1.6

Alexander Kaplan

Mathematics - Wright State University

1.6
Quality
4.6
Difficulty
N/A
Would Retake
90
Reviews
1.6
Quality
4.6
Difficulty
1.7
Helpful
1.5
Clarity

N/A

Would Retake

90

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

2

4

8

3

8

2

14

1

58

What Students Say

Worst Teacher I have ever had

MTH131 - 1.0 rating

The worst teacher at WSU

MTH231 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Textbook Required

100%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

56% confidence
Based on 2 grades
Most common grades:
B (1)
A (1)
Audit/No_Grade (1)
Grade Distribution
A(1)B(1)C(0)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(0)
Based on 3 reported grades
B: 1
A: 1
Audit/No_Grade: 1
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.22 avg change
Jun
Nov
Apr
May
Oct
Nov
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CALC23

4.0

(1)

MATH131

3.0

(2)

MTH232

2.3

(7)

MTH231

2.2

(11)

MTH255

2.0

(2)
+11 more courses
Difficulty by Course

MATH129

5.0

MTH130

5.0

MATH231

5.0

TRIGONOMETRY

5.0

MTH13163

5.0

Reviews (90)
1.0
5.0
MTH255
Mar 12, 2003

Worst teacher I ever had!

1.0
5.0
MTH230
Mar 16, 2003

One of the worst in my WSU career!!

1.0
5.0
MTH230
Mar 19, 2003

I hate him. He's the worst teacher I have ever had for math

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Mar 31, 2003

I hate this teacher in all ways possibable. He promised to curve but I failed. Never take this professor. He sucks. Math Nazi.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Apr 2, 2003

This guy is the worst and rudest teacher I have ever had. He never taught. Question was asked and he would say well too bad. Very unhelpful, went too fast, and taught as if we knew the stuff already. Horrible, avoid at all costs!!!

3.0
4.0
MTH230
Apr 16, 2003

He was too rough with grading materials turned in and tests were very challenging. He did explain things well though.

2.0
5.0
MTH230
Apr 24, 2003

No Comments

1.0
5.0
MTH230
May 1, 2003

former israeli soldier. strict grading policy, talked to him during office hours, very unhelpful. if i had not had background in calculus would have had difficulty in class. senior engineer now, AVOID!

4.0
4.0
MTH230
May 5, 2003

No Comments

1.0
5.0
MTH230
May 11, 2003

HORRIABLE

3.0
5.0
MTH230
Jun 19, 2003

Very tough grader. I thought that he did explain things decently. Hard to understand through accent. I feel I learned alot in his calc 2 class but didn't get a very good grade.

1.0
5.0
MATH129
Sep 30, 2003

Not open to other ideas and very fast paced

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Oct 10, 2003

Very harsh grader, hard to understand and very fast paced. He becomes aggrivated when you ask him questions. You have to do everything his way or else its wrong, even if you get the right answer.

2.0
5.0
MTH131
Oct 10, 2003

He has an accent which poses an issue ONLY because he talks about 60 words per minute and does not answer any questions. It's impossible. Out of 22 students in the class the other day, I counted 9 who gave up and put their head down to fall asleep.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Oct 22, 2003

He is very anal retintive about mundane details. DO NOT take a math course with this teacher.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Oct 23, 2003

He should not be teaching. Hard to understand and will not slow down. Refuses to answer questions.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Oct 24, 2003

Amazing isn't it that this guy used to be the one that did the Micromachines commericals. Unfortunatly he picked up speed and gained an accent at some point. I couldn't tell if he was trying to teach the class or run an auction...

1.0
5.0
MTH230
Nov 7, 2003

Absolutely the worst professor at the university. Can't understand him and he refuses to help you. I had gotten straight A's in every math class I had ever taken, got a C in Calc 2 with him, and then got an A in Cal 3 and 4.....seems like it had alot w/hi

1.0
5.0
MTH230
Nov 24, 2003

He is the worst professor ever. I never understood what he expected in regards to an answer. He would mark answers wrong even if they were correct.

4.0
3.0
MTH231
Feb 7, 2004

He did demand that you present your solutions clearly and efficiently but that requirement has definitely helped me in later courses. He gave tons of examples and lectured instead of labs. Also, if you go to his office he's very willing to help you.

1.0
5.0
MTH232
Feb 12, 2004

worst math professor i've ever had. talks real fast, and doesnt really allow for questions in class.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Feb 18, 2004

It's virtually impossible to get a decent grade in this course. I would spend hours on take home quizzes making them perfect with the right answers, but never did well. Can't understand his russian accent. **Grades impossibly**

1.0
5.0
MTH231
Feb 24, 2004

Basically, He is the worst, hardest professor I have ever had. Everything the other people here have written is completely true, except for the loser who said it helped him in the future. HOW?! You cant understand or use his odd ways of doing proble

1.0
5.0
MTH231
Grade: B
Mar 1, 2004

This individual has got to be my least favorite teacher ever. Prime example of why the engineering department at WSU, as well as the students, despise the math dept. Don't sign up for him.

1.0
5.0
MTH231
Mar 3, 2004

ABSOLUTELY the worst professor I have ever had in my entire life. Hours were spent by me on homework and quizzes but to no avail. In fact, this is my second time taking him as an instructor(only class that fit and I thought I could pass), but its no use.

2.0
5.0
MTH231
Mar 12, 2004

He talks and writes so fast during lecture that I gave up trying to listen to or understand him. Spent the entire time just writing down what I saw on the board and trying to figure it out later. Very difficult tests. Avoid him if you can.

1.0
5.0
MTH230
Apr 14, 2004

Do I need to even say anything else that hasn't been said yet. The ONLY thing good about him is that he hates the labs, so you don't have to do labs in his classes. Take home tests aren't as great as they sound either. They take many hours to complete!

2.0
4.0
MTH231
Apr 19, 2004

Very difficult. I felt like I wasn't reward for the time and hard work I put into it. He's more out to get you on tests than to try and understand what you know.

4.0
3.0
MTH131
Apr 27, 2004

He demands a lot, but it turns out for the best in later classes. I never could figure out his grading, but if you do your work the way he did in the examples you will do fine. I like never having to use the book. :) I would recomend Dr. Kaplan.

3.0
5.0
MTH231
Apr 29, 2004

He makes you write out a written explanation for every step you take in a problem and if you don't have it in his words you fail. Do not take this professor. Worst math teacher i've ever had.

4.0
4.0
MTH231
Jul 24, 2004

He likes problems to be done a particular way and if you deviate from that you are had. You can get the correct answer, but if the work isn't perfect he starts deducting points for presenting you argument. He's not bad once you get used to him.

4.0
4.0
CALC23
Oct 13, 2004

Dr. Kaplan is a good professor. His examples are very good, and what you can expect on a test. He is is very particular on the way he wants things done. Follow his examples to the the letter on tests and quizes and you will do fine. Don't and you'll fail

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 4, 2004

HORRIBLE Teacher, don't get him, but if you do and want to do somewhat good you have to do the quizzes and tests exactly like how his examples are that he shows in class, and if you have one thing not right he will give you an 'F'. His accent is so annoying he says "Well" before every sentence.

1.0
5.0
MTH130
Nov 5, 2004

This teacher is HORRIBLE. Problems can only be done HIS way and if they're not he says the answer is unclear. In class all he does is write examples on the board an expect you to magically understand how he got the answers. If you're happy with doing problems his way then this class is for you.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 5, 2004

Very hard to understand. When asked for help we were told that he wasnt in charge of that. Half the time he never tells you what hes talking about.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 5, 2004

Very professor. If you don't do things exactly the way he does them you fail. I it also hard to improve yourself because all the advise he gives is vague. He will just write 'unclear' or inefficient at the top of the page. He does give good examples, but whats the point if you can't pass?

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 9, 2004

WARNING! Do NOT sign up for this teacher! His accent is an interesting mix of German, Indian, maybe even Italian ... I didn't understand a single word he said the entire quarter. Except for the day he got stuck saying "two pi uh" over and over again.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 10, 2004

I can't believe anybody would hire this guy. He takes off ridiculus amounts of points for misplacing things like negative signs. He always says your answer is not clear if not done his way. If possible STAY AWAY FROM THIS PROFESSOR.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 12, 2004

I've never had a teacher this bad in my life! He expects students to memorize his math rhetoric and if you stray from tat just a little he will take off many points for unclarity. I was always taught that there are many ways to solve a math problem. He teaches his way or the highway. STAY AWAY

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 12, 2004

Okay, so like the first day of class he tells us how the book doesn't explain things well. GREAT. So I bought this hundred dollar book for nothing. Strays from book and gives superfluous examples which are unnecessary. Very hard to please because only his math writing style is permitted.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 17, 2004

This prof is so picky. If you basically give him what he wants he will give you credit, but don't stray from his style.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Grade: A
Nov 19, 2004

I will give you some advice for those of you who have to take his class, and can't avoid it. Write down every example he does in class. I mean word for word, number for number exactly like he does. Then on the quizzes write it the same way he did examples. His tests are problems from quizzes.

1.0
5.0
MATH231
Feb 16, 2005

he is picky, he doesnt like the book, and even if your answer right, he doesnt take it, he wants it in his own way. i felt sometimes that im taking a writing class, not a math class.. avoid please,, the way he explain math is NOT understood .. please avoid, if u had to take him. pray every night 4 C

1.0
5.0
MTH130
Mar 7, 2005

His way of teaching is hard to understand. If things aren't done his way then it is wrong. i only hope that you read this and you stay away from it. He onyl teaches 11:00am to 12 pm MWF STAY AWAY FROM THAT TIME. The time may say staff but STAY AWAY!!!

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Mar 8, 2005

HORRIBLE teacher. If you don't do it his way, it's completely wrong, even if you show all your work and everything is right. It's hard to understand him, I would stay away from his class at all costs.

1.0
4.0
MTH131
Apr 19, 2005

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PROFESSOR AT ALL COSTS!!!! Through out his course he does not use the book at all. When you take his quizzes and test make sure that you do it exactly like his examples. He takes off A LOT of points if you not do it HIS way. He is very difficult to understand. TAKE GOOD NOTES!

1.0
5.0
MTH230
May 27, 2005

STAY AWAY!!! If he is the only one teaching WAIT for another quarter! If you don't YOU WILL REGRET IT!

1.0
5.0
TRIGONOMETRY
Grade: Audit/No_Grade
Aug 30, 2005

Worst..teacher...ever...

3.0
4.0
MTH131
Sep 4, 2005

Many are upset because of his stringent teaching methods. After I had his class, I went on to calculus and realized how much his class taught me. Many people want the easy way out, but he actually makes you UNDERSTAND the material -- not just the formula

1.0
4.0
MTH131
Oct 27, 2005

bad very bad

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 11, 2005

worst teacher in the world avoid him at all costs! Im not bitter its just that ive always gotten As in math, and now that im in his class im failing and not because of the material. if you get stuck with him you dont need the book. You need to take notes every day exactly as he writes them to use on the tests GOOD LUCK!

1.0
4.0
131
Dec 8, 2005

He know his material very good, but he dont know how to teach it. You can not understand him and he just keep going and don't check to see does everyone understand. He don't giver you time to ask question. You either do it his EXACTLY, or the answer is wrong. PLEASE AVOID HAVING HIM IF ANYWAY POSSIBLE.

2.0
5.0
MTH131
Jan 17, 2006

Not horribly hard to understand. I've gotten As in all my math classes, but I failed when I had him. You work out the problems HIS way, or you fail. Simple as that. I got the answers right on all the quizzes and tests, I just did it a different way than him, and he failed me for it. You need to copy his notes EXACTLY.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Jan 31, 2006

He know's his stuff but is not able to transfer that knowledge to his students.

3.0
3.0
MTH255
Mar 24, 2006

For his tests, you better copy what he writes in lectures WORD FOR WORD!!! It's not enough to get the write answers even if a normal amount of work is shown. Presentation is EVERYTHING in this class. I got every answer right on a test and still got a 72% on it.

1.0
5.0
MTH13163
May 16, 2006

STAY AWAY!!! YOU WILL DROP OR FAIL THIS CLASS IF YOU TAKE IT! NOT ONLY DOES HE NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, AND TALK TO HIMSELF...YOU CAN'T PASS HIS TESTS.

2.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 2, 2006

You have to do the problems on the test EXACTLY how he does them in his notes or you will not recieve credit for the answer. He is very hard to understand sometimes and he sweats a WHOLE bunch. He leaves the class when you take an examn and comes in only once or twice to check on you.

4.0
2.0
MTH131
Nov 23, 2006

Take notes everyday. He bases everything off his notes and refuses to use the book because it's "incomplete." He's very slow at teaching and thorough. You will fall asleep in his class. Even if you study, you will NEVER get an A. Don't take him if you can help it. DON'T DO IT!

1.0
2.0
MTH131
Dec 13, 2006

Dr Kaplan doesnt speak english. It is so complicated to understand what his is saying. He also wants you to do the math his way. You can have the neatest work out of every one and have the right answers, but if you dont do it his way you get no credit. He does understand electronics such as calculators, computers, or overhead projector.

1.0
5.0
TRIG131
Feb 25, 2007

the worst professor i have ever had!!! i couldn't understand him or the information he was teaching, even though i have been learning this information since 8th grade!!! DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASSES! HE SHOULD BE FIRED!

4.0
1.0
MTH232
May 15, 2007

hard to understand but really prepares you for the test

1.0
5.0
MTH131
May 23, 2007

What can I say that hasn't already been said? He's a really bad teacher. I am learning very little from his notes; And his tests are ridiculous.

1.0
5.0
MATH131
Jun 15, 2007

Should not be in teaching profession. An intelligent man incapable of producing anything worthwhile in the real world. So what do worthless PHD's do? They become professors. Kaplan is bitter for his shortcomings. So he gets his off by punishing undergrads. Do not take a course from him. Don't be an outlet for this guy's pented up anger.

3.0
4.0
MTH131
Nov 12, 2007

Took me a couple of weeks to get through his accent, but he is helpful to people if they come up and ask questions to him after class. He does want people to do the problems his way which can be tiresome and get points taken off (he wants math problems answered in full sentences).

4.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 15, 2007

very good teacher

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 20, 2007

He was incredibly intelligent, but that was the problem. Professors can be so smart that they are unable to dumb themselves down enough to actually TEACH their students what they know.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Jan 9, 2008

Avoid him if you can! He is one of the worst math teachers. If you do not do it his way it's an F, and his way is complicated!

2.0
5.0
MTH232
Dec 23, 2008

Avoid him if possible! I had A's in all calc previous to him, I had a D for Calc IV with him. calc IV really isn't hard tho, easier than Calc III but he was a tough grader: it had to be his way or fail even if you have the right answer, hard to understand accent, went way too fast, wouldn't answer questions, can't teach material to students at all

2.0
5.0
MTH232
Feb 17, 2009

He was extremely frustrating, I am always prepared for math classes because I actually enjoy it, still he made me feed dumb and ill prepared. He has too high of expectations compared to what was done in previous calc classes. I will never go near a class of his again!!!

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Feb 23, 2009

Horrible teacher. Do it exactly his way or you will fail. i got a 0/10 on a quiz where i showed all my work and got all the answers right. Likewise on my test i got a 59% over 90% of my class is failing

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Mar 3, 2009

he is one of the worst teachers i have ever had. you can barely understand him. on test, you must answer the questions the way he showed you in class. half of the class dropped the class. DO NOT TAKE HIM UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF WORK

2.0
5.0
MTH131
Mar 6, 2009

I used to love math, I enjoyed the homework & challenge. Kaplan made me hate it, it's not about learning & solving problems, it's about showing your work & doing problems the most ineffecient way possible, exactly like him. On quizzes, if you get the answers right & show the same work he'll still give you a 0 because he doesn't like how you show it

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Mar 26, 2009

Worst teacher ever. I got all my answers right on a test, but got a 50% because I didn't do it his way. The first week was spent trying to understand him, and listening to him yell for 10 minutes because someone tried to leave class early. He expects too much, and I have no idea why Wright State would keep this horrible professor.

2.0
4.0
MTH131
May 3, 2009

Worst professor ever!!! He told me that I was too stupid to be in this class and should never ever take calculus. Well, I didn't listen to him, and I'm doing quite well in calculus. I only took that class because calc was full.

3.0
3.0
MTH231
May 12, 2009

He has a worse reputation than he deserves. Just make sure you take notes and argue your conclusions verbally. He tends to spend too much time on the simple things and proofs and not enough on the new concepts. He's not a great professor, but not a terrible one either.

1.0
5.0
MTH232
May 13, 2009

I cannot agree more with what has been stated previously. Most of my class is failing the course, and though most of us feel we have a grasp on the material, he will not accept the correct answers we give as correct because he won't accept work that isn't precisely his own, even if the answer is correct. Would not take again.

2.0
5.0
MTH231
Jun 12, 2009

It's unfortunate that Kaplan is allowed to instruct anyone. His expectations and grading system are inconsistent. The main concepts behind Calculus III were not especially hard, but Kaplan always finds a way to overcomplicate the problems. He only cares about logical connectors rather than the mathematics behind the problems. Avoid at all costs.

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Feb 20, 2010

Worst Teacher I have ever had. You can show all your work and get all the correct answers, but he can sell manage to give you a F. Also who takes off points for not capitalizing words in math

3.0
1.0
MTH131
Mar 26, 2010

If you fail this class, you did not try. His grading scale is modified so that a 50 is a C. There are only about 5 grades total in the class. All of the exam/quiz questions are near exact replications of the examples he did in class. He does not use a book. His notes are god's spoken words! Take them down and reread them and you will pass NP.

1.0
5.0
MTHTRIG
Mar 30, 2010

Rude, hard to understand, and if you dont do problems the exact way he asks you to, you get a zero. I was majoring in math to become a teacher, i switched my major.. thanks Kaplan.

1.0
3.0
MTH131
May 29, 2010

Gives a zero if you don't write out the solution exactly like he wants it even if your answer is correct. I had points deducted for not writing "Since" in my solution. Avoid him.

2.0
5.0
MTH131
Jun 6, 2010

Heavy accent. Rambles on about proofs. doesnt really explain how to do the problems and is more interested and why it works like that. Most answer in complete sentences and takes off point for mispelling. avoid him

1.0
5.0
MTH232
Nov 2, 2010

Terrible. I've made it through to Calc IV without too many problems and am on my way to failing. Who employs a stuttering autistic Russian speaking professor that can't do his job of teaching? The Wright State math department. Thanks. Oh and he will put more writing on your tests and homework than you did in bright red ink.

2.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 2, 2010

Worst teacher I have had! He does not explain how to get your answer he just tells you the steps briefly by mumbling! I would not recommend this teacher at all! I was struggling to get through this class because he is such a picky grader! Even if you have the correct answer he will take off if you dont show enough work and if you show too much work

1.0
5.0
MTH131
Nov 16, 2010

Awful! If you want to pass, do not take this professor. He is unhelpful and will treat you like an idiot if you ask a question. He refuses to give an A so he will take off points no matter what. Avoid this guy!!!!

5.0
4.0
MTH232
Apr 26, 2011

Great professor. Explains well, homework and tests not too difficult if you understand the topic. He is very particular about presentation, you have to do it his way, which is rather involved. But it makes sense and isn't too hard to learn, learn it and apply it on everything, he'll like you.

2.0
5.0
MTH131
May 16, 2011

Dr. kaplan knws his stuff but is difficult to understand. he repets/studers alot. writes very very small. IMPORTANT!!!" he grades very harsh" my class has 3 calc students and none of them have better than an "80%" in the class. Mr. Kaplan is also very defensive, ie unreasonable when asked how to get better grades.

1.0
5.0
MTH231
Oct 10, 2011

The worst teacher at WSU. Mumbles through lecture without properly showing how to do the work or what is expected for test, homework, and quizzes. The only professor I have met in my time at WSU that can take such an easy subject and turn it into something completely different. He also talks to himself in the hallways before class. AVOID HIM

5.0
3.0
MATH131
Nov 10, 2011

Professor Kaplan really knows his material. If you do not plan on continuing to Calc., take a different teacher. He teaches calc. 3. I think he teaches trig to prepare students for calc. He is very particular. Don't worry about the grade, just do the work and understand the material. He is Russian, stutters, probably aspergers, great teacher.

1.0
5.0
MTHMTH
Nov 23, 2011

Worst teacher at Wright State. I really wish I had dropped the class early like the other THIRD of the the class. This guy kicked students out for arriving 10+ min late, He mumbled, wrote everything on the board, didnt use the book , and graded way too harshly. I had 30+ points taken off my final for not using the proper word usage. STAY AWAY!!

Class Info

Textbook Required

100%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

56% confidence
Based on 2 grades
Most common grades:
B (1)
A (1)
Audit/No_Grade (1)
Grade Distribution
A(1)B(1)C(0)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(0)
Based on 3 reported grades
B: 1
A: 1
Audit/No_Grade: 1
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.22 avg change
Jun
Nov
Apr
May
Oct
Nov
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CALC23

4.0

(1)

MATH131

3.0

(2)

MTH232

2.3

(7)

MTH231

2.2

(11)

MTH255

2.0

(2)
+11 more courses
Difficulty by Course

MATH129

5.0

MTH130

5.0

MATH231

5.0

TRIGONOMETRY

5.0

MTH13163

5.0

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