Mark Zajac
1300 Islington Ave. (#206)
Toronto, ON M9A 5C4
e-mail:
Citizenship:
zajac@math.utah.edu
American / Canadian (dual)
Education
2002 Ph.D. Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana, USA. Advisor: Prof. Gerald Jones. Dissertation: “Modeling Convergent Extension by way of Anisotropic Differential Adhesion”
1991 B.Sc. Honors Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics, summa cum laude, McMaster University,
Hamilton Ontario, Canada
Employment
2008 – 2011 Research Assistant Professor (grandiose title for a postdoctoral appointment), Mathematical Biology
Group, University of Utah.
2002 – 2007 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center.
1996 – 2001 Teaching assistant, University of Notre Dame.
1987 – 1990 Summer jobs as a field assistant for The Iron Ore Company of Canada and SAGAX Geophysics.
Fellowships and Awards
2008 National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Training Grant (RTG) Fellowship.
2002 Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching, Kaneb Center for Teaching and
Learning, University of Notre Dame.
1999 Graduate Student Teaching Award, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame.
1993 – 1997 Arthur J. Schmidt Fellowship (Graduate School tuition and stipend).
Publications
[1] C. W. Wolgemuth and M. Zajac. The moving boundary node method: A level set-based, finite volume algorithm
with applications to cell motility. J. Comput. Phys., 229(19):7287 – 7308, 2010.
[2] M. Zajac, B. Dacanay, W. A. Mohler, and C. W Wolgemuth. Depolymerization-driven flow in nematode
spermatozoa relates crawling speed to size and shape. Biophys. J., 94(10):3810–3823, 2008.
[3] E. S. Fleming, M. Zajac, D. M. Moschenross, D. C. Montrose, D. W. Rosenberg, A. E. Cowan, and J.S.
Tirnauer. Planar spindle orientation and asymmetric cytokinesis in the mouse small intestine. J. Histochem.
Cytochem., 55(11):1173–1180, 2007.
[4] M. Zajac, G. L. Jones, and J. A. Glazier. Simulating convergent extension by way of anisotropic differential
adhesion. J. Theor. Biol., 222(2):247–259, 2003.
[5] M. Zajac, G. L. Jones, and J. A. Glazier. Model of convergent extension in animal morphogenesis. Phys. Rev.
Lett., 85(9):2022–2025, 2000.
[6] E. L. Stott, N. F. Britton, J. A. Glazier, and M. Zajac. Stochastic simulation of benign avascular tumour
growth using the potts model. Math. Comput. Model., 30(5-6):183 – 198, 1999.
[7] J. C. Mombach, J. A. Glazier, R. C. Raphael, and M. Zajac. Quantitative comparison between differential
adhesion models and cell sorting in the presence and absence of fluctuations. Phys. Rev. Lett., 75(11):2244–2247,
1995.
2
Mark Zajac
Teaching Experience
References
I have six semesters of postdoctoral teaching experience
at the University of Utah, in the mathematical biology group. I had full responsibility for every aspect of
the classes that I taught, including lectures, tutorials,
choosing test questions and assigning grades. My duties
included supervision of teaching assistants and for one
class I supervised the computer laboratory as well.
While in the Department of Physics, at Notre Dame,
I was the teaching assistant for Introductory Astronomy,
General Physics II, Analytical Mechanics, Scientific Programming and Nuclear Warfare. I was recognized for
excellent teaching by the physics department and by the
Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning.
Professor Charles Wolgemuth, my first postdoctoral adviser, and Professor Gerald Jones, my dissertation adviser, are most familiar with my knowledge of physics.
Professor Henryk Hecht has monitored my performance
as a mathematics instructor.
Student Response
Some results for my latest teaching assignment are summarized below, in graphical form (Fig. 1). Over six
semesters, my composite score on evaluation by students
was an average of 11% better than the subject composite
score (for all instructors combined). Out of 220 respondents, nineteen students wrote that I was “the best” or
course/instructor feedback report
“one of the best teachers” that they had ever encountered and eighteen students noted how much I “cared”
about their success. Complete, original student reviews
are attached at the end of this document (pg. 4–21).
Course/Instructor Feedback Report -- Administrative Computing Service -- University of Utah
6/1/11 4:56 PM
Partnership for Teaching & Learning Assessment Project
Course:
MATH 1220-005, Spring 2011
Title:
Calculus II
Forms Received: 57
Instructor: ZAJAC,MARK
Course Average: Average of all responses to course questions for all MATH 1220 - 005 for Spring 2011
Subject Average: Average of all responses to course questions for MATH courses for Spring 2011
Contact Information
Professor Gerald Jones
Department of Physics 225
Nieuwland Science
Hall Notre Dame, IN 4655
(gjones@nd.edu)
Professor Charles Wolgemuth
University of Connecticut Health Center
Cell & Genome Sciences Building
400 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-6406
(cwolgemuth@uchc.edu)
Professor Henryk Hecht
Department of Mathematics
155 S. 1400 E. RM. 233,
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0090
(hecht@math.utah.edu)
Course/Instructor Feedback Report -- Administrative Computing Service -- University of Utah
Strongly Disagree
Instructor Average: Average of all responses to instructor questions for MATH 1220 - 005 for Spring 2011
Subject Average: Average of all responses to instructor questions for MATH courses for Spring 2011
Evaluation of My Presentation
Evaluation of My Course
Department Average
Department Average
University-wide Average
University-wide Average
CourseStudents
Items
(A) Course Feedback.
were asked to agree or disagree with the following statements: (1) The course objectives
were clearly stated. (2) The course objectives were met. (3)
The course content was well organized. (4) The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives. (5) Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
(6) I learned a great deal in this course. (7) Overall, this was
an effective course.
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
Course
Subject
University
70.2% (40)
49.1%
51.3%
Agree
28.1% (16)
33.3%
33.8%
Somewhat Agree
0.0% (0)
9.7%
8.9%
Somewhat Disagree
1.8% (1)
3.2%
2.5%
Disagree
0.0% (0)
1.8%
1.6%
https://www.acs.utah.edu/uofu/stu/publicReports?cmd=showReport&strm=1114&class_nbr=2861
6/1/11 4:56 PM
3.3%
This graph represents a comparison of the individual instructor average to the subject (MATH) and university averages for
Spring 2011
Click here for more information about this graph
This graph represents a comparison of the individual course average to the subject (MATH) and university
averages for Spring 2011
Click here for more information about this graph
Strongly Agree
4.7%
University Average: Average of all responses to instructor questions for all university courses for Spring 2011
University Average: Average of all responses to course questions for all university courses for Spring 2011
Response
0.0% (0)
Page 1 of 4
(B) Instructor Feedback. Students were asked to agree or
Instructor Items: ZAJAC,MARK
disagree with the following statements: (1) The instructor
was organized. (2) The instructor was available for consultation with students. (3) The instructor demonstrated thorough
knowledge of the subject. (4) The instructor presented course
content effectively. (5) The instructor created/supported a
classroom environment that was respectful. (6) As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions. (7)
Overall, this was an effective instructor.
1. The instructor was organized.
Response
Instructor
Subject
University
Strongly Agree
70.9% (39)
47.5%
51.3%
Agree
21.8% (12)
32.5%
32.5%
Somewhat Agree
3.6% (2)
11.3%
9.4%
Somewhat Disagree
3.6% (2)
3.2%
2.9%
Disagree
0.0% (0)
2.6%
1.8%
Strongly Disagree
0.0% (0)
2.8%
2.1%
2. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
Response
Instructor
Strongly Agree
Subject
University
90.9% (50)
51.3%
55.9%
Agree
7.3% (4)
30.6%
29.7%
Somewhat Agree
0.0% (0)
10.8%
8.5%
Somewhat Disagree
1.8% (1)
2.6%
2.6%
Disagree
0.0% (0)
1.8%
1.3%
Fig. 1: Student evaluations of the course content (A) and presentation (B) for my latest teaching assignment. Each graph
compares my class (red) to results for all other classes in the department (green) and all classes offered at the University of
Utah (blue).
https://www.acs.utah.edu/uofu/stu/publicReports?cmd=showReport&strm=1114&class_nbr=2861
Page 3 of 4
3
Mark Zajac
Teaching Philosophy
I recently stumbled upon Five Easy Lessons by Randall
D. Knight (Addison Wesley, 2004). This book conveniently summarizes the results of Physics Education Research (PER) for me to quote, below. I discovered that I
had unconsciously adopted teaching methods which are
believed effective, based on quantitative analysis.
Just as PER would have it, my classroom is interactive. For example, I sometimes award every student a
celebratory extra point when a challenge to my logic is
resolved in my favor. The consequent laugh gives students who lost focus a moment to wake up. Moreover,
rewarding mistaken assertions counters timidity; questions ensue. Students have written “made the classroom
feel engaged” when describing my style. One wrote this:
“The course was taught in a method that has been shown
in studies to be effective... there were brief pauses and
interactions that kept your attention.” The complete,
original evaluation is included (pg. 17).
According to PER, students come to class with preconceptions that must be directly addressed by the instructor; I have been calling this “think like a student”
in my philosophy. My recent calculus teaching provides
an example: students recognize ln(x) as a function but
fail to realize that the derivative of ln(a) vanishes, if a
is not variable. I must explain the tacit convention that
letters near the start of the alphabet are usually reserved
for constants. Incidentally, many students do not know
that “vanishes” and “equals zero” are synonymous; I tell
them. A student wrote this: “Mark Zajac does a great
job of explaining the little things that could be overlook[ed] by someone who already knows the material.”
I have always favored problems that focus on “conceptual understanding” to “go beyond symbol manipulation” in PER terms. On tests, I often present students with multiple, unlabeled graphs and ask them to
find a match for each from a list of physically meaningful coordinates, such as projectile velocity or pendulum
acceleration vs. time. From calculus again, I request
intermediate steps which prod students to use implicit
differentiation for both ddθ sin−1 θ and ddθ tan−1 θ instead
of using memorized formulae for each special case. I
hand out sample test questions, as fair warning.
Any piece of consumer electronics can provide a good
demonstration. With the room dimmed, I note gradual
fading of the power-indicator light, when the device is
turned off. After this, students are ready to learn about
capacitor discharge. This anchors physics in familiar,
concrete phenomena, as PER advocates.
Let me now review the minutiae of a “simple” problem. This will illustrate my style, which PER validates.
As advised, I use “extended examples” and “explicit
problem-solving strategies that... describe and clarify
the situation, with [math] entering only at the end.”
Consider a charge Q > 0 at a point on the perpendicular bisector of a rod, for which λ > 0 is the uniform,
linear charge density. In the parlance of PER, finding
the force on the point-charge requires both “conceptual”
and “procedural” knowledge. I have been calling this
“physics part vs. math part” in my own philosophy.
My starting point is a sketch that locates the pointcharge, in relation to the rod. I then announce that symmetry, superposition, vector components and Coulomb’s
Law for point charges are the relevant basic concepts. I
list these points on the board, so I can check them off,
along the way, as if fulfilling a promise.
The next step is highlighting an element of charge
dq on my sketch (Fig. 2, left). Students quickly agree
that Coulomb’s Law applies to dq and gives magnitude
dF = k(Q/r 2 )dq for the repulsive force, with r and the
direction of the force made clear from the sketch.
As foretold, symmetry is key, with a role for vector
components. I add a second, symmetrically-placed element of charge to my sketch (Fig. 2, center). I then
cancel opposed vector components to get a force along
the symmetry axis. From trigonometry, students accept
that working with components leads to a cos θ factor.
I next explain assembling the whole rod from pieces.
Superposition gives the magnitude of the net force:
F =
!
Q
cos θ dq
rod r 2
k
where the physical genesis of each symbol is clear. At
this point, I announce that the “physics part” is over
and only the “math part” remains.
To do the integral, I next add coordinates x and y
to the sketch, reemphasizing symmetry, when choosing
axes (Fig. 2, right). I then rewrite the integrand using
cos θ = x/r and r 2 = x2 +y 2 in succession, expressing dq
in terms of dy with λ explained as a conversion factor.
Symmetry suggests integration from −L/2 to L/2 or 0
as the lower limit with an extra factor of 2 instead.
Fig. 2: The force dF between two points (left), vector components (middle) and coordinates, for integration (right).
4
Mark Zajac
1220 - 002
ZAJAC,MARK
Calculus II
Mathematics
College of Science
University of Utah
Course and Instructor Feedback Report
Fall 2008
Print Date:09-Oct-10
Enrollment:57
Forms processed:41
UU Standard Course Items
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
41
2.4%
0.0%
2.4%
7.3%
22.0% 65.9% 5.44
5.12
2. The course objectives were met.
41
2.4%
0.0%
2.4%
2.4%
31.7% 61.0% 5.44
5.04
3. The course content was well organized.
41
4.9%
0.0%
0.0%
7.3%
36.6% 51.2% 5.24
4.97
4. The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives.
41
2.4%
0.0%
4.9%
4.9%
31.7% 56.1% 5.32
4.84
5. Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
41
2.4%
0.0%
0.0%
4.9%
24.4% 68.3% 5.54
4.98
6. I learned a great deal in this course.
41
2.4%
2.4%
2.4%
4.9%
39.0% 48.8% 5.22
4.81
7. Overall, this was an effective course.
41
2.4%
2.4%
0.0%
4.9%
39.0% 51.2% 5.29
4.82
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
S.Avg
1. The instructor was organized.
39
5.1%
0.0%
2.6%
5.1%
33.3% 53.8% 5.23
5.05
2. The instructor demonstrated thorough knowledge of the subject.
39
2.6%
0.0%
0.0%
12.8% 28.2% 56.4% 5.33
5.28
3. The instructor presented course content effectively.
38
2.6%
2.6%
0.0%
7.9%
31.6% 55.3% 5.29
4.82
4. The instructor created/supported a classroom environment that was
respectful.
39
2.6%
0.0%
0.0%
2.6%
17.9% 76.9% 5.64
5.14
5. As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions.
39
2.6%
0.0%
0.0%
2.6%
17.9% 76.9% 5.64
5.10
6. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
39
2.6%
0.0%
2.6%
2.6%
17.9% 74.4% 5.56
5.14
7. Overall, this was an effective instructor.
39
2.6%
2.6%
0.0%
5.1%
15.4% 74.4% 5.51
4.94
Composite score:
5.36
Subject composite score:
5.46
Subject composite score:
Avg
S.Avg
4.94
UU Standard Instructor Items Zajac,Mark
Composite score:
SA
SA
Avg
5.07
N = number of responses
SD = Strongly Disagree (response value 1)
D = Disagree (response value 2)
MD = Mildly Disagree (response value 3)
MA = Mildly Agree (response value 4)
A = Agree (response value 5)
SA = Strongly Agree (response value 6)
S.Avg = Subject-wide Average for this item
DISCLAIMER:Subject composite scores are current as of the date of this report, but may
be revised if additional feedback forms are processed.
List two things about the course content, materials or design that were effective for your learning, or make constructive
Mark Zajac
5
suggestions for improvement.
Good homework assignments relevant to exam material. Slow, but useful teaching.
Covered many different areas, including things for higher learning.
previous courses.
Content was not extremely difficult or completely new from
The book sometimes did not thoroughly explain how it arrived at the answers and could not help me when I did not understand.
Make time during class to ask questions from the homework because some students don't have the opportunity to come to office
hours but still have questions.
The course was great in that it covered all that needed to be learned and understood for the course.
The class was good, but the text book is awful.
It was way too complicated and didn't give good explanations in the examples.
great class, very difficult
Great lectures, Very organized
I liked how all the HW problems that were needed was always up on the website. Calculus book is very helpful
the explicit example problems. Also the reivews helped a lot in studying for the tests.
I think some kind of points system for doing homework would encourage it.
i think it would be helpful if we did more examples that werent explained in the book, maybe if we did some examples from the
end of the chapter instead of ones that were already explained.
i think that this was a good course and i learned a lot mainly because i think that the teacher was really good at getting
through to the students
ZAJAC,MARK: List two things about this instructor that were effective for your learning, or make constructive suggestions for
improvement.
..
I really enjoyed this instructor. He put a lot of effort into his lectures and really tried to help everyone to understand the
content. He never made me feel nervous for a test or unprepared
Encouraged asking questions about any difficult material... Understood student's point of view on certain assignment and was
able to accomodate my own capacity to calculus.
Explained things in great deal, encouraged questions, went into great detail regarding things that weren't necessary for exams
but made understanding the material easier.
He was entertaining and kept me interested.
Teacher was always responsive to questions from students, did an overall great job.
He was very very helpful and probably the first professor that I have ever had that actually cared about me doing well in the
class.
Mark was a great instructor always willing to help students and willing to explain concepts or problems many times if needed.
He also prepared us well for the exams and was very organized and always had the students concerns in mind.
For the first time since I've been at this university I felt like I had a teacher who was willing to do anything to help out hi
students and who genuinely cared asbout them and helping them get good grades. He was extremely nice and helpful.
Awesome math teacher. Was really helpful and wanted the class to succeed. Went well out of his way to make sure the class got
help and understood material. The only suggestion is that the teacher do more examples that are not in the book. As I
mentioned before, the book sucked and the examples sucked.
He explained things very well.
He wasn't cocky and thought he was always right. He was very open to suggestions other students had and made it a good
atmosphere
great class, very difficult
The professor needs to be more confident.
very personable, answered questions
He was very funny and made class exciting. Very helpful and always was there to help out students for questions or concerns.
Overall a really good teacher, keep it up.
Mark Zajac does a great job of explaing the little things, that could be overlook by someone who already knows the material.
Mark will do better as he gains experience in demonstrating his knowledge in front of the class.
Math requires pratice, he should put more emphasis on the home work.
6
Mark Zajac
He was happy and made it interesting. He really made sure we knew the matieral. i think he almost stressed over it which really
helped me as a student. excellent job
Mark was there to help anyone with any questions he was a great instructor and he taught the material in a fashion where we
could see the practical applications for material he was a great instructor.
Mark was my favorite teacher out of all my professors, he really encouraged students to ask for help and was always available
for the students to talk to.
he made a great atmosphere for learning, he was really funny and i loved going to his class he was extremely effective
The ability to see the overall picture and get us to see it and not lose ourselves in the details.
the instructor was very concerned with how much the students learned and understood the material.
was very effective as the teacher tried to help each student learn the material.
Highly recommended.
because of this the course
Mark Zajac
7
1220 - 001
ZAJAC,MARK
Calculus II
Mathematics
College of Science
University of Utah
Course and Instructor Feedback Report
Spring 2009
Print Date:09-Oct-10
Enrollment:38
Forms processed:29
UU Standard Course Items
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
35.7% 64.3% 5.64
5.13
2. The course objectives were met.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
42.9% 57.1% 5.57
5.09
3. The course content was well organized.
27
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
40.7% 59.3% 5.59
5.00
4. The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives.
26
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
0.0%
34.6% 61.5% 5.54
4.94
5. Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
32.1% 67.9% 5.68
5.08
6. I learned a great deal in this course.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
10.7% 21.4% 67.9% 5.57
4.89
7. Overall, this was an effective course.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
25.0% 71.4% 5.68
4.90
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
S.Avg
1. The instructor was organized.
29
0.0%
0.0%
3.4%
0.0%
31.0% 65.5% 5.59
5.07
2. The instructor demonstrated thorough knowledge of the subject.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
17.9% 82.1% 5.82
5.31
3. The instructor presented course content effectively.
29
0.0%
0.0%
3.4%
3.4%
27.6% 65.5% 5.55
4.87
4. The instructor created/supported a classroom environment that was
respectful.
29
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
24.1% 75.9% 5.76
5.18
5. As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
14.3% 82.1% 5.79
5.11
6. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
29
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
17.2% 82.8% 5.83
5.14
7. Overall, this was an effective instructor.
29
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
24.1% 75.9% 5.76
5.00
Composite score:
5.61
Subject composite score:
5.73
Subject composite score:
Avg
S.Avg
5.00
UU Standard Instructor Items Zajac,Mark
Composite score:
SA
SA
Avg
5.10
N = number of responses
SD = Strongly Disagree (response value 1)
D = Disagree (response value 2)
MD = Mildly Disagree (response value 3)
MA = Mildly Agree (response value 4)
A = Agree (response value 5)
SA = Strongly Agree (response value 6)
S.Avg = Subject-wide Average for this item
DISCLAIMER:Subject composite scores are current as of the date of this report, but may
be revised if additional feedback forms are processed.
List two things about the course content, materials or design that were effective for your learning, or make constructive
8
Mark Zajac
suggestions for improvement.
the teacher is hilarious. the teacher makes us feel smart. But 7:30 is way to early for anyone to have a class
the fact that mark always explains everything!
One thing that could be useful in this class would be a cheat sheet because there are so many theroms and equations to
memorize.
Using the examples from the book helped out a lot, they weren't just some hard example that the teacher thought up.
use of handouts that presented the graphical information for certain problems helped out.
Also the
This course was definitely challenging, but the content was explained in such a way to minimize confusion and maximize
understanding.
The instructor had an amazing way of explaining the material in a way that I found easy to understand. I'm not sure beyond
that what exactly way that was, but I felt that it was extremely effective in my learning the material.
I found that Mark made the classroom feel engaged in what we were learning and that might be what made things easier to learn.
Mark made everyone feel very encouraged to participate, ask questions, or correct mistakes when they came up.
examples in class
One of the best teachers I have had to date! He was very knowledgeable of the material and clearly taught it. I would recommend
him to any student. He understood what it is like to be a student and was very fair and respectful. He also made the class
entertaining, which when you have math at 7:30am, becomes very helpful. He was a very fair grader, and gave points for getting
parts of the problem right instead of like most teachers, marking the whole problem wrong, with no points.
This was one of the better math classes I have had.
to understand.
The Calc material is very useful and was explained very well for everyone
The structure of the notes was the best part of this class. I learned very well from the outline type notes. Many professors
skip around with examples and definitions which makes it very hard for me to stay on track and understand the material.
The interaction between this professor and the class was great. Lots of questions helped clear up any confusion in the notes or
logic of a problem.
Course material was thoroughly reviewed and understood by the students. Good atmosphere in the classroom.
The teacher was very friendly, the notes were very helpful, and his teaching style was easy to follow.
The instructor was entertaining and understanding.
The professor is very willing to help students and was willing to meet with them to make sure that they understand the
materials covered
Mark truly is an Amazing teacher, I feel like he was more into the fact that we LEARNED math not just learned how to pass math.
So Happy with him as a teacher.
The lectures in class were very organized and effective.
The material in the homework was reflected in the tests.
Even when you thought you weren't doing good I was still learning.
The weekly assignments and practice quizzes helped me the most. This is a very well put together course that can help even the
more advance students.
Need homework in order to help you drill the material in.
Need more grades other than tests.
Mark Zajac is the most effective math teacher I have ever had!
ZAJAC,MARK: List two things about this instructor that were effective for your learning, or make constructive suggestions for
improvement.
the extra study groups
This instuctor made it fun to learn. He also explained in depth when it was called for.
This teacher is awesome.
really good experience.
He's very willing to work with students and give what ever help they might need.
I enjoyed how he was available for personal tutoring either with groups or with just one or two people.
the right amount of problems per section to work on, it never was overwhelmingly large.
This class was a
The teacher gave just
Professor Zajac was always available for consultation, which helped tremendously when confusion arose on a particular concept.
Making sure the class understood the concepts was definitely one of his top priorities.
Mark made the classroom feel engaged in what material we were covering. He made me, and I'm sure a lot of other students, feel
encouraged to ask questions or make comments as appropriate. I feel that this made things easier to understand than they might
have been and I am very satisfied with his instruction for this course. I would gladly take any other math course instructed
by him.
Mark Zajac
9
made sure that we understood the material before going on to a new subject
I also liked that he did not have webworks. My calculus I teacher had weekly webworks, weekly homework out of the book, weekly
quizzes, all of which made it hard to keep up with the work and actually understand what you were learning. I was afraid coming
into the class, but am pleasantly surprised at how well I am understanding the material, thanks to the professor!
Mark was always availabe to help out, and he broke everything down for everyone to understand.
participation and also made it an easy and fun environment to learn in.
He incouraged class
This was by far the best math class I have taken.
The notes structure was very effective in keeping content in order. This helped me study and learn the material better.
The occasional snippets of information not relating to math kept the class more fun and interesting.
Funny and always available for questions.
1. His notes and lectures were organized well.
2. He always came 30 minutes early and prepared for his class. it was really helpful because a lot of students can come and ask
questions.
His writing was easy to read, however whenever he spoke he usually had his eyes closed, which was disconserting at first,
though it was easy to get used to; i suppose it was his teaching style.
This professor was amazing!
incredibly helpful.
His willingness to meet with students outside of class to help with his class or other classes was
Mark is a very talented instructor with a brilliant mind.
A laid back style that was new to me in a math course and I loved it!
Always willing to go out of his way to help anybody.
The instructor was always available for consultation which helped a lot.
classroom that was comfortable.
The instructor made a respectful environment in the
Zajac was a great instructor! He was always willing to take opinions and questions freely. It was obvious he really cared about
your success in the course and was always willing to give his time and assistance. The online site really helped the class too.
Keep the class entertained so you would enjoy it.
Taught the material in a laid back way.
Mark Zajac always made math easy to understand and went above and beyond to help his students.
10
Mark Zajac
1170 - 001
ZAJAC,MARK
Calc Biol I
Mathematics
College of Science
University of Utah
Course and Instructor Feedback Report
Fall 2009
Print Date:09-Oct-10
Enrollment:35
Forms processed:28
UU Standard Course Items
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
32.1% 67.9% 5.68
5.10
2. The course objectives were met.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
28.6% 71.4% 5.71
5.04
3. The course content was well organized.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
21.4% 75.0% 5.71
4.95
4. The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
21.4% 78.6% 5.79
4.87
5. Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
17.9% 82.1% 5.82
5.01
6. I learned a great deal in this course.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
25.0% 71.4% 5.68
4.85
7. Overall, this was an effective course.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
7.1%
10.7% 82.1% 5.75
4.86
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
S.Avg
1. The instructor was organized.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
25.0% 75.0% 5.75
5.02
2. The instructor demonstrated thorough knowledge of the subject.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
14.3% 82.1% 5.79
5.28
3. The instructor presented course content effectively.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
7.1%
14.3% 78.6% 5.71
4.81
4. The instructor created/supported a classroom environment that was
respectful.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
10.7% 89.3% 5.89
5.11
5. As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
96.4% 5.96
5.09
6. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
96.4% 5.96
5.11
7. Overall, this was an effective instructor.
28
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
10.7% 85.7% 5.82
4.94
Composite score:
5.73
Subject composite score:
5.84
Subject composite score:
Avg
S.Avg
4.95
UU Standard Instructor Items Zajac,Mark
Composite score:
SA
SA
Avg
5.05
N = number of responses
SD = Strongly Disagree (response value 1)
D = Disagree (response value 2)
MD = Mildly Disagree (response value 3)
MA = Mildly Agree (response value 4)
A = Agree (response value 5)
SA = Strongly Agree (response value 6)
S.Avg = Subject-wide Average for this item
DISCLAIMER:Subject composite scores are current as of the date of this report, but may
be revised if additional feedback forms are processed.
List two things about the course content, materials or design that were effective for your learning, or make constructive
Mark Zajac
11
suggestions for improvement.
Everything about this course works. Mark is da bomb!
Lectures in this class are always productive and informative, which is nice, and the test format is absolutely fantastic.
wish I would've been forced to do some homework assignments though, not that I'm complaining or anything...
I
Explicitly stating daily goals was fantastic.
Online hints and homework problems were amazing.
I very much enjoyed the extra effort put in by Professor Zajac. Not only was there a record of problems to be done, exam hints,
and his own notes available - the extra effort in-class was very much appreciated.
This was, by far, the most enjoyable math-related course I've ever had. I am already signed up for next semester, not wanting
to miss out on the experience.
Mark is an excellent teacher, he covers the material in a few ways so that every student will be able to understand it. He is
great at asking questions and was happy to meet with students for review or extra help!
Online notes
Well thought out and steady rate of instruction
Mark makes sure the tests cover what was lectured in class. There are not surprises!
The math that was presented in this course was clearly applicable and it was very interesting to learn the specific
applications of the math. I didn't really use the textbook that much, however, except for homework.
I think the course was well planned out and the objectives were reasonable and were able to be met. As this is a biology math
course the calculus was perfect for are department
The test hints are very helpful in helping me focus in on what I need to study.
i like that it focuses on the biology aspect of calculus, because it shows me why I have to take this class for my magjor
Notes made available on Dr. Zajac's web site is very helpful in case a student is unable to attend a particular lecture.
given prior to tests is also very helpful in preparation of exams.
Hints
Make there be mandatory homework submitted through an internet portal (similar to WebAssign for Physics or MasteringChem for
Chemistry.) Although homework was recommended, due to its "non-required" nature, I'd put it off behind other homework or
projects from other classes and end up cramming before the test. Make it small, but required, and build on the homework and
not just the lecture materials.
The material was well presented and very helpful in being successful in the course
ZAJAC,MARK: List two things about this instructor that were effective for your learning, or make constructive suggestions for
improvement.
Mark is willing to meet with you whenever, and even took the time out of his busy schedule to talk to me about what I want to
do in life. He is a very awesome person and exemplifies a sort of caring that is lost for me in other college classes.
Mark is a very genuine, friendly person and professor, which was encouraging when I had questions.
and congenial. His lecture style was unique and interesting to me.
His manner is unobtrusive
Availability was phenomenal! Meeting with students, even on Sundays, and staying late on campus with us for as long as it took
for us to understand the material.
Absolutely wonderful charisma in class. Mark makes lectures interesting and makes sure the students are really understanding
the material.
Simply the best math professor I've had.
I had my trepidations about returning to an advanced Math course after not doing any for two years, but Mark made it not only
fairly painless (as Math can get) - but also enjoyable.
I'm utterly delighted that he remains my Professor for Calc II for Bio students next semester, and one of my fellow classmates
in the regular Calc course is already jealous.
Mark presented the material in a very simple matter and did not shy away from fully explaining the processes to achieve an
answer. Even if I did poorly on the tests, that was always due to my lack of preparation and never due to his lack of
explanation. In-class, everything was always magically clear.
He posts up all of his notes, so if I miss something in mine I could go look at his. He would suggest homework that was very
helpful to us, and would be there to explain problems step by step.
I think it would help if we had homework assignments to hand in or at least the option to do so.
However this teacher does
12
Mark Zajac
care about his students and will go out of his way to make sure we understand the subject matter.
Readily available for questions
Adaptable and positive with students
Mark really seems to care if you are learning the material. He is willing to meet you any time and any day of the week to help
you with math. He is always upbeat and positive.
Mark Zajac is a GREAT teacher. He's been one of the few teachers I've had over the last 4 years of college that has cared this
much about the students understanding. He is passionate and knowledgeable, and anytime he wasn't teaching another class, he'd
be available and willing to talk....Whatever university ends up hiring him as a professor will be lucky...
He made himself available to help students at any time, which was very helpful.
went out of his way to make sure everyone understood the material.
He really cared about the students.
much better than I did high school.
He also encouraged questions during class and
He presented the information very well in my opinion and I was able to understand calculus
The main skill Zajac had that help was his ability to slow down and explain topics that would be confusing.
He teaches great, and explains things good
Dr. Zajac was extremely helpful to me personally during the duration of Math 1170 in explaining course material. Outside of
class, Dr. Zajac makes himself available to students whenever they would like to meet for help with calculus and always
encourages appointments. Dr. Zajac has a unique ability among math instructors (in my experience), to simplify concepts and
make them understandable to novices. He also seems to thoroughly enjoy teaching and explaining material. Overall, Dr. Zajac
is a very professional and effective professor.
He has exceptional teaching skills and shows interest in the success of his students which makes a course like calculus not so
difficult
Mark Zajac
13
1180 - 001
ZAJAC,MARK
Calc Biol II
Mathematics
College of Science
University of Utah
Course and Instructor Feedback Report
Spring 2010
Print Date:09-Oct-10
Enrollment:34
Forms processed:26
UU Standard Course Items
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
23.1% 73.1% 5.69
5.19
2. The course objectives were met.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
19.2% 76.9% 5.73
5.13
3. The course content was well organized.
26
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
3.8%
15.4% 76.9% 5.65
5.07
4. The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
11.5% 19.2% 69.2% 5.58
4.94
5. Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
19.2% 76.9% 5.73
5.11
6. I learned a great deal in this course.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
7.7%
15.4% 76.9% 5.69
4.98
7. Overall, this was an effective course.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
11.5% 7.7%
80.8% 5.69
4.97
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
SA
S.Avg
1. The instructor was organized.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
7.7%
92.3% 5.92
5.14
2. The instructor demonstrated thorough knowledge of the subject.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
96.2% 5.96
5.36
3. The instructor presented course content effectively.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
7.7%
11.5% 80.8% 5.73
4.94
4. The instructor created/supported a classroom environment that was
respectful.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0 6.00
%
5.21
5. As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
96.2% 5.96
5.18
6. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
96.2% 5.96
5.24
7. Overall, this was an effective instructor.
26
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.8%
96.2% 5.96
5.09
Composite score:
5.68
Subject composite score:
5.93
Subject composite score:
Avg
S.Avg
5.05
UU Standard Instructor Items Zajac,Mark
Composite score:
SA
Avg
5.17
N = number of responses
SD = Strongly Disagree (response value 1)
D = Disagree (response value 2)
MD = Mildly Disagree (response value 3)
MA = Mildly Agree (response value 4)
A = Agree (response value 5)
SA = Strongly Agree (response value 6)
S.Avg = Subject-wide Average for this item
DISCLAIMER:Subject composite scores are current as of the date of this report, but may
be revised if additional feedback forms are processed.
List two things about the course content, materials or design that were effective for your learning, or make constructive
14
Mark Zajac
suggestions for improvement.
The book is entirely too full with information - jam packed! The layout of this class was done in such a way that the material
did not seem overwhelming.
I liked how I had two different perspectives of the content at hand. I could refer to both the book and the lecture notes, both
of which were a different perspective of the same content, it helped to be able to have two different resources at hand, if I
didn't understand one I could look over the other.
I also liked how the class was laid out in an organized manner.
1.) The teachers willingness to meet with students out of class was hands down the most valuable thing that assisted my
learning in the class.
2.) The homework problems were well suited to the exams and while the instructions to the problems in the book were almost
always unclear , the teacher was able to make them complete understandable
We need more class-time. There was simply too much information to cover with only 3 lectures a week. I truly enjoyed this
class, but this would have been a complete failure if we would have had anybody other than Mark Zajac teaching this. One of
the best teachers I have ever had.
The hints were very helpful, a were the review sessions
The suggested problems and test review sheets where very helpful for studying for tests.
I really like how it was really clear that the material covered in class would
be in the exams.
I like the set up that each goals were clearly stated and met in each lecture
This course really helped me understand the basic principles of calculus and statistics. While the material is diverse, at
times it felt a little rushed. I would have liked to spend more time developing a stronger core understanding of basic calculus
and statistics instead of rushing into application.
The materials covered were difficult to consolidate. Taking four courses and shoving them into two semesters was a bit mindnumbing at times (and the book could definitely see some streamlining), but Mark saved the day with all the effort he put into
teaching the course.
mark's lectures we well thought out, well prepared and presented very well.
with student and was very approachable
Mark also spent many many hours outside of class
Professor Zajac regularly provided students with graphs that he had constructed prior to class which supplemented the notes and
lecture for the day. This took the tedious work out of attempting to make detailed diagrams in our notes while attempting to
understand the concepts simultaneously. The graphs assisted substantially as they allowed me to concentrate on understanding
what was being taught rather than dividing attention between scribbling in my notebook and attempting to keep up with the
explanation. Professor Zajac also allowed students to vote on the dates of each exam. This was also an enormous help in order
to avoid conflicts with exams in other classes. Overall, the course was extremely well designed, the content was applicable to
research, and all course materials assisted in providing an effective learning atmosphere.
Mark was the most helpful teacher I've ever had and I really feel like I learned a lot about math regardless of my grade in the
end.
Very well presented, really helped understand and appreciate the material
ZAJAC,MARK: List two things about this instructor that were effective for your learning, or make constructive suggestions for
improvement.
Mark is ALWAYS available to students. He doesn't even have office hours because he will meet WHENEVER his students need the.
The time, effort, organization, and sheer selflessness that Mark has put into this course has helped me completely transform my
original hatred for calculus. He has done what I thought no teacher could do - help me understand calc II!!
Mark is very helpful and will go out of his way to help his students. He really wants you to learn the material and he is
excited to teach it. He is by far the best professor I have had yet!
Took the time to answer questions, and also throughly explains every concept being discussed.
1.) Marks Bright and helpful attitude made him the best teacher I have ever had, He always wanted to help and he put in far
more time that any other teacher would have in helping to insure that student succeeded.
2.) He was able to break down concepts that were confusing into simpler language for the student. He was able to remember what
it was like to be a student , making his lectures and reviews all the more helpful.
Best Teacher I have ever had!
Outstanding effort. He was always prepared to spend however many hours necessary outside of class to make sure this was a good
experience. I used to hate math, but after taking this class I have a strong interest in continuing on towards differential
equations. Mark Zajac is absolutely one of the best teachers I've ever had, and any university that he ends up working at will
Mark Zajac
15
be incredibly lucky to have him.
The instructor really made an effort to help students succeed, and was very willing to meet with students outside of class for
additional help.
He tried to make things fun, which made it easier to pay attention than in a normal math class.
Mark is so willing to help the students. I have respect for him that before each exams he would have a review session and he
would just stay there for more than eight hours helping the students.
Mark was a great teacher who really cared about people learning math and enjoying it! He was always readily available to help
students and devoted a lot of time into making resources and materials for self-study available. He is one of the best teachers
I have had at the University thus far!
Mark is on my Top 5 All-Time Favorite Teachers list. The amount of work he put in to make sure we, as students who probably
retained little more than basic algebra skills from earlier courses, understood the material was staggering - and greatly
appreciated!
I count myself extremely lucky that he taught the course, and might be spoiled for future professors.
He's always willing to help us out.
The instructor in this course was one of the best I've ever had. He was always open to questions and did his utmost to make
sure we understood what he was teaching.
Professor Zajac is a very effective instructor overall. I would say that he has been the most effective math instructor that
I've had at any level. It is obvious that he puts ample time into his preparation for each lecture and takes a substantial
amount of time to assist students outside of class, making himself available whenever students would like to meet with him. He
also encourages appointments and questions after each lecture. He seems to maintain a genuine feeling of responsibility to
ensure that his students have a solid grasp of the subject matter. His explanations of concepts are very thorough and he
possesses an aptitude for making more difficult concepts easy to understand for laymen of mathematics. During the course of
the semester, he illustrated how the calculus we were being taught is applicable to our future careers in biology which made
the problem solving and analyzation of data very interesting. I learned a lot during the course of this semester and feel like
Professor Zajac has taken a large step in preparing me for my future career in biology. Hopefully this instructor is retained
at the university for years to come as he has a significant positive impact on the learning of students.
I have never had an instructor that actually cared about the student's success as Mark did. Absolutely wonderful teacher!
16
Mark Zajac
1220 - 005
ZAJAC,MARK
Calculus II
Mathematics
College of Science
University of Utah
Course and Instructor Feedback Report
Fall 2010
Print Date:29-Dec-10
Enrollment:50
Forms processed:39
UU Standard Course Items
N
SD
D
MD
MA
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
39
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
12.8% 23.1% 64.1% 5.51
5.16
2. The course objectives were met.
39
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
10.3% 25.6% 64.1% 5.54
5.10
3. The course content was well organized.
39
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
17.9% 12.8% 69.2% 5.51
5.03
4. The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives.
38
0.0%
2.6%
0.0%
13.2% 13.2% 71.1% 5.50
4.93
5. Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
38
0.0%
2.6%
0.0%
13.2% 10.5% 73.7% 5.53
5.11
6. I learned a great deal in this course.
38
0.0%
0.0%
2.6%
7.9%
18.4% 71.1% 5.58
4.92
7. Overall, this was an effective course.
38
0.0%
0.0%
2.6%
13.2% 10.5% 73.7% 5.55
4.93
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
S.Avg
1. The instructor was organized.
36
0.0%
0.0%
2.8%
8.3%
36.1% 52.8% 5.39
5.11
2. The instructor demonstrated thorough knowledge of the subject.
37
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
10.8% 13.5% 75.7% 5.65
5.38
3. The instructor presented course content effectively.
37
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
13.5% 21.6% 64.9% 5.51
4.91
4. The instructor created/supported a classroom environment that was
respectful.
36
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
8.3%
5.6%
86.1% 5.78
5.22
5. As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions.
37
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
10.8% 5.4%
83.8% 5.73
5.20
6. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
37
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
8.1%
5.4%
86.5% 5.78
5.24
7. Overall, this was an effective instructor.
37
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
10.8% 8.1%
81.1% 5.70
5.05
Composite score:
5.53
Subject composite score:
5.65
Subject composite score:
SA
Avg
S.Avg
5.03
UU Standard Instructor Items Zajac,Mark
Composite score:
A
SA
Avg
5.16
N = number of responses
SD = Strongly Disagree (response value 1)
D = Disagree (response value 2)
MD = Mildly Disagree (response value 3)
MA = Mildly Agree (response value 4)
A = Agree (response value 5)
SA = Strongly Agree (response value 6)
S.Avg = Subject-wide Average for this item
DISCLAIMER:Subject composite scores are current as of the date of this report, but may
be revised if additional feedback forms are processed.
List two things about the course content, materials or design that were effective for your learning, or make constructive
Mark Zajac
17
suggestions for improvement.
The math taught was very interesting and each section for the most part built upon the next very effectively. Another
effective part was a solid review of content from the prerequisite course, this really helped in learning because I did not
have to spend so much time reviewing things from before so I was able to focus on learning the new concepts.
Homework was designed to give us the knowledge needed for tests. Tests did not have a bunch of trick questions or traps in
them. We were told what would be on them and that is what was on them. Either you knew it or you didn't.
Notes were posted online to print out before class started.
The teacher was a great advocate in student learning and success.
-The notes are good, but they can be made shorter.
-Needs a little more review for tests.
Really hard final exam
I thought the material was fine, not too hard.
The "goals section" was effective.
I would have liked more examples.
Textbook isn't the best I've seen. Try James Stewart's.
Textbook doen't have nearly enough worked-out examples.
1) The online content was amazingly helpful throughout the course.
2) I liked how the class got to elect the days for the mid-terms based on which dates worked for the most people. There was a
vote-by-ballot system set up by the instructor.
Very direct, no surprises. You know exactly what will be happening and when.
Loved this class 100 percent. material was well put out
Good text.
Effective pace.
I loved how organized everything was. It was extremely helpful that the class notes were posted on the class web-site. In case
you were unable to attend class due to hangovers or senioritis, or perhaps a combination of the two. Homework and notes were
congruent with the exams. Not to mention the exam hints were the cat's pajamas! This helped me to channel my focus towards
specific topics studied throughout the section. Very much needed. Since at times 8-9 sections of calc. 2 can seem overly
daunting. As a result there were no surprise jabs, uppercuts, suplexes, nor below the belt shots when it came to exam time. Not
to say the exams weren't challenging. I definitely learned a lot through this class format coupled with Mark's superb teaching
abilities.
I felt the content was clearly taught.
What was expected of us to learn was clearly stated and reviewed.
I really appreciated the organized "Goals" sections and detailed examples in the notes. I also greatly appreciated how
everything was easily available on the website.
Loved the online notes and hints because they helped solidify classroom lectures
ZAJAC,MARK: List two things about this instructor that were effective for your learning, or make constructive suggestions for
improvement.
The course was taught in a method that has been shown in studies to be effective. Meaning lectures were not unending there were
brief pauses and interactions that kept your attention. Also the teacher went above and beyond the call of duty to help
students learn the material and would offer many explanations and examples for topic that were particularly difficult.
Mark Zajac is probably one of the best instructors I have ever had. Although he can sometimes confuse himself and get down for
making mistakes, it doens't really impede our learning, and he knows his stuff. He is always open for questions during class
and is great at meeting outside of class, something I took advantage of and learned more than I ever thought I could. He was
fair on his tests as well. He also has a great sense of humor and his classes are very entertaining. I don't consider myself a
natural fan of calculus but this was one of my favorite classes, mainly becuause of the instructor.
The only thing is a request for solid notes. On some of the notes there were small errors which caused great confusion.
Unfortunately the teacher was always available, but my schedule was very restrictive.
-Mark Zajac is very helpful in that he tries to offer meetings to help students.
-Helps with test reviews, but in your own time and not during class./
He made it fun!
Mark was by far the best part of the class. He's the best math teacher I've ever had and just an all around stellar guy. He's
was very clear about the course objectives and concentrated on the things that really mattered. He made preparing for tests
effective and to the point.
The jokes made class very enjoyable.
18
Mark Zajac
The lectures with lots of mistakes sometimes got really confusing.
The hours Mark is willing to devote to instructing outside of class exceeds any instructor I've known.
Mark is entertaining without getting off-track.
He was able to meet with student to clarify the subjects. another was always trying to make the class the more interesting even
when the subject is boring sometimes
1) Mark did a great job outlining the course content and moving from one topic to the next smoothly.
2) Mark is a pretty funny guy, which lightened up the subject for those who aren't predisposed to be excited about calculus.
Mark Zajac was honestly the best math professor I have ever had! He is so good at explaining to details and his proofs are very
clear. He always made himself available for student consultation and was very happy to answer any questions. Take courses from
him if you can!
Made class fun to come to.
Great instructor
I like how zajac is a nice guy who knows what it is to be a sutdent. He was my favorite teacher this year, he is always so
funny.
Excellent lectures.
Very available for one on one help.
Let me tell you something about Mark. This guy is passionate about his teaching and he sincerely cares about his students and
their success. These characteristics have often been absent in some of my previous professors. I'm not going to name names, but
he's nearing a century old and teaches Gen. Chem. and his name rhymes with Bragsdale. Sorry, I digress. Mark's wit, charm and
sense of humor kept the lectures fresh and highly interesting. I mean, in what calculus course can you learn about etymology,
physics, zoology, Canadien quirks, art and other very random topics? And at the same time get a firm G.I. Joe, Kung fu Grip on
calculus. Mark is one of a kind with a plethora of knowledge. And If I wasn't graduating here shortly I would sign up for any
and all courses he was teaching. Even if it was advanced Winsor Pilates. Although I just couldn't picture Mark doing the Onelegged King Pigeon pose in neon spandex. Mark I just wanted to personally thank you for such a great semester. I'm sure I'm not
the only student/fan giving you rave reviews. You are truly awesome and I will be gladly to name my first-born after you
(regardless of being a BOY or GIRL). Mark, you live up to your name and literally set the "Mark" for how a professor should act
and teach. Thanks for keeping it light on such a heavy topic of calculus. I feel well prepped for Calc. 3. And in all
sincerity, thanks for TRULY caring. You are cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Mark Zajac Reviews:
"Two Emphatic Thumbs up"...University of Utah Student
"Riveting and heartfelt lectures coupled with comic relief"...Entertainment Weekly
"The Shakespeare of Calculus. His Mathematical prose is simply poetic"...The New Yorker
Take care Mark
I really felt comfortable going to him for help.
I also felt that he knew how to help students understand in a way that is rarely found in Math professors.
Mark is by far and wide one of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure to learn from! He was well organized and always
available for consultations. He was very paitient with his students and really seemed to care about offering his students the
best information he could offer. A wonderful teacher, I feel so lucky to be counted amongst one of his students!
Teacher was always available for consultation. He made the classroom fun and enjoyable, a hard thing to do with math, and
obviously knew his material.
Mark Zajac
19
1220 - 005
ZAJAC,MARK
Calculus II
Mathematics
College of Science
University of Utah
Course and Instructor Feedback Report
Spring 2011
Print Date:23-May-11
Enrollment:77
Forms processed:57
UU Standard Course Items
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
1. The course objectives were clearly stated.
57
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
0.0%
28.1% 70.2% 5.67
5.16
2. The course objectives were met.
57
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
1.8%
26.3% 70.2% 5.65
5.10
3. The course content was well organized.
56
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
1.8%
25.0% 69.6% 5.61
5.04
4. The course materials were helpful in meeting course objectives.
56
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
5.4%
21.4% 71.4% 5.62
4.94
5. Assignments and exams reflected what was covered in the course.
56
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
1.8%
21.4% 75.0% 5.70
5.08
6. I learned a great deal in this course.
56
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
7.1%
21.4% 69.6% 5.59
4.96
7. Overall, this was an effective course.
56
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
3.6%
23.2% 71.4% 5.64
4.94
N
SD
D
MD
MA
A
S.Avg
1. The instructor was organized.
55
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
3.6%
21.8% 70.9% 5.60
5.11
2. The instructor demonstrated thorough knowledge of the subject.
55
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
3.6%
10.9% 83.6% 5.76
5.32
3. The instructor presented course content effectively.
55
0.0%
0.0%
3.6%
7.3%
10.9% 78.2% 5.64
4.92
4. The instructor created/supported a classroom environment that was
respectful.
55
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
1.8%
14.5% 81.8% 5.76
5.19
5. As appropriate, the instructor encouraged questions and opinions.
55
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
1.8%
14.5% 81.8% 5.76
5.14
6. The instructor was available for consultation with students.
55
0.0%
0.0%
1.8%
0.0%
7.3%
90.9% 5.87
5.18
7. Overall, this was an effective instructor.
54
0.0%
0.0%
1.9%
1.9%
13.0% 83.3% 5.78
5.03
Composite score:
5.64
Subject composite score:
5.74
Subject composite score:
Avg
S.Avg
5.03
UU Standard Instructor Items Zajac,Mark
Composite score:
SA
SA
Avg
5.13
N = number of responses
SD = Strongly Disagree (response value 1)
D = Disagree (response value 2)
MD = Mildly Disagree (response value 3)
MA = Mildly Agree (response value 4)
A = Agree (response value 5)
SA = Strongly Agree (response value 6)
S.Avg = Subject-wide Average for this item
DISCLAIMER:Subject composite scores are current as of the date of this report, but may
be revised if additional feedback forms are processed.
List two things about the course content, materials or design that were effective for your learning, or make constructive
20
Mark Zajac
suggestions for improvement.
notes online and how the tests were given
The material was taught very clearly with examples and explanations that were not too complicated to understand.
I really appreciated Dr. Zajac's class website and his posting of the course notes
His willingness to meet and help students is unsurpassed in my association with professors.
sincerity and concern for students.
I very much appreciated his
The online notes were very helpful, as well as the hints.
The materials are sometimes confusing in their wording. It would also be nice if crucial information wasn't able to be taken
out of the books (cheat sheets in the back). I got a used book, and it is always frustrating to try and find something that
would normally be in those spots and have nothing there.
Mark was 100% committed to the success of his students and facilitated learning in a way that made it fun and accessable to all
students. He truly cared about all of his students' success and his enthusiasm for teaching translated into the success of his
students.
Very easy course, but it covers important material.
The professor's notes were posted online and available for additional information and there were plenty of examples done in
class to reference when dong homework.
This course was great, the content was provided at a level that we could all understand.
times. But overall great material
The book is challenging to read at
Mark was fantastic. He went above and beyond to help his students. His online notes were especially helpful. A lot of
students did not come to class and suffered for it, but for me and the others who regularly attended Mark's fantastic teaching
style allowed an extremely approachable experience with Calc II
The instructor was the very best teacher that I've ever had.
if you choose to do so.
He made every effort to ensure that you could learn the material
good class
I now have a better understanding of Math and like it very much. Thanks to the professor. Look forward to advancing to Calc 3.
Mark was very helpful when it came to after-hours tutoring for the students. He spent most of his days/evenings helping
students which I thought was very kind of him. The one thing I will say about the tutoring is that he made you feel stupid if
you forgot a part of a part of the subject you were covering together. This happened to me twice and was not a pleasant
experience to be on the receiving end of that. It may seem like a very simple concept to him, but it obviously isn't clear to
the student because they are there to get help. There was also favoritism that was shown to the girls of the class. Sometimes
it was very distracting when people got up to ask questions about the test, there should be a limit on how many times someone
can get up. The tests were not hard to understand if you studied the jargon and listened in class. I also liked his homework
policy, I think all math teachers should adopt that. Overall though, very good class. Funny guy too.
I believe this is the most organzied course I have ever taken. All of the material was directed toward learning the principles
of the class. The professor specifically selected individual problems from the book that would help us best learn instead of
throwing a huge blanket of problems in hopes that we would be able to get them all right. Class was set up effectively as to
provide an optimal learning environment for us even though classes were two hours long. He did this by managing a break every
day to relax for a few minutes and then dive back in. He valued every minute of evey class and as a student, you feed off of
that enthusiasm.
Prof. Zajac was always available to answer our questions.
He obviously tried to make the tests reflect material we were supposed to learn, and did learn, in his class.
He shows a great aptitude for instruction and I would reccomend his course in the future to other students.
Great job, Marck
Awesome course!
No comment
Having a good teacher. There are very few good teachers at the U and i was lucky enough to have Mark Zajac as my Calc teacher.
I loved taking this course because of all the online content that was available for it! Mark has his course website set up
with all the notes and presentations before he teaches, so if you need to look over material before class, it's there, and that
is a huge boon!
-Loved the class website and resources posted there.
Helps me in other subjects such as chemistry and physics.
Mark posted notes online so we could follow along in class without having to concentrate on getting all the material down. He
also posted hints to the test which I found extremely helpful when trying to study for specific aspects of the chapters we had
Mark Zajac
21
gone over.
There was a constant availability to the information at hand. Zajac kept a very well structured web page with lots of available
information that was clearly labeled and set out. Structure and availability were both major strengths.
notes were always posted online as well as homework
He had great lectures and Great Notes
Great material.
Great professor.
Having the course notes available on the website was invaluable for studying and understanding the material. It meant that I
could follow along on the notes and still pay attention to class, instead of having to partially tune out the lecture while I
scrambled to take notes.
ZAJAC,MARK: List two things about this instructor that were effective for your learning, or make constructive suggestions for
improvement.
great teacher
This instructor was always available for office hours and really focused on students understanding more about calculus.
instructor made exams that reflected the material in class.
The
I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in lecture. I also enjoyed the thoroughness with which Mark presented the content. He did a
good job of realizing when he had presented material well and when he "completely bungled it". If he ever felt as if he had
been unclear, he would take the initiative and re-teach the material. Very few professors would be humble enough to do that.
He was very humble and very willing to help out his students. He desired our success.
Kept a difficult subject engaging and interesting. Made class a lot more bearable than I would have thought possible.
Mark Zejac is an outstanding professor. He truly cared if we learned the material. He went above and beyond to help us as a
class and individually. It's unfortunate that our current system does not recognize quality professors and focuses more on what
is coming out of their research instead of their classrooms. This is the kind of teaching that is worth the price of tuition. I
understand that his 3 year contract is up. If you look through his student feedback I think you would clearly see that he is an
asset to the university.
Incredibly easy to reach, always a huge help whenever we needed it, especially with his special tutoring sessions. I can
guarantee that I would not have done as well as I have without his assistance. However I end the year, I can promise I'm at
least a grade step (e.g. from a C to a B) higher than I would be if I didn't have his assistance.
Mark explained the course content in a way that every student, regardless of inate skill or previous experience, could
understand. He constantly was thinking of the student experience in his class and made himself available for questions outside
of class better than any other professor I have ever had. Overall, his teaching style was extremely accessable and he truly
cared about the success of every student in his class.
Really knows the subject well, explains it in a very easy manner.
Mark was not only an exceptional math teacher but an exceptional teacher overall. In my ten years of post-high school education
he is tied for the best teacher I've ever had with my other favorite teacher, who taught environmental science and the two
subjects can't really be compared. Mark's desire to be a clear, helpful and organized teacher and to help his students succeed
by any means necessary is truly special in the university environment. I have recommended him to everyone I know whether or not
they need to take a math class and I feel lucky to have had him as a student. The U should do everything in their power to keep
him, he's one of their best assets.
Mark is the most helpful and available professor I have ever had. He was ALWAYS available for questions and had great patience
with us when we were struggling. His exams directly reflected the material covered, there were no trick questions and the were
not easy exams. He also provided additional review material to help us prepare for exams. I could tell he truly wanted us to
succeed. I wish there were more professors like him at the U.
Out of the water amazing! Just awesome teacher! I would tell you DO NOT LOSE HIM! He is amazing, and I would take any class
from him. He knows his stuff, he is respectful, he brings interest to the topics, he is appropriately humorous, he is more
than willing to meet with you, he genuinely cares and I could tell.
Amazing teacher. Dont let him go!
Mark was fantastic. He went above and beyond to help his students. His online notes were especially helpful. A lot of
students did not come to class and suffered for it, but for me and the others who regularly attended Mark's fantastic teaching
style allowed an extremely approachable experience with Calc II.
Thank you, Mark, for being the best teacher I've had in the Math dept!
The best professor that I've ever had.
Mark was amazing!
Mark is an excellent instructor. I wish he taught all of my classes.
Best instructor in the WORLD. will be missed. Overwhelming concern for the students complete undertanding of the material.