University of Utah
Fall 2014, MATH 2250 Diff Equ & Lin Algebra Section 1
Instructor: KARAMCHED, BHARGAV (Primary) Results rolled up with child course(s): MATH 225 1
My
Avg
MATH
Avg
MATH
F14
Div
Avg
Div
F14
Sch
Avg
Sch
F14
Grp Instructor Questions (KARAMCHED)
5.46
5.13
5.12
5.11
5.1
5.28
5.26
Grp Course Questions
5.07
5.02
4.99
4.98
4.97
5.15
5.13
Question Text
N
RR
Str
Disagr
Disagr
Mild
Disagr
Mild
Agree
33%
(18)
38%
(20)
36%
(20)
27%
(15)
Str
Agree
55%
(30)
49%
(26)
49%
(27)
45%
(25)
4% (2)
9% (5)
24%
(13)
46%
(25)
33%
(18)
33%
(18)
51%
(28)
49%
(27)
4% (2)
27%
(15)
64%
(35)
6% (3)
6% (3)
26%
(14)
57%
(31)
2% (1)
6% (3)
20%
(11)
70%
(38)
1
Objectives clearly stated
55
75%
5.38
5.14
5.10
5.11
5.07
5.23
5.19
2
Objectives met
53
73%
5.23
5.10
5.09
5.06
5.06
5.20
5.19
2% (1) 2% (1)
4% (2)
6% (3)
3
Content well-organized
55
75%
5.15
5.02
5.01
4.98
4.96
5.12
5.10
4% (2) 4% (2)
2% (1)
5% (3)
4
Course materials helpful
55
75%
4.89
4.94
4.89
4.92
4.89
5.11
5.09
5% (3) 4% (2)
5% (3) 13% (7)
5
Assignments & exams covered the
course
54
74%
4.78
5.08
5.04
4.96
4.96
5.18
5.17
4% (2) 11% (6) 6% (3)
9% (5)
6
Learned great deal
55
75%
5.07
4.93
4.90
4.92
4.93
5.10
5.09
5% (3) 5% (3)
5% (3)
7
Overall effective course
55
75%
4.96
4.93
4.92
4.90
4.89
5.10
5.08
7% (4) 5% (3)
9
Instructor was organized
(KARAMCHED)
55
75%
5.42
5.10
5.07
5.07
5.05
5.21
5.20
2% (1) 4% (2)
10
Instructor presented effectively
(KARAMCHED)
54
74%
5.2
4.91
4.89
4.91
4.90
5.13
5.12
4% (2) 2% (1)
11
Instructor created respectful environment
54
(KARAMCHED)
74%
5.54
5.21
5.20
5.18
5.18
5.34
5.35
2% (1)
12
Demonstrated thorough knowledge
(KARAMCHED)
54
74%
5.72
5.32
5.30
5.29
5.30
5.43
5.42
13
Instructor encouraged questions/
opinions (KARAMCHED)
55
75%
5.49
5.17
5.12
5.15
5.11
5.34
5.32
14
Instructor available for student
consultation (KARAMCHED)
54
74%
5.67
5.21
5.23
5.14
5.16
5.30
5.30
15
Overall effective instructor
(KARAMCHED)
55
75%
5.16
5.03
5.02
5.02
5.01
5.23
5.22
Instructor
2% (1)
4% (2)
2% (1)
5% (3) 4% (2)
4% (2)
Agree
2% (1) 9% (5)
22%
(12)
2% (1)
7% (4)
2% (1)
6% (3) 17% (9)
5% (3)
4% (2)
18%
(10)
85%
(46)
67%
(37)
76%
(41)
64%
(35)
Text Responses
Question: Comments on course effectiveness
This class was so hard!
I would have liked the sections of the course that dealt with theory to have spent a little more time on it, such as the basis/span/vectorspace sections of
linear algebra. Also the lab homework felt out of place at times and much more advanced than what we covered.
Other than the completely useless lab, this was a great course. The textbook is very good and the material progressed smoothly.
the lectures were well structured and understandable
Lighten up the course content. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose. Remove the lab class. It was useless and did not help me understand or learn new
course material (it was a waste of time for only 5% of my grade). I felt like this was a course that tested me more on my ability to memorize a bunch of
information rather than actually having the ability to compute the math (compared to every math course I've had up until this point). Students should be
expected to do the math, not memorize a table of La'Place transformations or endless formula.
The extensive weekly office hours and in depth homework helped me to really understand the material.
Labs weren't helpful, it should be used as a review session for lecture.
Try not the change the style of homework, it does happen to screw some people.
Exams were conceptual and less tedious than hw problems which is a good thing. Overall effective and rigorous course.
The homework written by the Bhargav was challenging than the book problem, but this definitely made me work harder and ultimately made me
understand the material more thoroughly. I think the quizzes and exams were very fair and it reflected what was taught in class.
This course effectively used a wide source of materials, and the textbook for the course was useful. Due to the organization of the course, one subject
smoothly flowed into the next.
Page 1/4
While I felt that there was too much material crammed into too little time, I thought that the class content was really well organized. The book for this
course was extremely difficult to understand and there are a lot of typos in the text. If not for an outstanding professor, this class would have been ten times
harder as the book did not explain concepts well.
The homeworks and the labs had very little to do with what was taught in the class and required way more work than needed. Seemed like the class moved
fast in lecture too.
The course was well organized and the homework load was reasonable throughout the semester. Monday morning workouts and quizzes were extremely
helpful for study and checking my understanding of the material.
The book can be a little confusing but assignments and exams were good.
Detailed explanations that were very comprehensible. Quizzes that promoted you to learn the material.
Instructor had a very logical approach to mathematics, and was able to explain it in simple terms.
The Lab assignments were too abstract at times. Some of the assignments really made me think and problem solve but they might take too long to finish. I
spent more time on Lab homework than class homework and the lab homework was worth only 5 percent of my grade.
I very much see the importance of this course in the scope of all engineering and physics studies. There is no price for the marvels that our predecessors
have come up with. The content presented is truly the keystone to all modeling of physical systems in our world. Given all this, it is a difficult course. And
nearly all students will find it difficult if not impossible to achieve the A rating that the school demands of us. To pass this course is acheivable. But to
expect perfection is impractical and foolish for such a demanding subject. The materials presented, I found, were not to the standard that was met during
my calculus studies. The Calculus (Varburg) book used then was SO well written. This Diff Eq book is okay for the first half of the course, but complicates
and confuses further on. All textbook referencing must be done supplimentary to the instructor's lecture. Fundamental concepts are introduced awkwardly
and the terminology used is different from that used by the instructor. I took to bringing my textbook to class and noting the discrepancies so that when I
read the book, it would coincide with our lecture notes. All in all, difficult course, great instructor, weird book.
He is very smart, I liked that he took the time to explain how to do it for every level of student. The way that he taught helped me understand why.
I wish the class employed more examples of practical applications of uses for engineering (IIRC Bhargav stated in one class that he doesn't care about
engineering so that wasn't very helpful to me...)
The homework is too much and I find myself choosing between understanding the material and trying to get the HW grade. Basically I can either pass the
class with solid grades or pass the class with a solid understanding of the material, but not both.
The course material was hard, but this is not supposed to be easy. The pace was fast but bearable. I have no real concerns or complaints as to the material.
I would consider reducing the workload of the class especially in regard to the labs, I didn't feel like they helped that much
Your lectures were great. Very well organized and easy to make sense of. Your homework were a little to challenging compared to what we were trying to
learn.
The textbook is a University of Utah specific textbook and in my opinion it is poorly set up and difficult to follow.
The contend was deep and enlightening. I grew a lot and a learned a lot. After watching Khan academy videos on subspaces, bases and other Linear
Algebra concepts, I am not sure Bhargav had the most intuitive approach. Abstracted concepts became difficult. While I can appreciate rigorous definitions
and proofs, sometimes simple concepts become overly abstract. Overall a great course.
Very great course. The professor's assignments really helped prepare for tests. Homework really helped learn the material well and think about the material
Please make a schedule for course material, when quizzes are and when assignments are due and stick to it. This course was in constant flux and the
teacher didn't disseminate information effectively.
I'm not sure how true this is, but this section may have been more difficult than other sections. Switching homework set up was a good decision.
Homework and test solutions not worked out, or worked out incorrectly. Providing a complete, and correct, solution guide to the review and homework
would help greatly in my learning. Often got off topic for periods of time, which drew attention off of the subject for the remainder of the lecture.
Instructor ignored class asking for review of some subjects learned in the past. Didn't finish examples in class, just got them to a form which simple
algebra, often multi-step and difficult, could solve.
just laid out very clearly
1) show how this math can be applied to real life. 2) the order in which that material was presented was effective.
This course was extremely well organized and objectives were clear. There was a great amount of help from the resources provided.
I think there could be better preparation for the exams and quizzes. I think more examples of problems would be helpful too.
The lectures where very organized and the professor knew what he was talking about and was very good at it.
I feel that the homework sets out of the book where helpful. I wish that the instructor would familiarize himself with the books notation. It would make for
a stronger cross reference and aid greatly in learning. I would feel like it would reduce the time I spend decoding lectures and then I could spend more time
learning the actual principles presented.
The course content was really helpful in getting an understanding of math. I really liked the change in the class layout and grading structure that took place
partway through the semester.
Well organized, The professor was very willing to help if asked.
The book was unclear at times, making it difficult to follow.
The teacher made this a very effective class
The instructor adjusted the assignment material to better help students as the semester progressed. I feel that certain quiz and exam questions were a little
off the mark and could be changed to better reflect homework.
Question: Comments, suggestions on instructor performance
KARAMCHED Very funny
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Bhargav clearly knew the material and was open for consultation. I would have liked to know which section in the book the material was in so that finding
KARAMCHED other examples would have been clearer. Also, I felt that some of the material was rushed, but I suspect that is the nature of this class and not due to
Bhargav's performance.
KARAMCHED
The instructor has a gift for explaining difficult material clearly, while being funny and friendly. His knowledge of the topic is extraordinary. He always
made himself available outside of class. I will definitely take any opportunity to have him as a teacher again.
KARAMCHED bhargav was an excellent teacher he was great at presenting the material and could keep the class fully attentive
Bhargav has an thorough knowledge and excellent understanding of the subject, but he doesn't translate those two things to the students very well. He's a
KARAMCHED great guy, but I feel like he expects all of the students to be on his (remarkable) level of understanding and ability to memorize large quantities of
information, which we certainly are not. I felt overwhelmed.
KARAMCHED
One of the most inspiring and respectful instructors I have had at the university. He took the time to make sure every individual that came to him
understood the material. He found multiple perspectives to approach topics we covered in class to make sure we all had a thorough understanding.
KARAMCHED Approachable
KARAMCHED Able to keep student's attention
KARAMCHED Very on point, focused, and always stays on course objectives.
Bharhav is an enthusiastic and an effective instructor. He is clear with his explanations and is understanding of students. He is able to challenge and
KARAMCHED motivate students at the same time, which has helped me develop a passion for this subject. If you are reading this Bhargav, I want to let you know you
have made me into a true fan of Euler and that you rock! :D
KARAMCHED
The instructor presented his ideas in a clear and organized manner that made difficult concepts easier to grasp. The classroom environment that he created
made it very easy to focus on the concepts at hand.
Bhargav is no doubt the best instructor I have ever had at this University. He knows his students on a personal level and shows an interest in their careers
KARAMCHED and lives. He sets aside hours of his own time to help his students with concepts and assignments. He is an excellent teacher who is incredibly smart,
funny, and caring towards all of his students. I wish every instructor was like Bhargav.
KARAMCHED Likes the subject. Likes cartoons
KARAMCHED
Bhargav is an exceptional instructor! He lectured at a reasonable pace, explained the content well, he was generous with grading, and he was good at
making time to meet with his students to offer additional help and answer questions. Overall, he was my favorite math professor here at the U.
KARAMCHED Made learning math a fun thing to do. Presented the new material well.
KARAMCHED Making time to ensure students understand the material presented.
KARAMCHED
When questions are asked, particularly during office hours, Bhargav is very concerned with answering fully and making sure that the student understands
the concept.
KARAMCHED Instructor provided humor and abstract ideas that maintained my attention in class.
KARAMCHED
This instructor speaks English fluently! Speaking English fluently is a huge strength, I would have failed the class if I couldn't understand the professor!
Comparing the ODE's classes though it was overwhelmingly apparent that Bhargav gave more difficult exams and expected more from his students.
In the spectrum of obstacles that students will encounter in this course, it is fortunate to have such a dedicated and well versed mathematician to guide
students. There are a total of 3 office hours each week, all immediately after class. Simply put, he is there for his students. Bhargav is also adept at both
identifying the students' barriers and also how to overcome it. Questions relayed during office hours are shown on whiteboard in meticulous detail. He is a
friendly and very dedicated professional in his field. Noting all this, there are some issues with his lecture style and preparation leading up to examination.
Students will find that the exam leaps forward a great deal from the difficulty presented in class to that of the problems queried during exam. Although a
minority of students may bridge this difficulty gap very easily, others work best through repetitive rehearsed practice. But then homework provided is
KARAMCHED incredibly difficult too! And lab is even worse! There is no smooth lead up to the level of difficulty demanded. I would ask that the professor make his
discussion section into a problem solving session, instead of what it is now, an entirely separate entity. Discussion/Lab should work through problems, it
should be that redundant factor that pounds exercises into our head so that when exam time arrives, we are as well versed as the professor expects us to be.
Then, what is difficult math to the lay man, becomes easy math. When writing exams, you should be able to solve EVERY problem within 6 minutes for
the 60 minutes you give your students. Give us smaller rocks before hitting us with the boulder please. Maybe don't hit us with many boulders either, we're
delicate. One boulder per exam. It also should be made of jello, just to scare us. In short, amazing instructor. Crazy expectations in exams. Textbook could
be better. Rework the lab thing. Get rid of your TAs.
KARAMCHED He knows his stuff, very helpful. If you put in the time he cares.
KARAMCHED The instructor clearly knows the material well. He is also very caustic and smug about it. Oh and he is great at regurgitating the examples from the book
KARAMCHED
Naturally adept teacher. Very effective at communicating complex ideas in simple ways. Keeps the class light and fun instead of boring and presentation-y.
Has a good sense of humor and generally doesn't take things too seriously (in a good way).
Though this is by far the lowest grade I received this seamster, it was in now way representative of the instruction I revived. Mr. Karamched moved fast
and hard, but would linger on topics when students asked many topics. A whole week of review before the final was beyond helpful. The only thing that I
KARAMCHED recommend be given thought is the fact that their was only two midterms and on final. All of near equal weight. though if the part on the final was higher
then then the respective midterm would replace that score, i still feel that this leaves the final score to heavily weighed on too few tests. Beyond that you
could see that he truly enjoys the teaching the topic and was more than available to help students with their assignments. He is also a huge fan of the one.
KARAMCHED He's a good lecturer.
KARAMCHED He was a really nice and helpful guy. His lectures were good.
One of my favorite professors! He would lecture mostly from memory! Very amazing and very effective, he wasn't reading off notes but talking to us. He
KARAMCHED does a very well job at explaining things simply. I never had a hard time understanding what he was talking about. Very effective instructor, he needs to
stay in academia!
Page 3/4
Linear Algebra concepts could be presented in a more intuitive and applied way. I found Bhargav to have a passion for the rigorousness of the foundations
and proofs of theorems. I can appreciate this, but I feel I still struggle to have an intuitive or applied sense of Linear Algebra concepts. He is an amazing
KARAMCHED talent and with more experience will find better and better ways to share the depth of his thought process and methodology. Perhaps, I didn't put in the
effort required for his more proof driven approach to be accessible, but where is the best balance? How accessible can the course be made and how
accessible should it be made? Good questions. He did a good job.
KARAMCHED He taught very clearly and made 7:30 math class enjoyable.
KARAMCHED
Please make a schedule for course material, when quizzes are and when assignments are due and stick to it. This course was in constant flux and the
teacher didn't disseminate information effectively.
KARAMCHED Very nice, relatively available.
KARAMCHED
Willing to meet with students. Also friendly and respectful when meeting, although acted as if course material was obvious and ignored when the class
asked for increased review of a subject.
KARAMCHED His lectures were well paced and interesting. he was consistently on topic and was able to answer any questions we had.
KARAMCHED He was good at listening to feedback from his students about improvements he could make. He presented the subject in a way that kept our interest.
KARAMCHED He knew his stuff.
Bhargav is probably the most effective math professor that I have had at the University. He knows the content so well that it makes lectures easier to
KARAMCHED understand. He is extremely willing to help the students and make sure that they understand the material presented. Overall, Bhargav is great and he made
the class very enjoyable.
KARAMCHED Understanding of subject. Humor. Expectatiions
KARAMCHED Excellent at lecture. Also was willing to adapt homework to be better for the students
KARAMCHED great teacher. always available to help students understand more and works especially well with schedule conflicts
KARAMCHED
Really cares about his students and their understanding of the material. He was always willing to help for our benefit. The one thing I wish was different
was that homework probles and exam problems were more similar.
KARAMCHED Knew material well and knew how to teach it so that anyone could understand. Also very willing to help students with understanding tough material
KARAMCHED
Bhargav is one of the few professors that I have had that doesn't make you feel dumb what you ask a chapter 1 question when your almost finished with the
semester, if that makes sense. He is always helpful and cares about his students.
KARAMCHED One of my favorite instructors ever.
KARAMCHED
Organization, communication, and availability. Our teacher was prepared to lecture and made himself available at all the times if we as students required
help. I would take another math class from this professor.
KARAMCHED
He has a knowledgable attitude about the course material, and presents it in a way that I believe most students can understand. He was able to change the
way he explains depending on which student asked the question in class.
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