4.4

Charles Lake

Computer Science - Coastal Alabama Community College (was Faulkner State Community College)

4.4
Quality
2.6
Difficulty
84%
Would Retake
112
Reviews
4.4
Quality
2.6
Difficulty
4.4
Helpful
4.4
Clarity

84%

Would Retake

112

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official
112 total ratings

5

84

4

14

3

4

2

3

1

7

What Students Say

Great overall teacher

CIS146 - 5.0 rating

Come to Class and you will be good

CIS147 - 5.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

98%

Textbook Required

50%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A+

95% confidence
Based on 48 grades
Most common grades:
A (28)
A+ (11)
B (4)
Grade Distribution
A(39)B(4)C(0)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(5)
Based on 49 reported grades
A: 28
A+: 11
B: 4
B+: 4
Common Tags
Skip class? You won't pass. (19)
Respected (16)
Hilarious (11)
Participation matters (10)
Gives good feedback (10)
Amazing lectures (8)
Inspirational (8)
Caring (7)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.23 avg change
Dec
Apr
Oct
Jan
Oct
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CIS190

5.0

(1)

BUS241

5.0

(1)

COMPUTR

5.0

(1)

COMPUTERSCIENC

5.0

(1)

VARIOUS

5.0

(1)
+18 more courses
Difficulty by Course

BUS241

4.0

COMPUTR

4.0

BUS272

4.0

COMPUTER

3.5

CSI146

3.3

Reviews (108)
4.0
2.0
CIS
Feb 19, 2003

Talks fast and knows his stuff. He is willing to help. Hates those who cut clas

2.0
2.0
CIS146
May 28, 2003

No Comments

4.0
2.0
BUS275
Jul 16, 2003

Talks VERY fast but crams your head with the good stuff. If you skip, he will get you

5.0
1.0
CIS190
Jul 31, 2003

I want his energy!

5.0
2.0
BUS277
Jul 31, 2003

Pretty Good

5.0
4.0
BUS241
Mar 9, 2004

Wow, he can do those numbers! I thought he taught computers but he can also do accounting

4.0
3.0
BUS277
May 26, 2004

He likes his coffee and his class

5.0
3.0
COMPUTER
Jun 1, 2004

Knows too much stuff

5.0
4.0
COMPUTR
Jun 1, 2004

Witty and funny. Seems to know everything

4.0
3.0
CIS150
Oct 7, 2004

A computer wiz, he could tell you the entire history of computers and the net backwards in under 5 minutes.....fast paced and sure to keep you awake

4.0
2.0
CS14681
Mar 16, 2005

Nice. Talks a little too fast but nice.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Jun 15, 2005

OK - just goes fast

5.0
1.0
BUS277
Grade: Incomplete
Sep 12, 2005

online class, was interesting and an "A" that i fully deserved. very hard working teacher

5.0
1.0
CIS147
Sep 17, 2005

Wise man, great advisor

5.0
2.0
COMPUTERSCIENC
Oct 2, 2005

I think he is the smartest man alive..I seriously think he knows EVERYTHING! I'd recommend his class to anyone! He talks fast but its entertaining!

2.0
4.0
COMPUTER
Oct 19, 2005

He talks very fast and was hard to understand...hes very smart though!

5.0
1.0
VARIOUS
Oct 26, 2005

great teacher, very helpful and understanding

5.0
4.0
CIS146
Mar 7, 2006

Great teacher. Glad I took him

4.0
1.0
COMPUTERS
Jun 10, 2006

talks fast, fun, knows lots,keeps you awake, and loves coffee One of the best at faulkner.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Sep 18, 2006

Fast, funny, nice, interesting, smart

5.0
2.0
CIS140
Jan 11, 2007

Good guy. Moves around alot but smart

4.0
2.0
CSI146
Nov 9, 2007

Do NOT skip this class

5.0
4.0
CIS147
Mar 12, 2009

I really enjoyed the class and glad I took him. Time well spent!

5.0
2.0
CSI100
Oct 17, 2009

sexy in a smart way.

5.0
5.0
CIS146
May 3, 2010

Dr Lake made us come to class but it was worth it. Working the Computer Fair helps alot too!

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Oct 27, 2010

The best teacher I have ever had. He makes sure that you "get your moneys worth" when you come to his class. Very smart, sly sense of humor, and is one of the rare teachers who actually cares about you and your grades.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Apr 12, 2011

Great Teacher.Super easy.worth your money.fun&enjoyable class.he makes learning fun.so recommended.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Apr 25, 2011

Awesome person and class!

1.0
4.0
CIS146
Apr 30, 2011

TALKS 2 FAST! SHOWS THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE THERE. WHEN HE'S DONE TALKING 100 MPH, HE'S DONE WITH YOU. DOES NOT WANT TO HELP. LIKES TO TALK CRAP TO THOSE STRUGGLING, I MADE AN A THOUGH. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU WANT TO LEARN AND GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH!!!

4.0
1.0
CIS146
May 1, 2011

He is like speedy Gonzales in a conversation, but he is highly intelligent and definitely knows his material. If you can carry on a conversation with him, you will learn a lot-I did. Classy, intelligent and has high standards.

5.0
2.0
CSI140
Sep 5, 2011

Nice guy. He helped

5.0
2.0
CIS147
Sep 20, 2011

Great guy. Loved him! Glad I took him and will take him again. I learned lots

5.0
2.0
CIS147
Oct 11, 2011

Nice teacher. Moves alot and is smart. Cute

5.0
3.0
CIS116
Nov 17, 2011

Amazing teacher! Very interesting. Favorite teacher by far!

5.0
2.0
CIS11
Mar 17, 2012

Best teacher I ever had.

5.0
5.0
CIS147
Apr 30, 2012

First off, let me just tell you that he is the best instructor on campus. I've taken him for the past two semesters and i've learned much from him. He is a rolemodel to me. I am have never been as impressed with an instructor as I am with him. I look up to him. Hard work pays off and I would like to be smart like him when I finish grad school

5.0
4.0
CIS147
Sep 19, 2012

Lake is beyond the best! He is my favorite instructor. I have learned so much from him. I am very glad I was able to take his classes.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Nov 19, 2012

Challenging class- with a great teacher!

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Nov 19, 2012

The best.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Jan 22, 2013

He is the best teacher I had at Faulkner. If I had questions he would answer them. I would take his class again. You get your money's worth when you take his classes. He is without a doubt the most popular teacher at Faulkner. Everyone likes his class. I did. Take his class and you will learn.

5.0
1.0
CIS147
Mar 2, 2013

I do not know where to begin when it comes to Dr. Lake. He is brilliant. Just being in his class makes me feel smarter. I have learned so much from him. His classes are worth it. After taking his class you will remember everything. Attendance is mandatory. Believe me you will want to miss his class. It is entertainng and he is the best!

5.0
1.0
CIS147
May 16, 2013

If you have the opportunity to take his class take it! Dr. Lake is an amazing person. He knows what he teaches. If you have a question don't be afraid to ask. He is one of the nicest instructors at FSCC. Pay attention in his class and do not skip. I am glad I was able to take one of his classes before leaving Faulkner.

1.0
5.0
CIS146
Jun 26, 2013

Dr. Lake is such a challenging teacher and his test are very hard.

4.0
3.0
CIS146
Oct 2, 2013

Great teacher, took him at the GS campus, enjoyed the class and learned a lot. Very good real world knowledge. He is very involved with the school and a pretty cool dude. Work the fair, it pays off and its a good experience.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Nov 15, 2013

The greatest teacher I have ever had. As long as you show up to class you are fine. He is a brilliant guy, and I used him as my advisor.

5.0
3.0
CIS146
Dec 2, 2013

I love Dr Lake, he keeps the ruff raff out of his class. Just come to class and pay attention that is all he ask for. Classwork is easy, and he is very entertaining. Never a dull moment with Dr Lake. Plus, he is the advisor for the Honor Society. If you want to learn and not deal with the rough students take this class.

5.0
2.0
CIS147
Grade: B
Apr 15, 2014

I learned more in his class than I learned in others. He is hyper but that is because he wants you to get the stuff in his class. Go to class and you will do good

5.0
1.0
CIS147
Grade: A+
Apr 23, 2014

Great teacher. I learned a lot from him. He is great! Plus he's cute. Show up to every class! Good luck.

5.0
5.0
CIS147
May 22, 2014

This man is a genius and my favorite teacher of all time. Loved his energy and the fact that he's a straight shooter. I learned more from him in 2 semesters than in 4 years in high school.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Dec 9, 2014

Whew! He said he wanted to give us our money and times worth. We sure got it

5.0
3.0
CIS147
Grade: A
Dec 11, 2014

Come to Class and you will be good

1.0
2.0
CIS146
Apr 17, 2015

The instructor spends more time lecturing on students preparing for class, coming to class, having work completed than on the actual topic. Instructor has little respect for students that have worked with subject for over 20 years. Instructor belittles and talks down to students but demands respect and is proud of his ability to tell parents off

3.0
2.0
CIS147
Grade: A+
Apr 20, 2015

Dr. Lake is really a character. He takes some getting use to. After the first couple of weeks you discover that he is actually a good teacher and an amazing advisor. If you attend his class you will pass.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Apr 28, 2015

Great guy. Lake is fantastic. He may seem mean but underneath this meanness is someone who would do anything to help you out. He is the Pakistan advisor and got me a scholarship to South. Thanks Dr Lake!

4.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Jul 29, 2015

Liked the guy - glad I took him. Good at helping you with your schedule

5.0
1.0
CIS147
Grade: B
Nov 13, 2015

This guy is an amazing professor, he is hard but he loves doing it

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Dec 30, 2015

Great guy - glad took him good advisor

1.0
5.0
CIS146
Jan 20, 2016

Totally unhelpful. Very arrogant.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Jan 26, 2016

Dr Lake is a nice teacher. He talksloud and sounds mean but he is really nice. He gets mad at the skippers

4.0
4.0
CIS140
Grade: A+
May 9, 2016

He talks very loud, but he is a nice professor. He hates skippers, but he definitely has my respect.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: A
May 10, 2016

I would definitely recommend taking Dr. Lake pretty funny guy met him at the computer fair and he is hilarious! Took his online class and passed with an A! also attend the computer fair helps your grade out a lot! if you happen to miss out on your assignments.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A
May 10, 2016

Dr Lake really is passionate at what he teaches. He keeps track of attendance and he lets you know he is "watching - always watching." If you plan to major in Business see him. He also does Phi Theta Kapa which is the honor society.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
May 17, 2016

Great overall teacher. Definitely recommend! As long as you show up you will pass.

5.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: A
May 29, 2016
Would take again

Great guy. Don't let his bark scare you. He is really a softie wanting to give you the white shirt off his back. Love him and you will too

1.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: B+
Nov 28, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Worst class I have ever taken. He is not willing to help and looks/talks to you like you are stupid if you ask a question. He is loud, rude and arrogant and thinks it's funny to belittle students. He spends too much time off topic rather than going over the material. Seriously the class was a waste.

Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
3.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Dec 7, 2016
Wouldn't take again

HE WILL NOT PUT YOUR GRADES ONLINE, which is annoying. He cares but his normal level of tone is a yell. Don't make yourself wake up to him. He is nice but he has to see you putting in the effort. Practice before the hands on tests and you'll easily ace them. The first test is difficult and the final is just like the first but a little harder.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Dec 8, 2016
Would take again

Dr Lake is one of the BEST teachers I have ever had. He is a bit fast but he really cares about the class. I am glad I took him and look forward to having him again.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
CIS147
Grade: B
Dec 9, 2016
Would take again

Learned lots of stuff I will use

Gives good feedback
Respected
Amazing lectures
4.0
5.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Dec 13, 2016
Would take again

Nice guy.

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
1.0
CIS147
Grade: A
Dec 13, 2016
Would take again

Lake covered things that i never knew before. He showed us things about databases i am glad to know.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Caring
5.0
5.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Jan 8, 2017
Would take again

Dr. lake was one of the BEST teachers I had or will have. He keeps track of you I will tell you this - if you like to skip class, do NOT take him. If you want to learn then DO take him

Respected
Amazing lectures
Caring
5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Jan 8, 2017
Would take again

His class is pretty easy as long as you show up and do the classwork. Only problem I had with his class is never knowing my grade because he doesn't post grades online.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
5.0
5.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Jan 15, 2017
Would take again

I was am glad I had DR Lake for the class. He is kind of funny. If you miss a lot of days he will get mad. He does the study buddy thing that I wished others would do

Inspirational
Amazing lectures
EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Feb 7, 2017
Would take again

I liked having Lake. Faulkner has some good teachers and Lake is one of the best

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
5.0
5.0
CIS147
Feb 27, 2017
Would take again

Good instructor. Liked him

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Hilarious
5.0
5.0
CIS146
May 4, 2017
Would take again

Hard but worth it

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Aug 27, 2017
Would take again

Had him over the summer. Wish I could get him again. Smart but caring

Gives good feedback
Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
4.0
CIS146
Sep 2, 2017
Would take again

Awesome dude

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
3.0
CSI146
Grade: A
Sep 8, 2017
Would take again

My head is still spinning from him. If you want to learn take him and you WILL He does the honor society too and can help you with scholarships

Respected
Inspirational
Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
Oct 9, 2017
Would take again

Dr. Lake is an exceptional educator. He is by far the best professor I have ever had. He is the reason I continued my education and earned my B.S. discipline in computer science. I was a non-traditional student and my parents never encouraged higher education. His methodology is very unorthodox. You will never be bored. Show up for class!

Respected
Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
3.0
CIS147
Grade: A
Oct 20, 2017
Would take again

Lake is one of a kind. Just come to class and he takes it from there.

Respected
Inspirational
5.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
Jan 22, 2018
Would take again

He is an amazing guy! Make everything so easy. If you go to his classes it is impossible not to make an A.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Amazing lectures
3.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Apr 15, 2018
Wouldn't take again

He is obviously very educated and very experienced in this field of teaching. You have to get past his condescending speeches but otherwise a good teacher for the content. You HAVE TO show up to class every day or you will not pass.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
5.0
2.0
CIS146
May 9, 2018
Would take again

Dr. Lake is the best! Show up to class, pay attention, and do your work; it's that simple. He is knowledgeable in many areas, and that makes the class much more interesting.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
5.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
Dec 5, 2018
Would take again

Not difficult at all!

Gives good feedback
Respected
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Jan 4, 2019
Would take again

I was glad I had dr lake. If you skip he will not be happy with you.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
Hilarious
5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
Jan 7, 2019
Would take again

You get out what you put into this class. Dr. lake is always willing to help you learn as a student. The class is a breeze if you just show up and pay attention.

Respected
Inspirational
Caring
5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
Apr 2, 2019
Would take again

My favorite professor!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
5.0
1.0
CIS146
Jun 17, 2019
Would take again

He was honest and very to the point

Skip class? You won't pass.
Participation matters
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Jul 4, 2019
Would take again

Dr Lake is one of the best teachers I have had at Coastal.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Dec 5, 2019
Would take again

Liked him slot. Lake is one of the best instructors at Coastal. He makes the place a smarter college

Clear grading criteria
Caring
Respected
5.0
4.0
BUS272
May 26, 2020
Would take again

Wonderful teacher.

Inspirational
Gives good feedback
Respected
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: B+
Jul 16, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Lake was a little cooky but was an amazing instructor. Attendance is key to passing. All in all, was an easy class and i definietly left knowing how to use microsoft applications!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
CIS146
Oct 9, 2020
Would take again

Made the online course easy to use and learn

Caring
Respected
3.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Nov 2, 2020
Wouldn't take again

He has... I guess a strong personality is how I would describe it. Get on his good side. Show up to class. Ask questions. He talks fast so pay attention.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Tough grader
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Mar 31, 2021
Would take again

Was glad I had him. Seems mean but is really nice and caring. He wants you to think he is mean but he isnt. He is a good guy

Gives good feedback
Caring
Respected
5.0
1.0
CIS147
Grade: B+
Aug 22, 2021
Would take again

Mr. Lake was a wonderful instructor. Easy class and actually learned a lot.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Accessible outside class
5.0
4.0
BUS271
Nov 22, 2021
Would take again

Awesome

Gives good feedback
Inspirational
1.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: A-
Apr 25, 2022

A lot of reviews put it very nicely for some reason, saying he has a strong personality or whatever, but a classroom shouldn't feel uncomfortable even if the teacher knows what they're talking about. Might like him if you appreciate casual misogyny and self-important rambling about him and his generation being better than his students.

5.0
2.0
CIS146
Grade: A
May 9, 2022
Would take again

Clearly has a love for his profession. He is very good at explaining the subject matter in a digestible and understandable way. He prefers not to answer the same questions over and over again. Just pay close attention and you'll leave with a much greater understanding of the Microsoft suite.

Gives good feedback
Hilarious
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: A
May 27, 2022
Would take again

Dr. Lake is old school. He wants you to know the trade and not just the tricks of the trade. It can lead to a few rants or rabbit holes but its all coming from him having a passion for instruction. He gives you every minute you pay for. His delivery is not for everybody but the class structure is straight forward and simple. Show up, do the work.

5.0
3.0
BUS271
Grade: A+
Aug 4, 2022
Would take again

Stats I in Summer. Coursework was based on how we well we were understanding the material. He'd skip around to the relevant material/formulas. Book is 100% necessary! Be prepared to do problems on the board in front of everyone. Its very helpful. Class of 6 so we were spoiled with time on lectures/problems to work out together. Ti83/84 is useful.

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
Graded by few things
2.0
4.0
CIS146
Grade: A+
Dec 4, 2023

Deep, deep, DEEP down, he is a nice guy, but he is not a great teacher. He moves VERY fast. If you have even a sliver of anxiety, I would not recommend it. Show up & pay attention! If you're slower, sit next to a friend and try to keep up. My best advice is to bring him snacks... trust me. Also, give him attitude back. It's all a game to him.

Participation matters
5.0
2.0
BUS271
Grade: A
Apr 15, 2024
Would take again

I was glad I took Dr. Lake for stats. He made us work problems in the board and guided us step by step. I feel a little smarter because of it

Clear grading criteria
Caring
Accessible outside class
1.0
5.0
CSI146
Grade: B
Oct 14, 2024

Teachers entirely too fast and it's very disrespectful. If I'm paying money out of my pocket to come to class, it shouldn't matter to you what time I'll come walking through the door. If you don't understand something, he gets mad and rude with you.

4.0
3.0
CIS146
Grade: B+
Jan 10, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Lake can be a bit intense, but if you stay engaged and use helpful study tools like unstuck study, you'll get a lot out of the class. The material is straightforward, so just do the work and you'll do well.

5.0
1.0
CIS146
Grade: A
Oct 9, 2025
Would take again

This man runs on pure caffeine and time-pressure. He will teach extremely fast so make sure you bring your own stimulant!! That said, there's never any bookwork and he gives you an A just for keeping up with him. He even lets you try again during assessments/tests if you did it wrong the first try. Once, I took 4 attempts before he gave me the 100.

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
Online Savvy
4.0
3.0
CIS251
Grade: A
Dec 18, 2025
Would take again

Professor Charles Lake is a knowledgeable C++ instructor with an old-school teaching style. He moves quickly and brings a lot of energy, but his approach encourages critical thinking by having students identify and fix errors themselves. It can be challenging at times, but it's effective and reinforces real learning.

Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

98%

Textbook Required

50%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A+

95% confidence
Based on 48 grades
Most common grades:
A (28)
A+ (11)
B (4)
Grade Distribution
A(39)B(4)C(0)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(5)
Based on 49 reported grades
A: 28
A+: 11
B: 4
B+: 4
Common Tags
Skip class? You won't pass. (19)
Respected (16)
Hilarious (11)
Participation matters (10)
Gives good feedback (10)
Amazing lectures (8)
Inspirational (8)
Caring (7)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.23 avg change
Dec
Apr
Oct
Jan
Oct
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CIS190

5.0

(1)

BUS241

5.0

(1)

COMPUTR

5.0

(1)

COMPUTERSCIENC

5.0

(1)

VARIOUS

5.0

(1)
+18 more courses
Difficulty by Course

BUS241

4.0

COMPUTR

4.0

BUS272

4.0

COMPUTER

3.5

CSI146

3.3

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