group project, but she often gives you documents and expects you to finish them. If she doesn't like them, prepare to revise them many times. Often disorganized and leaves you confused. Forced to use multiple web platforms.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great person, terrible professor. Tries her best to teach what's part of "industry," but is often unconvincing. Highly disorganized. Be ready to constantly check email and a number of different platforms for assignments. Class is dependent on a semester long group project. Try to take class with a friend. Will help in a pinch if asked.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Debra is a good person, and she's easy to get along with. The problem is that the class is incredibly unstructured. She tries to help, but most of the time it ends up confusing people, her criteria isn't clear, and the class is far from easy. Massive group project that will take up all your free time.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Highly disorganized course that drains far too much of your free time. Debra will constantly assign work without adequately explaining it during lecture. Weekly Webex / in-person meetings are required outside of class time, with a client or Debra, and can end up clashing with your schedule, watch out! Class is 95% group work after a few weeks in.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS100W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There were many weeks where she just sat at her desk and said nothing. She spends very little time explaining assignments or providing feedback, and used Facebook for ALL of her announcements. She tends to put up assignments late on Sunday evenings and expects you to finish them by Monday morning. Avoid a having full schedule with her class.