4.0
Quality2.7
Difficulty77%
Would Retake165
Reviews77%
Would Retake
165
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
100
4
27
3
11
2
7
1
20
What Students Say
“She is so caring, kind, hilarious, and helpful”
MATH0000A - 5.0 rating“I had Professor Smith for math from Math A-Statistics”
MATH0013 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
26%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.19 avg changeRatings by Course
81651
5.0
(1)83034
5.0
(1)MATHD
5.0
(4)INTROSTATS
5.0
(1)MATHAANDD
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
83034
4.0
0024
4.0
MATH11
4.0
MATH0027
3.8
MATH30
3.6
Reviews (165)
First of all, her name used to be donna latham then she changed it to her maiden name which is now donna smith. She is a good teacher but kinda doesnt explain everything we have to know. Lots of hw with aleks and connect math which are both online. If it wasnt for the lecture this would be like an online class.
She is a funny teacher and has good examples, but the homework was lengthy
Donna is a sweetheaart!she has a fun, corky personality and makes math lectures more entertaining. even though i like donna as a person i HATE the program she uses! she had us spend way to much money on the book,aleks,and connectmath. then we didnt use the book and quit using connect half way through the semester. not a well thought out class.
I just spent 4 months doing math homework online. that's all. The professor was useless and the class required so much homework- which was all done online, and yet she had such a strict attendance policy. I don't know how she is still teaching there.
Donna is friendly and funny but she is the most disorganized person Ive ever met. Still I learned the material and she is a reasonable grader. She's definitely a way better professor than Myers. Overall I recommend her class.
All the homework was online and can be very difficult to work through, but Donna is very understanding when it comes to deadlines! If the class can't make a deadline she'll extend it. so basically do your homework and take the practice tests and you'll do great!
College Algebra. Class is taught and done through ALEKS with 1 class per week. She has not lectured once all semester. I (and rest of class) have had to teach ourselfs all the math in the entire course through ALEKS. Also, 2:1 ratio of time spent putting in answers to time calculating problem on ALEKS. I do not recommend this teacher.
Bad teacher, a lot of hw, very unorganized. Online hw using Aleks which is a stupid program that gave me headaches. Tests were okay, she had sample tests online which were about the same. And she allows make ups. Shes kinda funny but it gets old after a while. Take her with caution. If your not good at math, i do not recommend her.
Terrible teacher!!! Would never recommend!!!!!
Donna was an excelent profssor. I am not a math person but she made me really get into stats! She lectures and explains things very thourgholy and test to make sure you know the material. She is very student orrintated and is willing to work things out. We used Aleks the entire time but she showed us how to use Aleks. Take her for stats!
This class was half online and it was an absolute breeze. Make sure you keep up with your topics and you will be fine. People were complaining left and right, but honestly that's all they did. Some people still had 100 topics to do in the last week and a half of class. You get notes for the test, so take advantage. Overall, easy class. Got a 96%.
Did not follow syllabus. Final exam was a third of grade due to her failure to give any quizzes. Only 3 or 4 homework assignments. Extremely unorganized. Class didn't start until about 15-30 minutes after it should have. If you need to understand math, don't take Smith. A waste of time.
WARNING: ALEKS program classes require you to teach yourself most everything! The program is your teacher, Prof. Smith is basically there to help, which she is very good at! If you can't exercise self-discipline to get your topics done you will fail! Prof. Smith is a very lenient teacher, she moved back deadlines multiple times to help people. GOOD
awful teacher...dont take her aleks classes. unorganizedand not very helpful. forgetful which doesnt always work out in your favor.
The WORST math teacher I have ever had!! I had a hybrid class and the 1 day a week we were in class she DID NOT lecture instead we worked on hw. Spent the class period texting. Did not answer a single question that any one had. She is an awful awful instructor!!!
Awesome teacher. The program "ALEK'S" requires you to teach yourself material at your own pace. She will help you if you have any questions. Tests are easy if you actually do the work. Notes allowed. If you make a simple mistake she will still award you some points. Taking again for MathD.
BEST PROFESSOR I HAVE EVER HAD!the aleks program can get a little bit fusterating at times if you do not keep up with the topics. she is extremley helpful and understanding of how your work ethic is. i have taken her for math a, math d and also taking her for math 12. she is amazing!!
allows you to take a quick retake on her tests for the problems you missed which makes for a no excuse bad grade. donna was very helpful and understanding often extending due dates for us. she wants you to succeed and learn I will put it this way In the class before this I got a D in this class it was pretty easy A and I didn't feel pressured. :)
Professor Smith's statistics class is incredibly easy. She uses the online progam ALEKS, which makes the easy class even easier. You can use any notes/ALEKS examples on the final / tests (tests are done at home, online), and as long as you don't literally do everything blindly, it's hard not to get an A. Very helpful and simple approach.
Profesor Smith is an excellent professor. I'm mostly posting to refute the bad College algebra posts. If you signed up for a hybrid then you should expect to work alone unless you need help. Professor Smith is an excellent professor who is very helpful. I've had her for both College Algebra and Statistics over the summer. I highly recommend her.
Wonderful, friendly, incredibly open to questions, she really is one of the best teachers at Sierra! I always leave her class very happy! Aleks is a great way to learn stats too! Way better than textbooks IMO.
WORST PROFESSOR I EVER HAD. she is extremely forgetful and unorganized her class is hybrid but is taught in a classroom instead of a computer lab and she claims that "it is your responsibility to have materials to work on in class" - meaning if you don't have a laptop, class time is useless. however she threatens to drop you when you don't attend.
Ms. Smith is a great teacher, she is very helpful and understanding of her students. If you need help she has office hours open for everyone. Smith does require that you should attend class regularly. Nonetheless, a great professor!
An excellent and helpful teacher. Made stats class a lot of fun. I recommend her to all of my friends.
the corse is super chill. 3 tests .. 10 quizzes only 3 questions each, 5 of them you are group quizzes . the tests are never over 25 questions. you just have to make sure to do your hw on time, but you usually have up to a week. SHE ALWAYS MOVES DEAD LINES BACK !! ITS BAD ASS
The way she has anyone do homework in class is through Aleks. Which can also teach you the entire course if you happen to miss class. Prof Smith is awesome! She always makes every class period fun and lets you do your work in class on your laptop. For tests take her sample test first and guaranteed you will pass the actual test. Highly Recommend!
final sucks. and there is way to many topics. but it is easy if you just study and do your work.
Awesome teacher!! and fun!! will recommend her any time anywhere. Uses Aleks and if you work hard on your homework and quizzes, will get A. It's a lot of work but requires hard work, which everyone needs to succeed.
Very helpful
She cancels class often and gives you notice by email which is nice. You can call/text her anytime for help. You use ALEKS, which is a little more difficult than MyMathLab, but I think it is better than MyMathLab as you actually learn the material. Show up when you want. Tests and quizzes were all at home with one retake, except the final.
Online class - SUPER easy. She gives you lots of time for assignments, her personal cell # so you can ask ?s, and you can retake exams to get a better grade. Practice exams are exactly like exams/final. Lets you use notes for all tests/final. Final was the only thing required in person. I live far from campus so I had it proctored elsewhere.
Such a great teacher! I've never gotten an A in math in my entire life until her class. I suggest taking her half computer integrated class if you're an independent learner.
Professor Smith is a great teacher, a little scattered brained and gets off topic. Most of the class is online, all of the tests are open note. and you get a quick retake on all of them. practice tests are worth extra credit and really help with the test plus you can take it was many times as you want. As long as you put in the the effort, its easy
Donna is one of my favorite professors at sierra by far! She was very helpful with any questions I had to ask. One of the first math classes I actually learned something in. Her lectures are pretty entertaining because she relates well to the students, plus she's pretty funny. The only math professor I will take at sierra!
Math-0013, it's going to be hard. Be ready to work. Be ready to get outside help and ask lots of questions. Professor Smith is very helpful! Always quick to respond to my questions. I struggled in this class, was forced outside my comfort zone but she is an amazing Professor! If you need this class take it from her but be ready to work.
Assignments are online on ALEKS; quizzes, tests, & homework, due by midnight on a set date. Deadlines are reasonable & Prof. Smith extended nearly every single one just bc students told her they were having trouble. If she extended for 1 class, she extended for all others. She has a tutor that worked w students to set up days for help. Not hard!
In simple words, I got an A in the class, but I didn't really learn anything. I know how to do the things that was taught, but I didn't know why we used one method instead of an other. If you really want to understand the topic, I won't recommend this class. Other than that, the class isn't really hard as long as you do the work.
Took stats online. Anytime there was something confusing she would post her notes, videos, and even willing to have you text her so that you can understand. Way easy! Uses Aleks program instead of MyMathLab, which is way better!
She is all over the place. She for got to take role in 2 of 3 of her classes. Fast talker. Take notes. Homework a must. Tests are from homework. Don't expect to get an A because she will make you work very hard for it and her words "if you deserve it, because I can I got my degree at Berkley, ha-ha!" She makes mistakes on the board.
She's a really great teacher, helped me out a lot.
She was very helpful and laid back. She was clear on the work and patient if you are struggling. Easy teacher, just do the work given
I really love Professor Smith but I would not take her class again only because she teaches through online programs. I have always struggled with math and I need someone to actually teach me, I spent the semester confused sitting in a classroom staring at a computer screen. If you cannot teach yourself then don't take this class.
I expected this class to be a nightmare. She explains each concept super thoroughly and clear. She is always willing to help- just make sure you let her know. The class has quite a lot of work (like all math classes) mostly because of the online portion. She helps you get the grade you want, attendance isn't mandatory. Overall loved how she taught!
This class required work. Professor Smith had a very clear sylabus. Everything was done on Aleks and as long as you kept up on your objectives, it was doable. All of the tests and quizzes can be retaken until you got the desired grade except for the final. The final was also open note. If you are an independent learner, this is a great class.
I love Professor Smith. One of the best math professors at Sierra College. She is very helpful, relates to students, and is understanding when it comes to absences, failure to submit an assignment, etc. Got a B (haven't received a B in a math class since Middle School). Professor Smith's online programs really helped me; definitely take her.
stats online was tough. My advice if u want to pass this class get your aleks objectives done 2 days before they're due so you stay way ahead. Class requires work and isn't easy, but u can def pass if you're self motivated. Smith took 2-4 hrs to reply which sucked but she's super nice. isn't always clear but clarifies so just ask again. Recommended
Oh my GOD, she is sooo funny. Makes learning fun. SHE WORKS WITH YOU!! For me, Math (any kind, all kinds) is extremely frightening, but Professor Smith is very supportive and her sense of humor makes math not so painful. I took Math13-Statistics with her and wish she taught Soc15. Great Professor!
She is one of my best professor in Sierra. I LOVE HER. She is funny and helpful. She uses Aleks which is pretty easy. !!!!!!!!!!! TAKE HER !!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WILL LOVE THIS CLASS
I loved this class! I'm not good at Math at all and Professor Smith made it very easy to understand. She is a great professor and there is barely any homework. She is also very helpful and cares about her students.
AMAZING math professor! Highly recommend her. She is willing to help you if you need it. Class is super easy. Only 3-4 test and you get to use a sheet of binder paper to write notes on. She makes the class fun which makes it go by faster. You use online ALEKS for the class instead of text. You just have to take the test in class but quizzes online.
Awesome teacher who is incredibly funny and teaches statistics very clearly. I took it in summer and took final a week early. Lots of homework on Aleks, but everything, including final, is open note
Professor Smith is the best, she is super understanding and upbeat. She explains things in such a simple manner you can't not pass this course, and she is hilarious. I even wish I had more math classes to take just so I could take her again. Definitely take her she makes life so easy. I always heard Statistics was super hard but not with her.
She really caters to all types of learners and if you're not understanding the topic she will make sure to go over it until you understand. She takes extra students at the beginning of the semester if you are on the wait list. I have always hated math but she is a great teacher!
She was the best teacher I have ever taken at Sierra! She was super helpful and designed her class around her students succeeding! I would definitely recommend her class to anyone looking for an easy A.
I would not take her again!! More than half the time the students would correct her. It's very frustrating because she would constantly change the dates of when things were due because she was behind. Why was she behind? Because she would talk about random things in class and just stop lecturing. Yeah she's funny, but not very good at teaching.
Prof. Smith, truly cares about her students. She really tries to help you out and will work with you after class time to help you understand. She was fabulous.
Mrs. Smith is hands down the best math teacher i have ever had. She is super funny and just a fun personality for what could otherwise be a dull class. The online program she uses is very helpful with lots of examples. The homework and test are all online and open notes- so take notes. glad i don't need more math, but if i did, i would pick Smith
Cool teacher! she really doesn't know how to teach though. I found myself teaching myself since she always seems to mess up on something when she did a problem. All of the work was done online on ALEKS. Attending class was pointless since all she did was go over lessons people didn't understand. You're better off teaching yourself!
absolutely loved professor smith. she gives out her number so you can text her if you ever need help, also offered to FaceTime. she will walk through each problem step by step until you get it. offers extra credit for the sample exams taken and a paper for a cheat sheet for tests and final. id recommend her to anyone, wish i could take for stats.
Professor Smith, is an amazing math teacher. She will help you over the phone, during office hours, and while she is driving! She really does care about her students. She reviews a lot. She also gives out extra credit before tests. Highly recommend her, she is also hilarious!
Never really considered myself good at math, passed her class with an A. Obviously as a 4 units course, it'll be some work; but if you show up, learn from lectures, ask her questions you'll pass easy. She's accessible, hilarious and overall, she made the class more enjoyable.
I'm currently taking Stats online and I'm so impressed with this professor that I decided to write a review before the semester is even halfway through! She is just so kind! What a sweetheart. She sends out regular emails of encouragement and always uses upbeat and encouraging words. I adore her. What a great person.
I liked her. She is kind and takes the time to help you if you need and want it. She understands all types of people and get along well with students. She is also very funny and makes a boring math class not as bad.
I loved her! She was amazing and clear on grading. I was afraid of not getting a good grade but I'm hoping to get an A! Would definitely take her again and I liked using ALEKS.
As someone who has always struggled with algebra, Professor Smith was a complete breath of fresh air as a math teacher. She is so caring, kind, hilarious, and helpful. She wants her students to succeed and tries to make the class as easy as possible by giving out her number and responding quickly if you need help. Allows notes on tests! Take her!
If you decide to take Math 13 (Stats) online course be aware: its all done through Aleks online course, 106 topics and if you don't pass all, you won't be able to take your final. If you are not good at math, don't take it online. All topics must be passed with 100% thats not including quizzes and exams. This online stats is a tough one
I had Professor Smith for math from Math A-Statistics. If you struggle with math like I do, she will be a blessing for you. The Alek's program will let you retake quizzes to get 100% (just don't wait till the last minute to start them). The sample final is awesome and gets you ready to pass the real one, plus you get extra credit for doing it.
Prof. Smith is a truly wonderful person. The entire online stats course is done through ALEKS learning software, but if you need help, Prof. Smith is right there, she's very available. Don't bother trying to read the ALEKS explanations, just watch Prof. Smith's videos and other videos on YouTube, then you'll do great.
I'm not the math type, but using the ALEKS program made things clear!! Prof. Smith designs the class to get an A if you're willing to work. I had a medical incident that took me out of school for 2 weeks & she did EVERYTHING she could to help me. I was blown away by her willingness and selflessness. SHE IS AMAZING! TAKE HER IF POSSIBLE!! 3
Donna is an AMAZING person and teacher. She is extremely caring and always willing to help. She stays available by phone and pays attention to the class's progress as to update due dates when necessary. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I took her class over the summer and I love the program that she uses. It has been more than a few years since I took a math class and the program made it so easy to get back into the swing of things. There was quite a bit of homework but it wasn't overwhelming, which was amazing for a summer class. I would really recommend her class.
Donna is hands down one of the best Professors at Sierra College. She really cares about the success of her students. She explains math in a way anyone can understand. I would definitely take her again. The Aleks program she uses is so useful in helping you learn the material.
Took class online. Allows retakes for exams and assigns a lot of homework through ALEKS which I hated but it was a good studying tool for exams. Took the final in person and she was very sweet and gave everyone plenty of time to take the exam whenever they were ready and didn't time them. I found this online class to be way easier than on campus
Tests are tough. Ask questions if you are confused cause everything ties together. She is super easy to get a hold of awake at 5am goes to bed late idk how she does it. replies back to you within the hour. helpful. great online videos. Make sure to watch them they are step by step. She has great handouts! 50% of your grade is the final. notes allowed
Professor Smith is one of the best professors here at Sierra. I took her stats class online over the summer and she was readily available for my questions and even set up a video call session when I needed extra attention. I have heard that Professor Smith is an even better teacher in person. You get out what you put in!
I took both Math A and Math D w/ her. All work is done online, and she is available if you need help. Great prof. for self-starting students.
I took Mrs. Smith for Elementary Statistics. Donna Smith posts videos with clear communication on how to do the problems, re-takes for tests is allowed, and you can even text her at any time of the day to ask for help! I took this class online, and found that I didn't need the text book, as ALEKS is very thorough. 100% recommend Donna Smith!
My Stats class was online, so it was just a lot of teaching myself. I usually watched youtube videos if I didn't understand something. She is very understanding if something is going on, and she is very easy to reach.
First off, I hate math. I barely passed Math D with a C, so I was not looking forward to taking Math 13. She changed my outlook on this. She is AMAZING! She is understanding and if you put forth the effort by doing all the assignments and staying organized, it's a easy A. I would definitely take her class again.
Computer based (ALEKS program) in an actual classroom. Work at your own pace. Complete all the assignments. Show up to class or you will be dropped. I was stuck on a few concepts and she explained them very well, even better than ALEKS. I took it as a refresher because I haven't done any math in a long time and it was easy. Helpful professor.
Like probably the best college algebra teacher ever. She is understandable with Aleks and will push things back so you can make it.
So rude
I loved professor Smith! She is super understanding and will always try and work with you in all situations. By far the best professor I've ever had. Makes the curriculum easy and allows you to work at your own pace.
So sweet and charismatic.
Professor Smith really cares about her students. She is fair and explains everything in detail.
Professor Smith is a wonderful person and awesome math teacher. She helped me keep up in the class when I almost lost my house in the Camp Fire and lost a family member. She uses the ALEKS program which is overall very good for learning. Her video resources saved my life and made me laugh. She is always there for you. Best math class I've ever had.
Professor Smith is a wonderful teacher. She will explain and re explain topics until everyone understands. Normally statistics is a difficult course. If you stay on top of your homework, and pay attention taking good notes you will pass with a B or better. She is always willing to help. I took her for three semesters and highly recommend her.
Donna is the sweetest professor ever! She is hilarious and always kept me engaged in class lectures, she is very helpful if your stuck on a topic. She will go over practice problems until everyone gets it which is helpful! She grades fairly as long as you keep up on ALEKS, the website used for hw. Its hard to find a professor like her!
Donna is great! I took College Algebra and Trig with her. She is very understanding and I love the program we use (ALEKS). Her classes were great for my learning style, but might not be for everybody. If you are lazy and don't do the work she will either drop you or you will get a bad grade.
Donna Smith never fails to be entertaining. She is fantastic at motivating her students and her syllabus lays out everything you need to know and is very detailed. She uses an online program and allows you to work ahead and then offers help for the chapters during class time. Show up and stay on top of the small amount of homework and shell help u
Professor Smith is a great professor who offers advice and great study tools. The only downside is that ALEKS is used in her statistics course which makes learning the material that much harder. But she is always available to contact if you have issues.
Although she can be nice, sometimes. Prof. Smith is unorganized and doesn't teach as much as you would expect. We solely used the ALEKS program, which is an absolutely terrible program, and I personally learned more via YouTube and Khan Academy than in class from the instructor. She makes videos, but they're 30 min+ each, for one topic...
This teacher is out of her damn mind. She consistently wastes class time and the class is confused about much of what shes teaching because she expects you to understand it the first time she explains it. If she didnt have her online videos I would have failed for sure.
Professor Smith was great. Personally, this was a very challenging class for me, but it wasnt because of her. Stats is just long and hard in general. One thing i will say is, MAKE SURE YOU WATCH HER VIDEOS AND PRINT OUT THE EXPLANATIONS! She gives you short cuts on how to put equations into the Aleks calculator and it makes it less time consuming
Might as well take an online math class. Uses Aleks to teach her lectures which doesnt help at all considering every student is at different levels. Expects you to put her class before other courses and isnt understanding at all. First thing she tells us is the last time she taught trig was 15 years ago and that we were her guinea pig class.
she aight
I actually already rated this professor (good review) before the class was over, and she helped me so much that i decided i had to write another review for her. THIS IS THE MOST CARING PROFESSOR YOU WILL EVER HAVE! SHE WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED AND SHE WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO HELP YOU!! Hands down the BEST professor i have ever taken. Thank you
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G professor. Really wants to see you succeed. She gives you every means to be able to contact her if anything goes wrong. I took her online statistics class, and had a great semester, and was easily balance able with other classes. If you can take this professor you should! Gives you many opportunities to get an A.
I entered in "Math 13S" this semester thinking I was going to fail, cus I took Math A last term & earned a low "C". The program Ms. Smith uses, ALEKS, is SO much easier than MyMathLab. ALL math is done on the calculator. ALL tests/quizzes are AT HOME - OPEN NOTE! Final is on campus but OPEN NOTE!!! I passed with *over* 100%!! Take Professor Smith!
My first online math class and it was wonderful! We used the software ALEKS and if you haven't used it before it makes the whole class super doable and kind of fun. The work is straightforward and not super time consuming. She does tutorial videos and is always available if you have questions through text message! How cool is that.
Second time taking this course, with this time being with Professor Smith. Let me tell you, I really wish I would've taken this course with her the first time around. She really explains everything thoroughly, has lots of resources, and is super understanding of everyone's situations. I went from a D on the first time to an A- on my second try!
I am so happy I took this class with Professor Smith. She is a caring person who will help you help yourself. Watch the videos, for sure! They really help. But dont hesitate to take this class with her! I cant thank her enough for all of the support. She is one of those rare teachers that truly makes a difference and keeps you in school!
She was fun and made the class laugh but the online system (ALEKS) she uses is terrible, like you are teaching yourself ,LOTS of work. Also she goes off topic a good amount rarely ever getting everything we were supposed to go over done. Would not recommend if you don't learn well on a computer or on your own.
Prof. Smith is a gem. She's funny and tells you exactly what you need to know to do well in her class. Allowed us to use notes on her final. Made examples of every problem and got an A. She uses an online program called ALEKS which is really easy to use. If you want to get an A take her!
Not the worst math teacher I've had. But prepare to teach yourself because she doesn't get much done in class, she gets off topic a lot. She uses ALEKS for all the homework and tests so no textbook. I'm not very fond of ALEKS because it doesn't explain problems very well. Other than that the class was fine.
If you aren't good at math, I highly recommend taking Smith. She is phenomenal at explaining concepts and going at the class's learning pace. Homework and exam criteria is clearly laid out (it's all on ALEKS) and she is very easy to contact for questions. But, time management over a semester is not her strength. My class felt rushed at the end.
This class was great with Prof. Smith. She is extremely understanding and willing to help if you are having a hard time, as long as you ask her she will help. Homework wasn' bad but a must! you will fail the class if you skip any homework, and I Highly suggest not procrastinating on it, you will regret it if you hold it off last minute as I did.
Professor Smith was one of the best math teachers I have had. I took statistics with her at 7:30am and she genuinely cared about each student. She is easy to contact if you need extra help and she uses ALEKS for homework, quizzes and tests, but you can use notes on just about everything. I would highly recommend if you think you are not good atmath
Professor Smith's online Stats class was real easy. For the topic on ALEKS that are hard, she made her own video about them so that her students will get the material. She's also easy to reach out to. When I had problems with the online program, she responded quickly.
TAKE THIS CLASS YOU WONT REGRET IT. I really felt the need to give a great review because of how great Professor Smith is. Im taking this class online and ive had a few issues and she always responds within minutes and is so incredibly helpful. Her videos are great and shes hilarious! Its also pretty a easy class if you stay on top of things!!!
There's no way to get homework done without self-teaching, but since she doesn't know what she's covering beforehand, you might sit through a lecture on something you already taught yourself. I used ALEKS before without a professor, so I've started approaching it like I don't have a prof. It's less frustrating now. Too bad attendance is mandatory.
this is the best teacher I have ever had here its Sierra college! I have always struggled in math, but she made Stats be fun! she actually cares about her students and helps you succeed, she is super easy to contact and responds right away! take her you won't regret !
Prof. Smith is an awesome teacher. I took her hybrid Math A class and Stats, both using ALEKS. I was not good in math and I got As in both classes. She creates her own videos for tricky topics. Very funny teacher in classroom, who requires accountability but gives rewards for strong effort shown. Fair grader. Super great.
Prof. Smith is an awesome teacher. I took her hybrid Math A and online Stats, both using ALEKS. Math is not my strong suit, but like it now, got As in both classes. She creates her own videos for tricky topics. Very funny teacher in classroom, who requires accountability; rewards strong effort. Don't be shy, she will help.
Professor Smith was so amazing! She gives students her phone # in case they have trouble on problems. She is flexible with hw extensions. Affordable (no expensive calculator required).She is super funny & makes it fun. My only advice is to make very organized notes in your notebook for yourself. Definitely take her class! :)
I currently am taking professor smith for Statistics and she is AMAZING! Its all online because COVID, but literally one of the best teachers Ive ever come across. The work load is a lot and you do actually have to work for your grade but she makes it very easy to understand what youre doing. I suggest taking a lot of well written notes!
I have always struggled with math but professor smith makes you feel like you can do anything. I like online classes and especially liked hers. She was accessible by text message at anytime.
I would highly recommend if you want to teach yourself. Overall she is super helpful and gives you her number to contact her for help on any questions. She gives extensions when everyone in the class had trouble with hard topics which was frequent but helpful. The practice tests also counted as extra credit. Uses Aleks, easy A if you meet deadlines
I am so impressed with Prof care for her students. She really wants everyone to succeed and is willing to Zoom call to walk through problems. I was so frustrated (because math is hard!) and she made it much easier with her videos and personalized help and the daily tutor. Must pass 105 topics in ALEKS, lots of extra credit, I highly recommend her!
Take Professor Smith! She WANTS you to pass. The most caring, funny, accessible teacher. Do your hw on time and use the zoom study sessions if you need it. One of the best professors I've ever had at Sierra.
She's seriously one of the best professors the college has. Her lectures are engaging. If you take this class you will learn math. Also, she uses Alex which is way better than MyMathLab. She puts a lot of work into her students. I have a learning disability. I owe this professor a lot of thanks for working with me. Also, she deserves a raise!
I took this class during COVID. We used Top Hat and Aleks she has you pay for these sites which for a college student is pricey. She dropped me when I was struggling to pay for Top Hat and gave no ounce of remorse when I told her my predicament, during our convo she was rude & left me on read afterwards. Dont take this class unless your perfect.
I took her for two of my math classes. Professor Smith was so kind and understanding and is ready to help a student any time you message her. She is hilarious and has a amazing sense of humor. Her classes use ALEKs and Top Hat which make it easier to go through the class.
Awesome math teacher. Makes you understand. I was never good at math, taking math with her was simply great. I'll be taking her again for calc.
she does not do lectures for what ALEX lacks, and uses another program called Top Hat that is a nightmare, (both you have to buy) and seems to be more worried about you staying on task and not cheating then actually wanting to teach you anything. Will only provide lecture videos on topics if you ask her for them. this works poorly online class!
Professor Smith is really one of a kind! She is caring, funny, and super easy to get along with. If you find yourself in a rut she will help you out! No matter when she is always there to help guide you! More professors should be like her! But then again, she wouldn't be as unique if they were! Score of 10 with a million thumbs up!
She is the best professor I have ever had and she made it easy to learn.
Best professor I have ever had. I am terrible at math and she makes it so easy to understand. You do have to pay for the online websites but it is so worth it. You can retake quizzes and get a second chance on certain test questions if you get it wrong. She is awesome and very understanding! I recommend her online course.
Amazing class, she is an amazing professor and wants all her students to pass. She's very understanding if you fall behind on work and need an extension to get done. She's always willing to help if you're struggling with the material as well. I took her online course and it's pretty much at your own pace and a teach yourself through ALEKS.
Great professor, however, the program Sierra uses for statistics is horrible. Aleks, the statistics program, is unavoidable, so I would suggest taking Stats with Smith because she releases her own videos on the information. Otherwise, Aleks is useless in teaching information and students will struggle trying to learn from their explanations.
Professor Smith was the best! I took her online statistics course and loved it! The platform she uses for homework makes it easy to learn the content. She is very easy to get into contact with and even gives you her number. She makes great videos explaining topics. She is a great teacher!
Webcamera for tests. The lectures are good. Uses 3 different websites. Understanding about circumstances, will try to help you out as long as you ask. HW is the usual amount, no unnecessary test.
My only criticism is that I disliked having to use both Tophat and ALEKS outside of Canvas for the online course. It felt like an extra step for no real reason. That said, ALEKS is a great tool and Donna Smith is an INCREDIBLE instructor. I hadn't taken a math course in 15 years and I passed with an A because of her teaching style and care.
Awful, so awful. Never take her class. She dropped me four weeks before finals for no reason and I had a good grade. She doesnt teach the classe but has a program that you have to pay for do it. Run and hide if you ever get her
I took Smith for College Algebra last fall, so I've had a bit of experience with her. She's very nice, if you do the homework you'll do fine. My advice is to not do your homework at the very last minute, this stuff isn't easy to cram. My only qualm with her is she tends to use 2+ different websites for homework, which can get confusing.
She does not keep her word, she has good videos though. Dont trust her in anything she says though. Most people who take her despise her. But this class she makes effort to have the class get good grades.
She is one of the best teachers I have had at Sierra so far. She is completely reachable and hosts zoom meetings before every test. She goes over hard questions and answers questions students may have.
Prof Smith was super nice, but the ALEKS that she uses it pretty difficult, Just make sure to stay on top of it, and you should be fine
Professor has an odd way of doing things. Goes off of work to be proven by the hours you spend so if you're quick at math you better work slower or else "you haven't been putting in a good effort". Will drop you if not caught up a couple of weeks from finals. Uses Three different platforms to teach on and due dates get confusing.
Professor Smith was a great professor. Made her own videos detailing problems from each topic every week. Flexible if the class agreed on something like extending a due date. There are a lot of things to keep on top of. Pay attention to handouts!!. Ask for help and she'll respond. She's also fun, engaging, and easy to approach. I'd take her again!
I was really nervous when starting out in this class since I'm terrible at math. I seriously thought I'd flunk this course. Professor Smith is a very understanding and caring educator. She's quick to respond to emails and is clear with her explanations. Her resource videos were a life saver! I wouldn't pass without them. I definitely recommend.
I just took Math 0013 with Professor Smith, and I loved every day in class with her online. We used ALEKS, TopHat, and Canvas as our primary sources for the class. She included in-depth lecture videos for every single lesson in the class and was always available for her students to talk and to help. She inspires you to work hard and never give up.
Professor Smith genuinly cares about the success of her students. Her lectures are entertaining and break down every type of problem that you will encounter while using Aleks. She gives practice tests and final exams to help you prepare. Provides her phone # and is very responsive. I was dreading statistics, but Professor Smith made it enjoyable!
I took online Stats with Donna and she was THE BEST teacher I've ever had. She genuinely wants her students to succeed and is willing to help any way possible. She gives out her personal cell number and is a very quick responder. I would 100% take her class again if I had to!
One of the best professors I have ever had. Professor Smith is kind, caring, and excellent teacher and as long as you are willing to put in the work, she will help you to succeed. Professor Smith is amazingly accessible and ALWAYS willing to help. This class was the first A I have ever earned in a math class. AMAZING and highly recommend!
I took Calc 1 with this Professor and it was not what I expected after looking at her ratemyprofessors rating and reviews. She explained the first week of class that this was her first time teaching Calculus in about ten years, which makes sense. The class was extremely disorganized and would not recommend taking her for calc or above.
This is a really hard class but Donna makes it bearable. I hate math, but the videos she provides for the Aleks program are extremely helpful. You have to take notes on everything so the 3 tests you take during the semester are bearable. The final is cumulative so make sure you keep could notes for formulas. Make sure you don't miss assignments.
You know, Professor Smith means well but if you are taking her for Calculus 30, prepare yourself. If you have never taken a calculus class before and have no clue about what the subject entails, do not take this class with Professor Smith. She is sometimes hard to understand at times and gave problems on tests that we had never seen before.
DO NOT TAKE HER!!! I had a weeks worth of work go missing and when I reached out to the teacher she was VERY aggressive and even harassed my personal phone, she refused to help me and dropped me from the class! I went to the dean of math and after that her only way of "help" was "allowing" me to redo EVERY assignment from the semester (200+)
Professor Smith was very kind, although the structure of the actual lectures was kind of disorganized and all over the place. At times I did have difficulty understanding what was being taught because of how disorganized it was. If you have any previous knowledge about calc, this class should be fairly easy if you do the work. Grading was fair.
I took her Business calc course and the entire course is a bit of a downgrade when compared to her stats course. She uses another expensive software for homework and a awful proctoring software that is required for exams that is literal spyware, but overall, the class isn't too hard. As cliche as it sounds, put in some effort and you will do fine.
I believe Professor Smith's last semester was Spring 2024, but she is a wonderful professor and person. She is incredibly kind and her care for her students shines through. She offers so much help and there were many resources to succeed. I enjoyed my time in Professor Smith's class and I wish her all the best. Thank you for a wonderful semester.
I really enjoyed Donna's online STAT 0013 class i think it was, she had all the video lectures line out and you could even reach her through text if needed. I did use that option when I needed help and it was quickest I have ever been helped. Made me feel very good about math when I typically do not, thanks for being so awesome Donna!
Good professor, used Aleks for the class. Easy system to use.
Really easy class, HOWEVER.. Please please PLEASE if you are majoring in Stats or Math take a harder professor. She has you use online calculators to make things 10x easier, but will result in you not actually learning the methods of stats problems properly. I say this as a stats major having to do extra studying in my first week after transferring
Professor Smith's online MATH0013 class is challenging but manageable with her helpful videos and responsiveness. unstuckstudy was a great study tool alongside the textbook. Overall, a rewarding experience.
BEST TEACHER EVER! Took Calc 1 three times and she was the only professor who taught it well, in a way I could fully learn and understand the concepts. Uses a lot of apps/websites for HW and lectures. Super funny!! Loved her so much, I ended up taking her for stats too. Fair grader, do the work and your grade will reciprocate it.
Second class w/ her, the only math teacher I've had who I can completely understand and learn concepts from. Always accessible (gives you her # for questions any time). Uses multiple websites for HW, lectures, and exams. Most of our work was on ALEKs, easy to keep track of. BEST Math teacher I've ever had! Do the work and your grade reflects it!
This was my 3rd time taking a class from Professor Smith. She is probably one of the most caring and supportive professors I have ever had throughout my entire schooling years. She truly cares for the students and only requires you to put in the effort to show you care about your learning. She holds weekly in-person and Zoom meetings.
She only used ALEKS for calc 1, with no textbook and did not write a fr
She only used aleks and no textbook for calculus 1, and never drew a graph the entire time. Grading criteria was unclear. She assigned homework completely unrelated to class, and Aleks was incorrect about the solutions half the time. Cannot even solve her own assigned problems-very frustrated.
She's funny and nice, tests aren't too hard IF you practice. The course is completely disorganized. Many topics aren't necessary to know. Using ALEKS for homework is awful and time-consuming. Also the first couple exams had randomized problems "so no one could cheat", which unfairly led to some with easy exams & others with hard exams.
This is the ABSOLUTE worst math professor I've ever had I genuinely do not understand how this woman is allowed to teach. She makes several mistakes every class and the students have to fix them and this woman is obsessed with chatgpt. She only uses ALEKS no text and we only get through 2-3 problems every class. I would hardly call this teaching.
She doesn't really lecture, she just kind of answers your questions in class. Good for if that's your style of learning I guess
Used ALEKS for homework, doesn't know how to lecture, takes over an hour to do one problem (yes, ONE problem) and still gets the answer wrong, and constantly made errors that were corrected by students. Would not take unless Buchwald is your only option.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
26%
Grade Predictor
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A-
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81651
5.0
(1)83034
5.0
(1)MATHD
5.0
(4)INTROSTATS
5.0
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5.0
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83034
4.0
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4.0
MATH11
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MATH0027
3.8
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3.6