Michael Dillencourt - University of California Irvine

Professor: Michael Dillencourt
Department: Computer Science
College: University of California Irvine
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Boring lectures, but he explains the material really well. EASY exams. The HW is so much harder. The best thing about his class is the grade cutoffs. You can get a B- with a 70% in the class. I've never had a class with grade cutoffs as low as this class. I did ok in the class, but I still got a high grade. Drops lowest exam score. Take him.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Although boring, he is one of the best lecturers Ive ever had. Tests were very much fair, just based off of his slides. The only thing is his hw can be tough and time consuming, though its provided to help you understand the material and its only worth roughly 10% of your grade (varies each quarter). Overall I find him to be underrated
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
HW every week. Test every 2 weeks usually on topics from the past 2 HWs except for last test. Class was chill cuz as long as you understand the lectures and HW, the tests aren't bad. if youre lost, ask questions in discussion. I only bombed the first test but thankfully lowest one is dropped. Dillencourt is very reasonable
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dillencourt is very clear in his lecture videos and explains everything slowly but carefully. If you study his example problems from lectures and the homework assignments very well then the tests should not be too much of a problem.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
For online CS161 he is without a doubt the best. He explains things clearly and his lectures do not go overtime (generally about 30 minutes total over 2-3 videos). His exams are fair and not time-crunched at all. Homework can be tedious at times but you get a drop. Also, you drop a test so you do not have to take the final.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Underrated. He is actually one of the best professors in upper division. Mostly graded by tests but they are definitely doable by just studying the slides and knowing how to do the basic problems of the homework. Super clear about everything and responsive on piazza. Very solid professor. It's a good class.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
161 is a difficult class, but Dillencourt makes it bearable. His lectures are really, really bland, but he posts slides, and almost everything can be found there. The homework is also pretty difficult at first, and they're always a time commitment, but they're nothing insane. All I keep thinking in this course is "it could have been a lot worse."
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Bland lectures, but super clear with everything explained in detail. If you can do the homework, you can do the tests easily. Fair grading although I think he made his class easier spring quarter. Very communicative with students.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Super underrated professor. His lectures were really clear and concise. He explains materials really well and he goes through questions during lectures! There were around 6 homework assignments, and tests were really doable as long as you follow his study guide. One homework and final can be dropped.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: No
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Good professor, underrated. Take him
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dillencourt's lectures can be kind of bland, but his lecture notes are very detailed, and his exams are extremely doable if you follow the lecture notes and homework. He is compassionate and made lots of thing easier for students for spring 2020 qtr. He curves generously. No coding hw, 4-5 hw's that each take 2-3 hw's to do, and several exams.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He's underrated. His monotone voice is useful if you won't a no BS introduction to algorithms which is really appreciated if you're interested in the subject. This isn't elementary school where you need an excited teacher to teach the subject. This guy knows how to break down complex material in a concise manner. A real gem at UC Irvine imo..
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is not a caring teacher. He only does his job that is broadcasting his lecture notes during the lecture, but thats it,nothing else. So dont expect too much from this class.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He gave to much freedom to his teaching assistant. Terrible teaching assistant couldnt even explain things well. He cannot explains things clearly as well. Try to avoid taking his class.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He doesnt communicate, he only tech. I mean he only saying he only say the words that seems make sure, but he doesnt actually teach. Maybe he is a good computer scientist, but not a great lecturer.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He will test you something way beyond the level of his material. Be prepared. He also gave lousy explanation of the class concept.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Not a good lecturer. His version of this class is also poorly paced (it's way too slow, does not cover important stuff), and dynamic programming is squeezed into Week 10 rather than in Week 5 like the other professors do. Exams are meh, mainly based off the slides. Very little focus on algorithm design, too much on pre-existing algorithm mechanics
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: CS260
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He isn't the best speaker, but he does care about the material and really wants people to do well and understand the material. He is a tough grader, but he curves really well, so it evens out. I think he explains concepts well, and I would take him again.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: CS261P
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I am talking his graduate level Data Structure Class. Weights for grades: 4 Homeworks 5% 2 projects 15% Midterm 35% Final 45% Coming from a non-cs background, I can actually understand what he is talking about. He is funny and very thorough. He also said he loves teaching. I think he is one of the best.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: CS161
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dillencourt isn't terrible, just mediocre. For lectures, he just reads his slides -- don't bother attending. His exams are based purely on the slides, something which he doesn't convey (leading to a 60% average on the first midterm and 90% average on the second once people got it). Curve is generous, albeit unusually complex in computation.
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