2.1

Carter Lyons

Mathematics - James Madison University

2.1
Quality
4.1
Difficulty
N/A
Would Retake
85
Reviews
2.1
Quality
4.1
Difficulty
2.4
Helpful
1.7
Clarity

N/A

Would Retake

85

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

4

4

11

3

9

2

37

1

24

What Students Say

although he is a great help in office hours his grading system is warped off the scales and class is so boring it makes you want to cry however he does have extra credit after each test which are also hard but if you put forth effor and he sees this he adjusts your grades accordingly

MATH231 - 3.0 rating

WORST math professor on earth

MATH103 - 2.0 rating
Class Info

Textbook Required

100%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

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

Stable

+0.17 avg change
May
Jun
Sep
Nov
Dec
Apr
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CALC231

4.0

(2)

107

3.5

(2)

CAL231

3.0

(1)

MATH430

3.0

(2)

MATH103

3.0

(25)
+18 more courses
Difficulty by Course

236

5.0

MATH236

5.0

MATH

5.0

MATH448

5.0

MATH304

5.0

Reviews (85)
2.0
4.0
MATH107
May 21, 2001

math for your dog while peeing on a tree, incredibly boring and good for nothing

1.0
5.0
MATH235
Jun 22, 2001

an amazing mathematician who has no clue how to teach

2.0
5.0
MATH205
Nov 12, 2001

No Comments

3.0
4.0
MATH107
Nov 14, 2001

Knows what he is doing, but cannot get it across to us. He is confusing!

1.0
5.0
MATH236
Nov 29, 2001

Horrible, Horrible teacher!!!

2.0
5.0
107
Dec 11, 2001

He's nice, he tries, but he just can't teach.

2.0
5.0
MATH235
Dec 14, 2001

very smart.........can't teach a lick

1.0
5.0
MATH107
Jan 7, 2002

Fudges the grades, grading on "creativity" in a math class.

2.0
3.0
MTH107
Jan 9, 2002

Knows what he is doing, just doesnt know how to explain it to anyone else

1.0
5.0
MATH107
Apr 4, 2002

he knows what he is teaching......not HOW to teach it...NOT GOOD!!!!

5.0
1.0
107
Apr 9, 2002

very nice and easy to talk to... fair grading scale

2.0
4.0
MTH
Nov 1, 2002

he can not explain anything

1.0
5.0
MATH107
Nov 4, 2002

Horrible Teacher, Horrible Class, Man had noooooo idea what he was talking about

1.0
5.0
MATH115
Nov 4, 2002

you should be failing already

1.0
5.0
MATH107
Nov 4, 2002

SUCKS... Run for your life now!

2.0
3.0
115
Nov 12, 2002

Uses a lot of words to explain nothing! Avoid him if possible!

1.0
4.0
MATH107
Nov 12, 2002

???

1.0
3.0
MATH115
Nov 12, 2002

worst teacher in the history of teaching

1.0
4.0
MATH107
Nov 18, 2002

No Comments

2.0
4.0
MATH107
Nov 19, 2002

nice guy, BUT HAS NO CLUE HOW TO TEACH

2.0
3.0
GMATH115
Nov 25, 2002

Nice guy, poor teacher

2.0
4.0
MATH107
Dec 4, 2002

avoid him at all costs!! doesnt know how to teach!

1.0
5.0
MATH107
Jan 17, 2003

No Comments

4.0
2.0
MATH103
Apr 14, 2003

Teaches straight from the book and is very repetitive. However, attendance doesn't matter (just make sure you show up for tests) and the tests aren't bad if you read the book.

1.0
5.0
MATH
Apr 16, 2003

worst math teacher ever

1.0
5.0
236
Apr 16, 2003

worst teacher i've ever had, and a complete A$$HOLE. Maybe he's good when he teaches upper 300 and 400 level math classes, but not Math 236. I took the class again with a different teacher and got an A.

2.0
5.0
MATH236
May 5, 2003

I had him 3 years ago as a freshman. By far the hardest class I have ever had. I was lucky to get a D. He is much smarter than the kids he teaches, that is the problem. He will help you outside of class but still impossible class.

2.0
5.0
MATH107
Jul 19, 2003

really nice guy...but sucks at teaching

4.0
2.0
MATH103
Nov 3, 2003

Pretty easy. I never go. Just show up for tests. They arent even that hard. Weird grading system. Grades based on how well everyone did in the class on that test.

4.0
3.0
MATH103
Nov 11, 2003

I really liked him, hes really sweet and old man cute. I never went to class, just showed up for the test and managed to get an A and I am HORRIBLE at math. Its not really easy- but if you put in a little effort its not that bad.

3.0
4.0
MATH205
Nov 18, 2003

I can't understand the man's teaching, so going to class doesn't really matter. I learn on my own. Only take the class if you're familiar with Calculus beforehand. I'm only passing 'cause he graded a test wrong (very uncommon).

2.0
4.0
MATH205
Nov 19, 2003

DO NOT take his class. he might as well be speaking another language because he makes everything seem so much more complicated than they need to be. i am typically a straight A math student and i will be lucky to finish with a C- or a D+

3.0
2.0
MATH103
Nov 19, 2003

first off this class is so easy. he's not a good teacher often confuses himself or says something that does not apply. but read the text if you don't understand him, he posts his classes online so if you miss it no big deal. adn he gives extra credit.

3.0
1.0
MATH103
Nov 19, 2003

Doesn't teach well, but will help you out if you go to see him. He'll tell you exactly what to study. I never go to class. Read the chapters the night before and you'll pass. I have an A.

1.0
5.0
MATH205
Dec 5, 2003

GOOD GOD! this teacher is so bad! he doesn't care if anyone understands him, he just rambles on about nonsense and he marks down every answer you give on your test by at least 2 points for "notation".

2.0
5.0
MATH448
Dec 7, 2003

He sucks and doesnt care if kids get it or not.

2.0
5.0
MATH205
Dec 11, 2003

In all honesty hes a very nice guy out of class. But as far as teaching goes hes satan. Do not take this class, I don't know one person with even a B. Try for an override or just wait another semester before taking it with him.s

3.0
4.0
MATH235
Grade: A-
Mar 3, 2004

Asks the stupidest questions on tests, and expects students to know as much as he does without teaching anything. I don't think he realizes that we aren't math professors too.

1.0
5.0
MATH235
Apr 5, 2004

I have taken Calc before and still am failing this class. On one test, I got 9 of 10 answers correct but got a D because of notation (I wrote the answer in the wrong place) - STAY AWAY!

1.0
5.0
MATH235
Apr 5, 2004

Self-absorbed teacher not focused at simplifying or explaining the purpose of this useless subject.

4.0
4.0
MATH235
Apr 16, 2004

Very nice guy but he spends too much time on proofs and doesn't teach you how to do the problems. Assigns homework on stuff that he hasn't gone over yet. Strange grading system though so i'm making a C when i should have an D or F

5.0
1.0
MATH103
Apr 22, 2004

I never went to this class and still got an A. I did study before tests though. He posts the the lessons online so it's easy to figure out what you need to study. Easy class, easy material, easy teacher.

2.0
5.0
MATH235
May 17, 2004

nice guy but horrible teacher. there's no point in going to class, he'll just confuse you even more. i had taken calc before and it was still impossible. grading system very weird though, i should have gotten a d or f but i got a c...take someone else

1.0
5.0
MATH304
Sep 25, 2004

Stay away!! Math is my best subject and I didn't understand a bit of this (despite getting an A thanks to his weird grading). It's all about theorems that he doesn't give any meaning to. He never connected what we were doing to something concrete.

4.0
3.0
MATH103
Sep 29, 2004

good teacher, very nice guy very friendly. weird grade system but if you know the stuff well you should be fine. thoroughly enjoy his class

5.0
1.0
MATH103
Oct 6, 2004

His notes are online, he meets with you whenever you want, even if you DON'T attend class, and his wacky grading makes your grade higher than it should be. The only thing you have to do is study for the tests. To do well in any class you have to study.

4.0
3.0
MATH103
Oct 8, 2004

I am not a math person, and this class was by far the most interesting and enjoyable math class I've ever taken. It's not hard, but you do need to study for the tests.

2.0
4.0
MATH103
Grade: Not_Sure_Yet
Nov 10, 2004

Um..KILL yourself before you take this class. Nice guy but races thru the material and is so unclear as to what the HELL he's talking about. Questions on the test are soooo weird I can't even describe them and the math you learn isn't even applicable in the real world. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS OR HIM

2.0
5.0
MATH103
Nov 17, 2004

DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS, although he was nice the class was boring and incredibly hard. weirdest math class that I have ever taken in my entire life...

2.0
4.0
MATH103
Nov 17, 2004

Nice guy, horrible teacher. If you don't understand one concept, you might as well give up because there's no way to figure out what you don't understand AND learn the new stuff. I would not recommend this course or teacher, even though I do like the guy.

4.0
3.0
MATH103
Nov 17, 2004

Carter Lyons is a very nice guy. Very friendly and approachable, you can joke around with him before class too. If you can comprehend the material you'll do fine.

1.0
5.0
MATH103
Grade: B-
Dec 1, 2004

On the first day of class he said, "I'm not a teacher, I'm a mathematician. To me, math is an art." He's an awful teacher, wait! I wouldn't even call him a teacher. He just pulls numbers out of the sky and uses them and never explains why. Worst teacher ever! If you have him, switch immediately.

5.0
2.0
MATH103
Dec 4, 2004

awesome teacher. nice guy. very approachable. connects math to issues in daily life, so that people can understand. if you take notes and attend class regularly you'll do great. easy grader. gives take home tests. no attendance policy. overall super class...wish i was a math major

3.0
4.0
MATH103
Dec 5, 2004

yah so since i suck @math-obviously i chose 103-right? wrong- this class is weird, its not math its freakin mathematical concepts-no calculators-WTF? unorganized teacher and boring as hell class, nice guy but this was my hardest class. however i am getting a B- hes got a great curve, but dont take

2.0
4.0
MATH103
Dec 21, 2004

Extremely nice guy, just not the best professor. Class seemed like it was going to be interesting and easy at first, but it became confusing. It's hard to figure out how u are doing in the class because his grading scale is so odd. Struggled to make a C. No attendance, but you MUST go to class!

2.0
5.0
MATH103
Apr 20, 2005

AVOID AT ALL COSTS---Nice guy...but he could care less how you do or how hard you work. Class was boring and didnt make any sense at all. I was totally lost everyday.

2.0
5.0
MATH231
May 16, 2005

very nice and willing to work with you during office hours, but very bad lectures. must attend class, though all the notes are disorganized. expect to teach yourself.

2.0
4.0
MTH103
Jul 11, 2005

Do not take this class unless you have to. This class is very confusing, and the teacher moves extremely fast. My notes were very disorganized due to his style of teaching (all over the board), making it impossible for me to study at home. He is a very nice person, and his grading scale does work out to the student's advantage. Stay away!

1.0
5.0
MATH236
Sep 3, 2005

TERRIBLE!!

2.0
4.0
MATH231
Nov 2, 2005

not a good professor. I taught myself all the content of the course, and realized only at the end that going to class really isn't necessary since his notes are pointless to understand. If you want to teach yourself, this class still sucks, but at least you get the satisfaction of hard work....

1.0
4.0
MTH238
Nov 8, 2005

smart guy, but has no idea how to teach. id have been better off driving down I-81 and throwing my money out the window than paying JMU tuition for class. taught all material to myself from book (which is also not the best math book either). has curves on tests and getting a C in class is not out of reach... but you won't learn anything

2.0
5.0
MATH231
Nov 17, 2005

Terrible and confusing as hhhh. He'll go on forever abotu why something is without giving it any context, and in the end you learn nothing. Expect to teach yourself everything from the book, which is very time-consuming. He will assist you after hours, but overall DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. Find someone else.

2.0
4.0
MATH231
Nov 21, 2005

He is a nice person and will help you outside of class but he is terrible at explaining things. His tests aren't that hard IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL. But understanding the material involves understanding him which is the hard part. The only graded assignments are 3 tests and 1 exam . He has no attendance policy but if you miss class, you will

3.0
5.0
CAL231
Dec 24, 2005

If you can NEVER take a class under this man! He is very nice but, very, very hard to understand. Wants all problems to be done the hard way and will accept nothing less. Tests you on the information about once a month and they are all very hard. Go to his office hours as much as possible if you cannot avoid taking this class.

4.0
3.0
CALC231
Jan 11, 2006

Good guy, pretty confusing but i dont think he is nearly as bad as everyone else is saying.

2.0
5.0
MATH231
Apr 8, 2006

if you aren't a math person, don't take him. if you are a math person, still don't take him. he doesn't explain how to do anything at all, he just gives you theories and expects you to know what to do. very nice man but awful teacher.

4.0
5.0
CALC231
Apr 19, 2006

He's really helpful in office hours. Sometimes he messes up his work on the blackboard and it can get really confusing. Assigns work before he teaches it. Expects you to learn on your own. Do the homework even if you don't understand it. If some one in class asks too many question, tune out of the conversation, it'll only make things worse.

3.0
4.0
MATH231
Apr 22, 2006

although he is a great help in office hours his grading system is warped off the scales and class is so boring it makes you want to cry however he does have extra credit after each test which are also hard but if you put forth effor and he sees this he adjusts your grades accordingly

2.0
5.0
MATH103
Nov 1, 2006

WORST math professor on earth. and I'm an expert on bad ones...i had Yesilcay for MATH 220. But this guy is WORSE. Impossible to follow and totally abstract. DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASSES WITH THIS PROFESSOR

3.0
4.0
MATH103
Nov 2, 2006

Mr. Lyons is a really nice guy. He helps more out of class than in class so I recommend going to office hours; i basically lived there. His math class was VERY abstract. It seemed, at times, that the information he gave came out of no where. If you get him, go to hours and ask a lot of questions because you will have them.

1.0
4.0
MATH231
Nov 7, 2006

Worst techer that I've had at JMU. He knows the material but cannot teach it to save his life. I highly recommend David Walton for 232.

1.0
5.0
MATH103
Nov 15, 2006

Flat out worst math professor ever! Don't even think twice about taking this man's class! You'll regret it! He doesn't care about teaching his students. He is so confusing and his tests are ridiculous and don't reflect what was discussed. He is condesending and actually laughed at me when I came to get help because what I had said was so "stupid".

1.0
5.0
MATH103
Nov 29, 2006

To be honest, this guy is the absolute WORST professor i have ever had. He is not helpful, he doesn't make sense, and his grading policy is entriel unfair. Whatever you do, steer clear of his classes.

2.0
5.0
MATH103
Dec 19, 2006

This class was horrible, and so was the professor. He doesn't seem to care at all about his students, tests are off the wall with randomness, including the take home parts. It is extremely difficult and I would recommend staying away from this professor when taking this class!

1.0
5.0
MATH235
Dec 23, 2006

Worst class I've ever taken. Tests are impossible and he can't teach. DON'T TAKE HIM!

4.0
2.0
MATH103
Mar 20, 2007

I loved this man! I just wanted to give him a hug everytime I saw him....like a grandpa. Defintely see him during office hours. very helpful if you ask

2.0
5.0
MATH108
Apr 3, 2007

This class shouldnt have been that hard, but he has made it incredibly hard. Pulls questions from the test out of nowhere. Moves really slow thru the chapters and then has to play catch up at the end. He really is a nice guy overall, but just is not good at being clear when explaing things.

2.0
5.0
MATH430
May 21, 2007

VERY VERY HARD. He is rude and does not teach the material well. His tests are ALL proof, but none you could study before hand. Every proof on the test is a brand new one. If you want a C, D, or F on your transcript then take him. Almost impossible to get an A or B. For every test he gives an in class AND a take home!

4.0
4.0
MATH430
Jun 28, 2007

Very clear and he provides you all the information you need to pass his tests (which are hard). The thing is, it's up to you to work with the materiial and get yourself ready. It really takes hard work outside of class to get ready for his tests (both in class and take home). He was always very patient and helpful during office hours.

2.0
5.0
MATH321
Sep 4, 2007

Couldn't stand his class at all, dropped it the day of the deadline. He goes of on wild tangents to solve simple problems because he wants you to fully comprehend the purpose of calculus. Very smart man, on time all the time. If your going to take this class then I suggest that you make sure the rest of your schedule is fairly easy. Good luck!!

2.0
5.0
MATH231
Nov 7, 2007

Very tough class. He doesn't care to relate to his students at all, just walks right in and starts lecturing. Very very smart man, but too smart to teach someone who doesn't understand calculus well. Tests are very tough, but you get a take home portion that can help. Attendance isn't mandatory. I wouldn't take his class again.

2.0
4.0
MATH231
Nov 12, 2007

He's a nice guy and really tries to teach the materials, but its extremely difficult when he explains it in the language of the nerdy mathematical world. But honestly, he's a really nice teacher, just confusing. Try to learn from the textbook if you have him....and avoid 8AM classes!!!

2.0
3.0
MATH103
Nov 13, 2007

Not the best class in the world. He is a nice guy, but never cancels class, always lectures from beginning to end and is very scatter-brained. The material doesn't seem like it should be challenging, but he makes it confusing. Get another professor if you can.

2.0
4.0
MATH231
Dec 18, 2007

This class was really hard for me. There is no notes but the textbook, and if you wanna learn about Philosophy then take this class if you wanna learn about math then dont. waking up at 8 am four days a week to come to this class was a waste of time! by the way he doesn't add up the points on the test. he gives you the grade he thinks you deserve.

2.0
4.0
MATH108
Apr 8, 2008

He seems like a nice guy, but is extremely unclear. He spends a lot of time daily, explaining things just to find out he made a mistake and then will sit there clueless trying to find out where he went wrong. You will have to teach yourself and going to class can sometimes confuse you. Thankfully there is no attendance policy.

Class Info

Textbook Required

100%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

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

Stable

+0.17 avg change
May
Jun
Sep
Nov
Dec
Apr
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CALC231

4.0

(2)

107

3.5

(2)

CAL231

3.0

(1)

MATH430

3.0

(2)

MATH103

3.0

(25)
+18 more courses
Difficulty by Course

236

5.0

MATH236

5.0

MATH

5.0

MATH448

5.0

MATH304

5.0

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