3.3
Quality3.7
Difficulty52%
Would Retake145
Reviews52%
Would Retake
145
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
54
4
26
3
21
2
20
1
24
What Students Say
“Passionate about math but his teaching is awful”
MTH124 - 3.0 rating“When about 50% of students in a class fail a test it's an obvious reflection of him”
MTH180 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
25%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.31 avg changeRatings by Course
153
5.0
(1)005180
5.0
(1)MTH009
5.0
(1)MTH260
5.0
(1)MATH08
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
151
5.0
MATH006
5.0
MATH
5.0
MATH08
5.0
MAT153
5.0
Reviews (145)
Not very helpful
No Comments
HE KICKS ASS!!!
Best math prof I have had, very smart, very helpful, I learned a great deal
He is a Huge ****, but a great Prof who knows his ****
No Comments
best math teacher ever!!
No Comments
No Comments
what a douchebag....easiest class i've ever taken felt like i was in special ed
very good professor...knows how to teach well
Van is a great teacher. Though, he likes things done his own way or it's wrong, it's good for the long haul. He explains everything he teaches very clearly. I would recommend him for any math class at PCT.
He is very helpful! What can I say, I think he is GREAT!!
Vander is a hard a** but he knows his math he needs to SLOW DOWN he goes through the chapters way to fast other than that he is an alright teach but if you are just atarting i wouldn't take him.
is a very outgoing professor and makes it fun and easy to learn
He knows his stuff, but he is a hard @$$. His class is ok but be ready to work.
lol, i agree he should say at the beginning of class.... why do we wish we werent here? and we would respond, because we hate this $h!T
Needs to know people don't all think the way he does. Needs to realize other people know something about math. Can't teach. Give's way too much homework. Wouldn't recommend this teacher to anyone who wants to learn and do good in the class.
For all of us in 005, shut your face, we are the retards. Saying too much work, we get like 2-3 homework ass. out ouf the 4 days we go, I think thats pretty good, and no homework over the weekend. Keep on truckin' and Van will keep on trippin!
quit your griping, it could be much worse. I don't have a problem with him. Don't give him an attitude and he won't give u one!!
smart guy , attutide while helping people isn't very good, needs to understand we aren't all in love with math like himself. you'll learn your sh** in this class
Great professor and a heck of a nice guy!! I do have one problem though. If .999 rounds to a 1 when he is using a graphing calculator, then why isn't a 79.9 an 80 on a test?
let's put it this way, if you like math taught slowly, do not take Vandervere!!!!, you'll regret it. He's a cool guy with a good personality, but his classes are difficult. His tests are a little long and drawn out, and will really test your math ability
he is an open faced****sandwich. grades like an ****.
Enthusiastic, brillant and real. Can teach well. Swears too much but so do I. Better than most but could learn alot from R. Bowers (my fav). Beats the pants of egotistical J.Anthony.
IF YOUR SMART TAKE DOTZEL, IF YOUR WILLING TO LEARN AND TRY. DOTZEL WILL CARE ENOUGH TO HELP YOU GET BY.
Kurt is an energetic teacher with an immense knowledge. He is very thorough, and covers some items that other MTH180 instructors do not. Those who continue to Calculus, will have been done a great service.
Great if you already have a clue in Algebra, if not your screwed. Nice person overall, makes people a little tense
No Comments
Very nice guy, but horrible teacher. Dont take him.
His energetic style ceates an atmosphere for learning. His very disciplined theory based approach may be a bit hard for some to understand. Dedicated students will have no trouble learning from him
No Comments
Very good teacher will help you with any questions but be ready, you have to have a clue as to whats going on or he wont help you because your wasting his time....Also loves harleys
No Comments
his teaching is hard to understand, messes up a lot
Messes up a lot. Nice guy. If you know math take him, if you're not so good, try someone else.
Van makes me want to learn math again, something that so many other teachers have failed to do, and he does it without even trying like they did. Awesome teacher
ANYONE WHO SAYS HE CAN'T TEACH, CAN'T LEARN. IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER- HE *LOVES* MATH. EVEN IF YOU STRUGGLE, HIS CLASS IS STILL FUN. EVEN IF YOU HATE MATH, YOU *WILL* LEARN FROM HIM- HE MAKES SURE OF IT!
moves real fast in class, its hard to get a grasp on what he is teaching, if u don't like math do not take van
good teach moves fast and wont help
Complete ****...Can only teach from the book..Hell he can even read the problem most the time..Complete ass...
should quit teaching and go ride his ******* harley. I hate him and he was the worst teacher I have ever had. He liked the jerks he had before and all the old people. Anyone who had anything to say was a treated like ****.
This guy sucks!
this guy sucks ass! he wont help out and moves what to fast. you better know everything about math before you enter his room or your screwed! his test are not fair and his final really sucks! good luck passing any of his classes!
In most cases he does move fast but you have to be a good listener. Part of college is listening skills agreed he puts them to the test but by no means is he a complete jerk. Just buckle up and hang on for the ride.
Doesn't grade homework, moves a little fast, but class is easy if you pay attention, keep up, and do some studying on your own.
He goes way to fast! Thinks you should know everything before you go into his class. He go through 3-4 sections in one class! Sucks
He is a fair teacher... if you are willing to work. All the people on here bashing him are too lazy and irresponsible to be accountable for their own grades. I for one thought he was a thorough and fair, and it is very possible to earn an "A".
Nice Guy and good teacher. Unfair at grading partial credit and show your work problems. If he doesnt see every little step, although you have the correct answer, he still doesnt give you the credit for the problem. Final is too hard but good teacher
Could be a decent teacher if he'd get his head out of his ass and look around in the real world for a bit. He's good for learning by the notes he gives. But teaches way to fast, and his tests are rediculous. Over 50% of the people in his classes fail...
He is the worst! I started with 30 people in my class and ended with about 10 or 15! Don't ask him for help, he only makes you feel worse!
People need to back off of him. Incredibly nice guy, great sense of humor and an awesome teacher. The tests are difficult if you don't study on your own. Homework not required which is nice, but just remember to be diligent in studies. I would recommend this teacher to those willing to work.
Way too political for a math class keep that crap for your hippie rallies. If you must discuss these matters you can do it in a mature fashion without disrespecting and belittling your students. I think we had as much debate as in my sociology classvery annoying when you are struggling with the math
Nice guy....very funny but that's about it. He moves fast which is ok if the stuff he puts on the board is the same stuff put on the test. But that isn't the case. The tests are impossibly hard and seem to be based upon that your getting a bachelor in mathematics. So hard!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome Teacher! Granted he moved a little faster than some teachers, but gave tests based on his notes, didn't leave u wondering what would be on the test. Always helpful & willing to answer any and all questions in class & during office hours. Take him if u math is one of ur strenghts.
Nice guy, very good teacher, fun class, says interesting things. I would take him again.
Nice guy but very hard. Doesnt give any partial credit. His tests are out to get you. By the end of my semester only 1/3 of the class was left. Take him only if math is an area you are strong in. Sends you to the turtoring center if you ask him for help outside of class. Do not recommend him.
I didn't like it that much...only grades from tests, which are uber-hard to begin with. I dropped out of the class, with 2 30's in a row.
Vandervere is an amazing prof who is very helpful and often goes out of his way to help is students (myself included) when they have a question or problem.
Difficult teacher but it's possible to get a B if you work hard. You will understand the material if you actually do some work. As crazy as that may sound to PCT students.
not a very clear teacher. make sure you understand the math before you take him because he won't take much time to help you if you struggle. tests are very hard and he doesn't give much partial credit.
No Comments
Professor "Van"- okay professor. Sense of style though was a tad Under-done. You'd think a professor would look more professional. What was up w/ the Harley look? Save it for out of class...Uhm, he's willing to help and makes it fun to learn.
a bit harsh with his taching, but an ok teacher. he knows his stuff but his class is difficult with about 5 students who pass his class. definitely not recommended.
Wow. Quit your whining. If you pay attention and have some basic grasp of math, you'll do just fine. It's fast-paced, interesting math (even I could stay awake, which is quite a feat) that you don't even have to do the HW for if you dont want to. If you think you'll understand the material going in, highly recommended.
I actually learned alot. I suck at math but feel more confident now that I took him. If you don't get it, just say what in the hell you talking about and he will tell you not in math terms,but in basic english. His test are easy as long as you get the concept. He does like pop quizzes. he appears to be a hardass but he isn't.
I have to take this class and am glad I chose Van. He's very good at what he does. Math is very difficult for me, but he breaks it down into easy to understand pieces. If you do the homework, instead of blowing it off because you can, he'll answer all your questions. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VAN!!
I had him for College Trig/Algebra. Hes a great guy, but sometimes the tests are difficult. Being as he only uses tests to grade you, you better understand the material. Do some of your homework, understand the stuff and you should do fine with him. (He does have a high drop/fail rate, I observed, so watch out for that)
i think van is a cool guy, would love to party with him... but as a teacher... mmm not so much. it seemed to me that in class i thought everything seemed easy, but when i got home and started my homework, it was totally different stuff. and you ONLY get graded on tests, so if you get a lousy grade on one of them, you're pretty much f***ed...
He helps you a lot but his tests are hard!!!
The final was the worst!!! You better study math every single day or you better be really good at it
HORRIBLE PROFESSOR...DOESNT' CLARIFY IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION. DERIVES FROM THE SYLLABUS JUST TO TEACH WHAT HE LEARNED AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT HES TALKING ABOUT WITH THE LAST LESSON (PERCENTAGES/HOME MORTGAGES..)
Not easy you need to know what you are doing before taking this class
demanding but within reason...keeps the classroom light and interesting...holds the classes attention well.
he refuses to help any student if they do not understand his teaching methods. He diverts off the syllabus and does not follow what the dean of the math department said about diverting. (Babylonian/Myan Math)
Fantastic teacher if you have the maturity to handle it. Teaches in a way that is understandable, very straightforward, and clear. Doesn't coddle but is patient with students' questions until the student claims to understand. One of the best teachers I have had.
I must say, Van is the best professor I have ever had. He is so knowledgeable in mathematics and in anything else you can imagine. He has helped and guided me in my education outside of the classroom and is so willing to help you in the classroom. He has a great sense of humor, loves teaching, and loves his subject. I highly recommend him.
I am not a math person, and for the first time in all my years of education, MATH ACTUALLY MADE SENSE TO ME! Mr. Vandervere is challenging, but the class is doable. He makes math very applicable, and can help you gain confidence in your skills. I am so glad that I took this course with him, and would do so again!
Easily the best teacher I've had. He will do pretty much anything to help you as long as you actually make some sort of effort. Excellent classroom atmosphere. He has a lot of cool stories and knows a lot about a lot of things. If you don't do well in his class it's your fault. It's hard to get a good grade if you don't show up or do work.
Freakin Awesome! Need I say more?
No Comments
HEs great! couldnt ask for a nicer teacher!
He was not a very useful teacher at all
Very bad math teacher. Not helpful at all. Even people who are good at math will be somewhere between a F and D- if their lucky. Anyone bad or average at math will almost certainly fail. He gives NO partial credit on quizes. If you put a '-' in the wrong spot you get a 0 for the problem. He makes it so much harder than it has to be.
Hard but fair. If you make an effort, he will help you. If you're lazy, you might as well drop the class.
I actually loved the format of this class. Do the homework and learn your material before coming to class, there is usually a quiz. If you know what your doing, you'll do great. I have a new appreciation for math.
very hard! doesn't care if you do the homework or not, but do it b/c its were he gets his test questions from.
Great Professor and great guy, doesnt spoon feed you but but is there whenever you need him, have to be willing to learn and study, shows great interest in you if he sees that your doing your work outside of class, would recommend van to everyone interested in math!
Any class with Pro VanderVere is great. I hate math and got and easy A in his class. Take him if you have the chance.
Great teacher. Best I had so far. If you don't take the class seriously, you may struggle. If you ask questions, and do the problems he assigns, you should do well. Go to office hours if you need help. He is very helpful. If you dislike his teaching, take a course at PSU main campus, and it only gets worse. I recommend him highly. Good times.
Professor Van is the man. Do the homework, and you will do well in the class. He is very entertaining, and has tons of cool stories. This is the first time I have ever enjoyed math! He is defiantly one of the best teachers at Penn Tech.
Van is a very fair teacher. Do the homeowrk. Rougly 17 quizzes best 10 count. Best test grade counts twice. Quizzes come from homework.
Very knowledgeable in math, but NOT good at teaching. He does an entire lesson in 15 minutes.He may show you an example of a problem and he doesn't take the time to explain anything.I can almost guarantee over half the class will drop/fail out before the class is even half over. Bottom line: IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND MATH WELL, DON'T TAKE HIS CLASS!
Worst teacher I've had yet. I haven't had a problem in any math class I've taken so far until now. He has to make everything harder than it needs to be, and assumes you know everything about what he's talking about. I'll probably end up withdrawing and taking it over the summer. I'll never take him again for anything.
Van is a fun teacher. His class is pretty easy. Never have to turn in homework, but do it if you want a good grade.
Great teacher! Many will say he's bad, but that's because they dont try or dont care. Van i
Great teacher! Many will say he's bad, but that's because they dont try or dont care. Van i
BEST PROF EVER! Just an awesome guy, you are sure to laugh in his class. I will probably take another one of his classes just to have him again!
Professor V is a very intelligent and always willing to help if you need him. Also, a funny guy. My only advice is to try your very best. Go see tutors and ask him questions. People rate him low because he is a tough teacher, but if you work hard it will pay off. Do all the homework given over and over until you understand.
Professor Van is very cool. Show you are a hard worker and he will appreciate you as a student. Do not be a know it all bc this guy knows his stuff! Great person and an inspiration.
Van is an awesome instructor! Goes fast though...don't know if I would take him for a harder math
Awesome teacher and awesome guy. Took him for two math classes and had such a great time. He makes the class so fun and is the best prof I have ever had. He is so fair, wants everyone to succeed, makes you work but if you put the time into you will do great. Very hard to find another prof like him! And the people who don't like him are the lazy one
Excellent professor. Knows his stuff. Makes you work for your grade, and in return, you learn something. Best math teacher I've ever had.
Very good he knows his stuff!
Thinks you should already know everything before you get there. If you ask questions, he wont help you work through them. Makes you use perfect mathematical grammar. Puts you down if you have to ask a question. Too fast pace. Not a good teacher in general.
Van is the best math teacher ive ever had! the coolest guy ever!
Very passionate. Strict, but does a good job.
Moves entirely too fast
Van is a good guy but his test were VERY hard for me and he moves VERY fast. If you want a good grade be good at math and do your homework though it''s not for a grade. Your grade is determined by tests and quizzes. Also don''t even THINK about having a cell phone out in his class.
This is the worse math teacher for calc, our class started with 29 now we are down to 10 left, no partial credit in this class, notes are hard to follow
He is a very nice guy, but not a great teacher. He thinks you should know everything before you get there and moves very fast. It is very easy to get lost in his class
He is a good teacher, and his classes were fun. On the other hand his 4 big test were all hard and you will need to study for them. His final and quizzes are on the easy side so you can do well on them.
He told us everything that was supposedly on the test, however none of it was on the actual test. Covered the material very quickly and if you asked him for help he always said, just go to the tutoring center. Overall he was my worst professor in my schooling history. Would not recommend.
Fast paced, very witty. Cultured. Assigns homework but does not grade it. Final based on tests, tests based on quizzes, quizzes based on homework.
Van is a really awesome teacher. I don't know why he doesn't have better ratings on here. He really wants you to know the steps behind the math, but he makes sure you understand something before he moves on. Really groovy guy! He makes math class interesting and fun :)
I had Vander Vere for math 153, and it was a very easy class to maintain a good grade in. He was concerned about his students grades. He is very funny, and makes class interesting. I would take him again in a heart beat if I had the chance.
very easy to get off track. goes very fast through material. if you get lost its already too late
He's a good teacher over all but he doesnt give any retakes on test and his class goes at a fast past. If you would to miss a class you would be lost and would have to get the notes from someone in the class.
Van is great. Very strict about his rules, but is witty and doesn't mind getting off topic. The man is a genius and teaches a ton of subjects. Class moves very quickly, but if you got into the class and actually show up, there's no excuse for a bad grade. Biker exterior with a brilliant mind and Robin Williams personality.
Mr. Vander Vere is one of the best professors I've had. He moves quickly but he gives you the opportunity to succeed. He's a brilliant man, and he is very enthusiastic about math.
Mr. Van means well, hes a nice guy. His class was the hardest math class Ive ever taken. For someone that is exceptionally good at math will do just fine, but if youre not the best in math Mr. Van is not your option.
Van is the best math professor I have had. He is very intimidating, but he has a great sense of humor and he cares about his students. Super intelligent, he knows his stuff. Would highly recommend him to anyone who has struggled in math.
Doesn't care about the success of his students but rather cramming a ton of information into one semester. When about 50% of students in a class fail a test it's an obvious reflection of him. I wish he was as concerned about his students (which are the reason he has a job by the way) as he is about his tattoos and beliefs that he talks about often.
Really nice guy, but goes at an extremely fast pace when going over material. He clearly understands the material at a profound level but does not have the capacity to teach it in a way everyone can pick up. He grades very, very toughly. His final is weighted VERY heavily; it can bump you or drop you two whole grade letters. Would not recommend.
Very difficult
I went from being in good academic standing to barely staying alive for this class.
Class participation and homework are added to tests not a separate grade. Teaches very fast. Passionate about math but his teaching is awful
If you know some of the material before hand it helps a lot. He explains things quick so listen and he assigns these pop quizes. He rushes everyone during them and even if you knew what you were doing and he made you hand it in early, he would still mark it wrong.
Van is a great choice for a night math class. He is enthusiastic but also emits this aura that just makes you want to impress him. He is very knowledgeable about the material, as well as knowledgeable about other random things that he brings up to lighten the mood in the class. Just don't get behind and you should survive with at least a C.
There is total of 4 grades in this class. 3 Unit exams and the final. Quizzes and homework count as bonus points (you can get up to 10pts) toward a unit exam. So basically, if you fail an exam, you've essentially wrecked a quarter of your grade :/ but Van is the best that I found so far in PCT's math department.
He is extremely knowledgeable with math, an knows the gritty details of what makes it all work. His lectures and antics are very entertaining. He likes to pick on people for little things like cracking their knuckles or yawning. If you can get in good standing with him, the class will be a blast.
Greatest teacher I have ever had for math. Although I struggled with his class he himself is an amazing guy. will remember him for a lifetime. DO NOT use your phone you will either do poorly or get kicked out. Most notes I ever took for a class, but he kept my attention better than any other math teacher I ever had. Thanks for the good time Van.
Professor is knowledgeable and passionate although does not have a teaching method that is easy to follow. Do not bother asking questions because you will be scrutinized for not understanding quote "Basic 4th grade math principles". Only half the original class was left by the final, 75% of the remaining class was failing or close to it.
The most apathetic teacher I have ever had. Did not appear to be concerned with the success of his students. He is not a great representation of PCT. He is very rigid. You would think for someone that dropped out of high school he would be more compassionate towards his students, and different learning styles, but you would be wrong. Would rate a 0
He was a really funny teacher. You could tell her really cared about his students. We would take notes all class and homework was online. He goes a little quick but always asks for questions, and makes sure his students fully understand. As long as you take notes, go to class, stay off the phone, youll do great!
He intentionally extends MyLab Math homework assignment sizes from 15ish to around 40, and assigns a new one each class period.
Honestly, this teacher for the trigonometry 2 course isn't fair at all from my point of view. Once you start to understand something from the first unit, he's all the way at the third by that point. He posts 4 homework's a week and has them due the following week, while you have other coursework to do. As a busy student, he's a literal pain.
It's easy to love a teacher that is easy going. But hard to like a teacher that is hard going on you. Mr. Van is great man with great knowledge. He includes tricks and humor into his lesson. I put a lot of time into his class because I respect him as a demanding and hard instructor. He has quality respect for all students for a reason.
He's a good person, is understanding, and an okay professor. There is a lot of homework but are given a good amount of time to finish. It's strictly homework and tests nothing more and nothing less and no extra credit.
I think that Van gets a bad rap. His lectures were very clear and he always took time at the start of each class to answer everyones homework questions. Even if it took up the whole two hour period. He always made sure his students understand before moving on. If you show up and take notes youll pass. If you miss a class or two, good luck.
Van is a pain when it comes to the rules. Don't expect to survive more than one class period doing anything that he thinks is wrong. Lays on piles of homework on already difficult courses. Very knowledgeable in his subject. Despite being no fun academically, he tells great stories and is a very interesting guy.
The most amazing math professor I have ever taken. Never in my life has an memory of any of my professor for any class been as memorable and pleasant as with Mr V. His style of teaching and his passion to educate his students is next to none. Sure can he be tough yeah but it's because he cares and wants you to learn. Will never forget him. R^3
Van was the best math teacher that I have ever had. Never once did I get an A on a math test until I had Van as a teacher. His lectures are great and he explains everything. He is a very easy teacher to follow. He takes time for his students and really cares about them. I would take his class 1,000 times again.
Professor Van is very kind and funny. However, I dedicated hours everyday studying and going to tutoring and I only managed to get a C. He does not teach by examples. I had a very hard time understanding his lectures and I would have to go to tutoring to learn his material. Nearly everyone in my class made out with a C or a D.
Engaging lectures and a caring professor, but the course can be quite challenging. Consistent study and tutoring help are key to success. Unstuck ai proved a useful tool alongside the free textbook for exam prep.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
25%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.31 avg changeRatings by Course
153
5.0
(1)005180
5.0
(1)MTH009
5.0
(1)MTH260
5.0
(1)MATH08
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
151
5.0
MATH006
5.0
MATH
5.0
MATH08
5.0
MAT153
5.0