David Dobbs - University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Professor: David Dobbs

Department: TBD

College: University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH460
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Dobbs is one of my favorite teachers ever! He is a very strict grader, but only because he expects so much from each student. He basically tells you what is on the tests, so that what needs to be studied. Class was fun because he taught geometry and a little about life, too. Overall, he is great example of what a teacher should be!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid him if possible. He's hard grader and is very unclear what he wants on tests/homework. For 15 minutes every class he would discuss topics unrelated to the material which mostly consisted of him arrogantly describing his accomplishments or belittling others. I felt like the purpose of the class was to learn his methods over the actual material

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• 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:

David Dobbs is honestly one of the best teachers I have had at UT. Although he might not please every student with his grading style or easiness, he is straight to the point. He tells you what you need to do in order to succeed in the class. You WILL have hw (its not mandatory) but if you will do it regularly, his tests will follow the material.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've read his reviews and there are a couple of things you should know. His proofs are not standard, they may be right, however, they're his own version. His notes are unorganized and his hand writting is extremely sloppy. Apart from that, he is very helpful durring his office hours.He doesn't mind sharing his political views in the middle of class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Dobbs is not as bad as his ratings are on here. He's a difficult professor and wants you to do the methods his way but if you actually attend his class and take notes you'll be fine in here. He's the first professor that I've had at UT that actually wants you to learn the material.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH400
• 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:

I think Dr. Dobbs is extremely underrated on here. He is a perfect model of what a teacher should be, difficult, but not impossible. I loved his antics and found him extremely interesting. He is brilliant and teaches about life in addition to math. People don't like him because they are used to not working for a grade but I found class stimulating.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• 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:

He berates you for not understanding and tells you that you're going to fail at the beginning of the class. If he says this... PLEASE LISTEN. Avoid this professor. I made high grades in Calc I, II, and III, but this guy is a joke. Horrible professor!!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• 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:

Horrible Professor. Very bold and has no problem berating you for not understanding his handouts. He barely writes on the bored. All notes are given as handouts written in his sloppy handwriting. DO NOT TAKE

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH431
• 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:

Excellent teacher. I took Math 231 with him in Fall 2008 and Math 431 with him in Summer 2009. He is a very fair grader. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he gives easier methods to work problems than the textbook so I suggest attending class. His tests are really easy. He's got a great personality and is by far one of my favorite professors.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dobbs is better than a lot of people give him credit for. His handouts contained all you need to do well on the test. As long as you attend class and study for the test you'll do fine. Homework is optional, but it does help your understanding of the material and he boosts your grade at the end of the semester if you do most of it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: DIFEQ1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He tells you one thing and then will do completly another. He said "I don't care if you dynamite butterflies" to get the answers, but if you don't do EVERYTHING exactly like his answer key then he takes points off. He is just looking for a reason to bring out his red ink pen.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He was pretty up front about the class. Said that a fair majority of the class would drop, and he was right. He was tough no doubt but if you did the work and paid attention it paid off. My grades went up as the semester went on.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH460
• 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:

Sarcastic, attempts to be witty (and fails), repeats same tired "jokes" (usually political) over and over. Very strong opinions on how things "should" be / have been politically. He has plenty of attitude and isn't interested in helping anyone or answering questions. If you work hard an A is possible but his attitude and personality are best avoide

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH141
• 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:

He is good, I will give you that... but like the rest of the comments said, he is really hard. Unless you like math and can do it all alone (including the harsh stuff), AVOID at all costs. I retook with another teacher, got an A+. He prepares, but his class is hard!!!!!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH435
• 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:

To be honest, I liked the guy. He had a sort of mystical reputation for being an insensitive/hard teacher before I took one of his classes. But he really was not. He will be very hard on those who are not working to learn and I think that is fair. But if you are motivated and willing to work, this is the class for you.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is intimidating, brilliant, and an extremely hard professor. I worked HARD for a C, but and A is almost impossibe. 22 students to start and less than 10 finished. I learned alot, but VERY DIFFICULT!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH141
• 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:

This guy was a nightmare. He began the first few weeks of classes telling us that most of us WILL indeed fail and to make life easier and go ahead and drop. He is an incredibly smart mathmatician but could care less who he fails. There are no opporitunities to help your grade and when you ask questions he makes you feel like an idiot. Avoid him

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do yourself a favor, drop. He's a brilliant mathematician, which doesn't translate to a good professor. If you're math inclined, and math comes easy to you, and you want to go that extra mile in math go for it, otherwise find another instructor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 231
• 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:

smart guy, but not very helpful

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH231
• 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:

This guy was a real jerk. 40 people started out in his class. 8 finished.