Calvin Gidney - Tufts University

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Calvin Gidney - Tufts University

Professor: Calvin Gidney

Department: Child Development

College: Tufts University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: CD155
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:

Chip is an awesome professor! Reaching him outside of class is kind of unlikely but the TA's are super accessible and nice. You can get by without doing the majority of the readings assigned (even though they're interesting for the most part). Chip does a great job of holding your interest even for a 2.5 hour class!

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: CSHD0001
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of my favorite professors at Tufts. Incredibly knowledgeable and cares about his students. Honestly the assessments were mostly based on readings but I wouldn't skip lecture just because the best part of Intro to CSHD is Chip's energy. As long as you read and prepare for the essays you'll be fine. Highly recommend taking a class with Chip.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: CD1
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Chip was hilarious and really caring, but his lectures were fairly pointless and didn't have much structure. By the end, showing up to class wasn't very helpful. You have to read the textbook to do well, which can be bad because each chapter is 50+ pages. Recitation is also useless but mandatory

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: CD001
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Worst class I've taken. I love kids but not the way this class is taught. The classes are not helpful and it's just him rambling. TEXTBOOK LIFELINE. But it has too much information and takes forever to memorize. Bad w/emails (same for TAs). Slow assignment turnover, recitations were useless. Don't take this unless you're a committed CSHD major.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: CSHD001
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:

I started showing up to lectures towards the end mostly to laugh and enjoy Professor Gidney's teaching style. The quizzes are almost entirely from the book, so if you read it once and do a quizlet, you'll be fine. It's also easy to get up to 5% extra credit. Recitation is eh though, make sure you make the time to walk all the way to Eliot-Pearson

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: CD0001
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:

Although he is a very funny and a good man, his lectures aren't organized and aren't helpful for exams and assignments at all.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: CD001
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Amazing professor and interesting lectures. Quizzes are mostly based on the 50+ pages of reading.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: CD155
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:

Amazing! Development of Language has been my favorite class at Tufts so far-- so interesting. Gidney's lectures were always so entertaining, he has lots of great personal stories and video examples we watched. Great material and great professor. The one issue is that he was kind of unorganized in grading and responding to emails.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: CD0001
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

CD1 was in a large lecture hall with many students, but Chip learned all of our names within the first week. Incredible professor and SO FUNNY!! If I could take every class with him, I would!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: CD0001
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gidney is super nice and hilarious. He keeps you engaged during lectures. Though much of the lecture material is in the book, it is important to pay attention in class because some questions will be on material only from class. The course seemed disorganized at times and quizzes were heavily based on details.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: CD0001
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of my favorite professors. You won't do well in the class if you put in absolutely 0 effort, but can easily get an A if you go to lecture and read the textbook. He is funny, intelligent, and makes class enjoyable.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: CD195
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I ended up getting an A-, although I didn't work too hard bc of having a lot of problems outside of class. He understands that students are human beings with greater issues sometimes and isn't too harsh about deadlines and doesn't give a lot of work. Staying involved/engaged is key, get all the work in and don't be a jerk and it's fine usually.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: CD001
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I've had Chip for two semesters now, and I'm taking his CD 195 this semester. He is a good combo of funny and smart. He is helpfully and easily accessible outside of class. Love Chip!

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: CD0001
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:

Awesome professor, awesome class! Lectures are fun, but beware: he tests you only on readings and uses lectures to build on what he assumes you've read. Tests were straightforward and easy if you've read the material. He's an extremely fun guy, sets up "lunch dates" where students sign up to have a meal with him and chat. Lots of extra credit!

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: CD001
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gidney is a great person, but sometimes he's so disorganized and unclear with what he expects on assignments.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: CD155
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Engaging, enthusiastic, and competent. He managed to cover a very broad, interdisciplinary topic and make it all feel connected. No tests, just several writing assignments based on the reading.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: CD0001
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Chip is hilarious and very passionate. I highly recommend taking this class, even if you're not going to explore the field further.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: CD001
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Chip is a great guy! He's extremely enthusiastic about the material and although the lectures don't usually have to do with what's on the test, attending class was always fun and a great learning experience. The TA's were also extremely helpful. Chip gave lots of extra credit and tried to integrate examples through projects and lectures.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: CD0001
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Lectures completely useless. Read the textbook chapters that the quizzes are on the day of and you'll get an A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: CD155
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Cross-listed as LING155. Engaging, enthusiastic, and knows the subject well. Prone to going off on tangents during lectures, but always on something related to the subject. Lots of reading in outside sources, and you will have written assignments on it. Genuinely enjoyed going to his class.

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