Frank Barry - Appalachian State University

Professor: Frank Barry

Department: TBD

College: Appalachian State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS4800
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barry was a great capstone professor. He was always ready to give our team feedback when necessary, and would take the time to discuss with us whenever. The grading was focused primarily on the presentations throughout (there are three), but the Technical Reports always felt important. The technical reports could sometimes creep up.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS3482
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barry does a GREAT job of teaching Systems. Unfortunately, Systems is just plain hard. The material is really tough, and the tests are really menacing, but if you really spend the time on the labs to get a good understanding, you will largely be well-set for the whole class. The first test caught everyone off guard, so make sure to study.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS3482
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Barry is incredibly intelligent and knows what he's teaching. But this doesn't always translate into being able to explain it well to students who struggle with the material. He posts YouTube walkthroughs and those are half the reason I passed; his lectures are pretty dry and more abstract. Labs are rarely spoken about in lecture

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS3481
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It's evident that Frank Barry is a genius when it comes to computers, but his teaching skills are abysmal. Often rambles tangentially, quizzes you on material before you're ever introduced to it, assigns highly difficult labs on new material with a "teach it to yourself" attitude, & you're lucky to get 10 minutes of actual info out of a lecture.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS3481
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Barry is an extremely nice person and very knowledgeable about computer systems. Unfortunately, he is a pretty bad professor. His explanations are generally rambling and confusing, and his lab instructions are awful. The lab is very difficult and tests are pretty tough as well. Overall the class is pretty miserable, I'd advise trying Dr. Norris

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS3482
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I greatly enjoyed taking systems with Dr. Barry. He posted walkthroughs of homework on youtube so you can review anytime you want, did great prep for quizzes/tests, and was very accessible outside class. One of the nicest friendliest professors I have dealt with. I would love to take more classes from Dr. Barry.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS3481
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Frank Barry is a very intelligent person when it comes to Computer Systems. He is however a terrible professor. He just teaches his class as if we already know what he is talking about. He expects you to learn everything from the book. Respectfully and honestly he is the worst teacher/professor I have ever had. HORRIBLE LAB INSTRUCTIONS.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 3481
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows what he is talking about. He can sometimes get bored with course material and it shows but as you get to more advanced material he is far more engaging. Class is sometimes boring and test difficulty can vary but overall a great professor. He will sit down with you and help you and he really does care about his students.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS3481
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Knows what he is talking about but cannot explain it. Gives online quizes with no prior teaching on the material and expects us to understand it from reading from the book and will explain the quiz after we've taken it. Nice guy, terrible professor. Take Dr. Norris if you can over Barry whenever possible.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS3481
• 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:

I have had the privilege to take quite a few classes with this man. The man is a genius and knows Computer Science like the back of his hand. Excellent teacher. Great person. He goes as far as inviting groups to his home to go over material. I've also taken Embedded Systems and 2440 with him. If you are willing to learn, you will do fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS1440
• 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:

He would basically tell us a couple concepts and throw some methods and other terminology around, and the quiz would assume you've magically become an expert on the subject from the small amount of information he told you. He quizzes on things that you're "supposed" to know but that we've never applied to the programs.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Do NOT take this professor! His quiz and test policy is horrible. If u arrive late to class he counts you absent and gives quizzes in the morning so if your late and miss the quiz, you get a zero. He talks to much instead of writing code and giving example. Overall bad his teaching method.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CS2440
• 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 good. Tests use concepts learned and practiced, but are not just a regurgitation of exact ways of doing things (though still learn terms). Small classes, which are nice. You have to learn some of the things on your own, though. If your decent with programming, getting an A is not hard.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS2440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Teacher that doesnt teach whats on tests. Says you must learn on your own. Its really kinda stupid.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS3482
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very nice guy, gets lost in lectures sometimes but usually figures it out. Did not study our class project before assigning, so provided little help for completing it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS2440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent prof. as long as you're willing to do your part too. Quiz every friday (generally) - it's a very good idea to understand the concept behind what you're learning. Study a bit and it'll be fine. Read the book when it's assigned, he WILL quiz. And the annual cookout is nice too :-D

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS2440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. I think I knew more about java than he did, but that isn't at all a reflection of his teaching abilities. We were the first class to do java, and he was learning it as we were. he did his best to make sure that everyone was up to speed with what we were doing, and he has cookouts.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS2440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher, makes sure that all of his students are 100% clear on the material.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS2440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall a pretty good teacher. Lectures can be boring and a little confusing, but he knows the material. If you are confused don't be afraid to ask for help. He's good at explaining things one on one. The class isn't easy but if you pay attention and read what he says to, you'll do fine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS1440
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not really easy, but not hard either. Good professor. Takes time to help students. Tries to make everything as clear as possible. As long as you try, he'll give you a good grade.