Mike Plesha - University of Wisconsin - Madison

Professor: Mike Plesha
Department: Engineering
College: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Statics is a hard class no matter which professor you take it with, but Plesha is definitely one of the better options at UW, especially when compared to Riley. Lectures are not super interesting, but he knows the material very well, and will be able to answer any questions. Homework and tests are hard, so be prepared to spend a lot of time on 201
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Class isn't curved. Lectures are detailed and clear. Discussion are a joke. But you'll have to go to the discussions to take the quiz.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Plesha's lectures weren't the absolute worst but they didn't exactly make the material enjoyable. The discussion section was a joke because nothing in there helps you with the class, yet it has mandatory quizzes. Last 3 quizzes were very difficult and there is no curve (even if the class average is a 60%). I highly recommend a different professor.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Plesha is the easiest EMA 201 instructor you can ever get. His explanations are clear and has lecture videos online. His homework assignments are very helpful and can guide you properly.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
BEWARE this is a weed-out course. There's a homework assignment every week that's around 9 problems, but it takes about an hour/problem. So start homework early and take advantage of the drop in tutoring at Wendt. Tests are hard and they aren't curved. Plesha is a good prof but he won't adjust the grading scale unless he makes a test wayyy too hard
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Statics by nature is an extremely difficult class. Lectures are pretty good but Plesha sometimes cannot explain some more challenging topics. Overall really enjoyed having him as a Professor. Textbook was basically useless and only bought it for the online code. Discussions are worthless but required because of quizzes during them. MILLER TIME!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Not very helpful in lecture, he rarely works all of the way through a problem, and expects students to be able to figure out the rest when it is often very difficult. Tests were difficult, but the class is not curved. If you take this class, do the supplemental instruction that goes along with it.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Plesha was very helpful and very opinionated. If there was a mistake with grading or with a computer, he will not be too likely to take your side. Though the class is hard he makes it quite a bit easier through old fashioned good teaching. That being said, if you weren't good at math last semester, that's probably not going to change...
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Plesha flies through the material in lecture, but posts every lecture online if you don't get it. The online homework is frustrating, but helps you learn the problems and you get plenty of attempts. Beware of the third and fourth tests being much harder if the first tests had high scores - he needs to bring the average down somehow.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Plesha is a very good, clear speaking teacher. I learned a lot from him and his class was very interesting. Online resources are great. However, when consulting for help or a course related concern, in multiple interactions with Plesha I found him to be extremely hostile, and I know from a lot of other students that they did as well.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Plesha knows his stuff but really couldn't care less about his students. Class is not curved, even when the average is a 60%. Discussion is mandatory because there's always a quiz, but otherwise completely useless- they teach things that aren't relevant to the actual class. Expect to teach yourself how to do most things.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Michael Plesha ruined my semester, not to mention my GPA. It is unacceptable when the average grade on an exam is an F, especially if the class isn't curved. This is not a sign of the stundents' failure, but the teacher's. I spent the entire semester frustrated and learned nothing, despite the hours I spent studying often with a tutor. 0/10
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: D
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This class is freaking impossible. Plesha didn't help me understand anything. He would read from his slides for five minutes, and then expect us to know the material. I would never take this class again. EVER.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Tough subject, tough homework, tough tests. problem lies on the subject not the lecturer.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Plesha understands the content very well, but does not teach it well at all. It almost seems as if he simply does not care for his students' grades. I approached him about getting a C (the average) on my first 2 exams and he actually encouraged me to drop. This class's high drop rate is not because of the content, it's because of Plesha.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Outstanding professor. Makes an effort to engage with students during lectures and is very approachable if you ever need help. Highly recommend taking a class with Plesha.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Great lecturer, very interesting and engaging lectures. Prof. Plesha is funny and cares about his students. Tests are tough but similar to previous tests which are provided online.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Mike is a brilliant and funny professor. His lectures are very clear and he provides a lot of examples which he walks through step by step. The homework takes a very long time to do, but it will help you for the tests. The tests are difficult but manageable if you understand the homework. Would highly recommend him for this class.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
The problem with this course is not the professor but the structure. The homework provides no confidence in problem solving and the book is terrible. If you want to do well attend lecture, take notes, and just crunch numbers.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: EMA201
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Goes a little fast in lecture, but is open for questions. His tests are challenging, but somewhat fair. If you know how to do all the homework problems, you should be able to get by. The grading on the tests has a lot of partial credit. Discussion quizzes are impossible. Overall, he teaches a hard class, but does a pretty good job
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