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Universities » Georgia Tech (GT) » Professor Ratings » David Smith

Professor Ratings & Grade Distribution Data for David Smith

David Smith
Professor (2008 – 2012)
Georgia Tech (GT)
Computer Science
Rate Professor
 
3.0984***
Overall rating
Rated by 61 students
2.60
Avg GPA
across 4 classes
Fall 2012 Schedule
CS 1171 - Computing in MATLAB
Add to schedule M 2:05pm-2:55pm
CS 1332 - Data Struct & Algorithms
Add to schedule MWF 1:05pm-1:55pm,
W 4:35pm-5:55pm
All Classes
CS 1171
CS 1316
CS 1332
CS 1371
CS 1372
CS 4903

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Most Helpful Favorable Professor Review
Most Helpful Critical Professor Review
4****
CS 1371 - Computing for Engineers
With CS 1371, take Smith. He's really the lesser of two evils. Neither him nor Marsicano can teach this stuff, and the class is standardized across all lectures anyways. Take him, because he doesn't require you to be in class when you don'...
Read the full review >
Pros: Does not require PRS credit, as Marsicano would.
Cons: Lecture is pointless. You likely won't learn anything, and if you do, it's worthless for helping with homework. Usually they're based around the topic, but lecture's more just him showing you cool things you can do with the topic.
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on 4/4/10
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
+2 Helpful
2**
CS 1371 - Computing for Engineers
He's terrible at teaching.
Professor rated by: Chemical & Biomolecular Engr Student on 12/7/09
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
+2 Helpful

Student Ratings 1 - 20 of 61

 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
Pros: Does not require PRS credit, as Marsicano would.
Cons: Lecture is pointless. You likely won't learn anything, and if you do, it's worthless for helping with homework. Usually they're based around the topic, but lecture's more just him showing you cool things you can do with the topic.
With CS 1371, take Smith. He's really the lesser of two evils. Neither him nor Marsicano can teach this stuff, and the class is standardized across all lectures anyways. Take him, because he doesn't require you to be in class when you don't understand him......i.e. there's no PRS requirement.
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on April 4, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
2**
He's terrible at teaching.
Professor rated by: Chemical & Biomolecular Engr Student on December 7, 2009
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
3***
Pros: -can be rewarding to solve the homework problems

-Smith is a funny British dude

-tests aren't generally tough if you put the time into working the homework solo

-PRS and mini quizzes are extra credit

-miniquizzes can be taken out of section... pick your favorite TA!
Cons: -homeworks take time... they're challenging

-you'll get sick of Smith and his humor mid-semester

-Smith tends to use complex examples and carrys some between classes, most learning not done in lecture

-PRS to judge class attendance
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on November 3, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
3***
Pros: Wants to help students,

Does detailed examples
Cons: Dry British humor,

Doesn't explain functions
While he's typically busy working through an example in class, he doesn't explain specifics that are on the homework every week. Attendance in his class is not required, so there are few students in lecture. It is really useful in this class to go to recitation every available time. Help desk is also more useful than lecture.
Professor rated by: Mechanical Engineering Student on April 1, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
Pros: Gave partial code in class for some parts of homework as parts of examples to learn the topic.
Cons: Occasionally digresses on topics or gets really involved in them, farther than you will have to go with your homework. All CS homework will be heavy until you know what you're doing.
Decent teacher, knows what material to teach, as he wrote the book you use in the class, and expands on that material.
Professor rated by: Industrial & Systems Engr Student on December 11, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
Is more than familiar with MATLAB. While Marsicano gives more examples and provides notes complete with slideshow presentations, Smith tends to give real-live applications. The trick to benefitting from his lecture is to focus on the problem-solving strategies he uses to solve the various problems he introduces.
Professor rated by: Civil and Environmental Engr Student on November 20, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1372
Program Design for Engrs
1*
Cons: The only reason I took Professor Smith for the class was because he was the only professor available (literally the only one teaching it). He is not an effective teacher, is frequently secretive about grading policies with exams (not transparent at all), and is overall a terrible professor.
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on April 26, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
2**
Pros: Recitation in general
Cons: David Smith as a teacher. Get Marcicano (or however the hell you spell it)

David Smith and he gang of TA's make the tests, excluding test 3 unbelievably hard. Go to recitation, help desk, help i've fallen and review sessions for the best learning opportunities.
Professor rated by: Aerospace Engineering Student on December 5, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1372
Program Design for Engrs
2**
Pros: We got to program a virtual Gameboy Advance.
Cons: One of those professors who assumes that because there are 1 or 2 students who already know the course material, everyone understands. Lecture is useless and the TA's are crap.
My least favorite class at Tech by far.
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on May 2, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
Pros: Professor Smith really cares about his students and wants them to do well. He knows the material backward and forward as well.
Cons: He is not the best teacher. In class, he goes over complicated examples without really explaining the basics.
Professor rated by: Mechanical Engineering Student on May 17, 2012
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
3***
Pros: You dont need to go to class as long as u get the material and go to recitation. He curves the class. The grade u get on ur final is basically a reflection of ur class grade.
Cons: Hard class. Study and do all the hw!
Professor rated by: Industrial & Systems Engr Student on December 10, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1372
Program Design for Engrs
1*
Pros: He's accessible?
Cons: Everything else about the course was terrible.
Terrible professor with terrible TAs. If you can avoid him, PLEASE do. Take it with Leahy in the summer, he's much better.
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on April 3, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
Pros: Very knowledgeable
Cons: Assumes you know stuff.
His class is gonna be challenging if you haven't done programming before. But do the homework assignments and you should be set
Professor rated by: Mechanical Engineering Student on September 15, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
5*****
Pros: Teacher wrote the textbook. Classtime is enjoyable and productive. TA's are very helpful. Homework only once per week.
Cons: Homework can be difficult. No grading curve.
Professor rated by: Aerospace Engineering Student on December 12, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
3***
Pros: professor that wrote the book, knows what he is doing. Been teaching a long time
Cons: sometimes goes a little fast and skips certain things
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on September 27, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
A lot of work for this class. He has a good sense of humor, class is never boring. Tests can be tricky so remember to pay attention!
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on November 1, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
2**
Pros: He knows matlab really well He's funny and his class isn't boring
Cons: He doesn't teach well Going to class is useless
Professor rated by: Biomedical Engineering Student on June 12, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1372
Program Design for Engrs
2**
Pros: Sometimes humorous in lecture
Cons: Lecture does not help with homework
Nice man but does not give very helpful lectures for the course
Professor rated by: Electrical & Computer Engr Student on December 11, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1371
Computing for Engineers
4****
Pros: He does a lot of examples of coding in class.
Cons: He offered basic information, but felt like you could learn more from recitation.
Professor rated by: Biomedical Engineering Student on December 8, 2010
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
CS 1171
Computing in MATLAB
3***
Pros: Allows people to work together.
Cons: HW is almost impossible. You'll get through it though.
A lot of hw. Ace the final.
Professor rated by: Industrial & Systems Engr Student on December 28, 2011
Helpful Rating?
YES
NO
 
 
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