2.6

Joel Dreibelbis

Mathematics - Rochester Institute of Technology

2.6
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
45%
Would Retake
115
Reviews
2.6
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
2.8
Helpful
2.5
Clarity

45%

Would Retake

115

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

13

4

21

3

24

2

37

1

20

What Students Say

Didn't have much teaching skill and didn't know Differential Equations very well

MATH231 - 2.0 rating

If you can't self-study mathematics, I would avoid him

MATH231 - 2.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

40%

Textbook Required

54%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 51 grades
Most common grades:
A (16)
A- (9)
B+ (7)
Grade Distribution
A(21)B(9)C(4)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(16)
Based on 59 reported grades
A: 16
A-: 9
B+: 7
Not sure yet: 6
Common Tags
Clear grading criteria (16)
Lots of homework (14)
Lecture heavy (10)
Caring (8)
Test heavy (7)
Accessible outside class (6)
Gives good feedback (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (5)
Rating Trend

Stable

-0.10 avg change
Jan
Feb
May
Jul
Oct
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CALC01

5.0

(1)

CALCB02

5.0

(1)

CVARCVAR

5.0

(1)

DISCRETEMATHI

4.0

(1)

CALCA1016

4.0

(1)
+48 more courses
Difficulty by Course

DISCRETEII

5.0

MATH206

5.0

DSC1

5.0

DISCR206

5.0

MATH104

5.0

Reviews (115)
4.0
3.0
DISCRETEMATHI
Mar 4, 2005

Was a graduate student when he taught the class. In some cases, he explained things very clearly but in others, very confusing. Excellent grading (will give a curve if everybody did poorly).

1.0
5.0
DISCRETEII
Sep 29, 2005

Grad student teaching class... Does no clearly explain concepts at all, pretty much assumes you'll get it from the homework. Tests are not reflective of homework but of in class theory. Questions are often asked that he is incapable of answering because he can not think of how to explain it other than just whip it up on the board real quick.

3.0
3.0
DISCRETEMATH2
Oct 19, 2005

Very nice guy but his teaching style is boring and repeative. When you get a final grade of a quarter, he will give you a curve to a better grade above if you are this close.

1.0
5.0
DISCRETEII
Feb 7, 2006

Terrible professor. Joel needs to take a teaching course and learn how to project as well as get the message of the lessons in class across. Do not sign up for this professor if you want to pass with a decent grade.

2.0
3.0
DISC2FORIT
Mar 3, 2006

he knew the stuff but was****ty at explaining it. We learned everything from the book. of a full class, it was often only attended by 6-8 people because no1 ever learned anything from him. he does grade fairly, evenly and consistently.

1.0
5.0
DISCRETE1
Apr 27, 2006

Absolutely horrible professor. He knows his stuff, but is inept at presenting it. Definitely avoid him. Not only did he suck at teaching, but he was also incredibly inconsiderate. The interpreter didn't show up one day (my class was half deaf, half hearing), and not only did he not cancel, but he didn't even try to help the deaf students

3.0
4.0
DEIFORENGT
Aug 11, 2006

I don't doubt that the guy has sufficient knowledge of the math portion of this course. But as far as applying this to engineering, he clearly doesn't understand the material enough. He's also quite boring and doesn't explain things very well. He does however host a review session before each test outside of class which I did find useful.

2.0
3.0
CALCC0
Nov 1, 2006

He would not finish example problems in the lecture, using the excuse that we all knew what "to do from there". Tests were fair. He was always very nervous in class and thought we were playing practical jokes on him. Poor guy should not be a teacher, i really feel bad for him.

4.0
3.0
CALCA1016
Feb 22, 2007

He explains things thorougly but tends to be a llttle dry at times. Come to workshop and class, do your homework and you'll be fine. He's pretty good about grading and flexible - sometimes gives extra credit assignments as well, which are all based off workshop.

4.0
1.0
CALC04
Mar 7, 2007

Quizzes once a week, only time I attended the class, aside from tests (3 per quarter). Homework due once a week. Easy Class. Always reviews what was tought the class before so it makes going once a week a breeze

5.0
4.0
CALC01
May 15, 2007

He was a bit nervous, but extremely helpful outside of class. He's a really great guy, I don't see why everyone thinks he's so bad. I personally found him to be extremely kind and more than willing to take time to help you on questions you may have.

5.0
3.0
CALCB02
May 24, 2007

I thought he was an amazing professor. He was not always the most clear on what he wanted, but he realized this and wouldn't grade to harshly. He was very helpful outside of class, and in class he at the very least really tried to make it understandable. This was his first quarter teaching and I think that is why he was kind of nervous. Take him :)

3.0
4.0
CALC1A
Sep 17, 2007

he does not seem to know what he is doing. i feel bad for him. helpful but clueless and too young to be teaching

4.0
1.0
CALCB2
Oct 21, 2007

easy as hell diddnt learn much. he liked to "abandon ship" during example problems and class was kinda dry

1.0
3.0
DISC366
Oct 21, 2007

Terrible teacher! Cannot explain anything, even when getting help on homework he "draws a blank" and can't help. Tests are hard, homeworks take about 2 hours. Handed out a project that was supposed to be due in 2 weeks, even though he hadn't taught anything on it, had to extend due date because he took too long to teach it!

2.0
5.0
CALCA
Oct 24, 2007

Passionate, but very quiet professor. Not very good at explaining the material, but is willing to meet outside of class. Good character, but not an excellent professor.

3.0
3.0
CALCASECT
Nov 19, 2007

He is obviously very intelligent-- but he simply can't make his ideas coherent to the class. The homework assignments were difficult (and never explained), the tests had ridiculous foreign proofs rather than real "number problems" and he was awful at answering student questions and explaining work. Nice guy but I would NEVER take his class again!

3.0
3.0
CALCA
Mar 9, 2008

Boring!! Really smart guy, just hard to follow his voice. It's very monotone and unenthusiastic. If you need to catch up on some sleep, take him.

3.0
3.0
CALCA1
Jan 22, 2009

Really nice, smart guy. He knows his calculus but he has trouble simplifying it to our level. He is basically the human incarnation of the textbook when it comes to teaching.

4.0
1.0
DISC265
Mar 12, 2009

He's a pretty quiet guy and seems a bit nervous when teaching, but it's clear he really knows his stuff. The assignments were long but were relevant to the material we would be tested on, and he grades fairly. Overall, he's not bad, and I learned a lot from his Discrete class.

2.0
5.0
MATH206
Aug 11, 2009

Nice guy. However, Professor is vague and unclear on expectations. Plays favorites, and takes off every point he can even if you get the concept. I would recommend strongly against taking this professor.

3.0
3.0
DISMA265
Aug 26, 2009

Class consists of weekly homeworks, 2 projects, 3 exams and extra credit. Every class started with review from the last lecture and then learning one new thing. The review was a waste of time and most people didn't even bother showing up. I felt like I didn't learn much but the class was easy and Dreibelbis will help you understand everything.

3.0
2.0
CALCC
Nov 7, 2009

Not a bad prof. He is a bit boring to listen to, but his grading system is more than fair and the workshops are a great help in learning the material. Lectures are long-winded. I wouldn't suggest going out of your way to get him, but if you do have him as a prof, you should be OK. Just do the work and show up for class.

2.0
5.0
CALCC
Jan 27, 2010

He knows his stuff and is a nice guy but is not a good teacher. He is very smart but generally fails to put the material in terms that is easy to understand as a student. He is a very harsh grader with difficult exams. The biggest problem is the emphasis on WebAssign, it just isnt a good medium for Calculus.

3.0
3.0
MATH265
May 26, 2010

He's really nice, but he's not a good teacher. He always seems uncomfortable. He doesn't deliver material with confidence, which gives the impression that he doesn't know what he is talking about. I think he is new to teaching, so these things may work themselves out. For now, though, I would not take another class from him, if I had a choice.

2.0
4.0
CALCB
Oct 29, 2010

He is a nice guy but his teaching methods do not work i struggled a lot.

2.0
5.0
DISC265
Jan 15, 2011

He's a nice guy, but he doesn't know how to teach.

1.0
5.0
DSC1
Jan 31, 2011

TERRIBLE, worst teacher I've had at RIT by FAR

1.0
5.0
DISCR206
Aug 9, 2011

Doesn't allow enough time for tests. I haven't finished one, just wrote down something in hoping I might get some credit! Week nine and we have three hw's due, a third test yet, and a final four days later, and oh he's still teaching new material...Horrible Teacher!!! Steer clear!

4.0
1.0
MULTIVAR
Nov 28, 2011

His lectures can sometimes be painfully boring, but it was probably one of the easiest classes I've taken. There are so many free points, grades dropped, and makeup opportunities its crazy. I recommend him for any person taking multivariable calculus.

3.0
1.0
MULTIVAR
Dec 2, 2011

If you actually want to learn Multivariable Calculus, do NOT take it with Dreibelbis. We learned double integrals in the last hour of the last class, and we were so far behind the other classes it was ridiculous. Otherwise, he's a really easy (yet painfully slow moving) teacher (kind of a pushover, actually) and it's an easy A.

5.0
1.0
CVARCVAR
Feb 22, 2012

Awesome professor, accepts late homework, is extremely helpful during office hours, fields homework questions during class, drops lowest test grade, gives extra credit,

4.0
2.0
MUL03
May 21, 2012

take good notes and you will excel at the homework, quizzes, and tests. sometimes he goes off on a tangent about the proof of an equation, but this is not really necessary. otherwise, the examples he does in class are really good and help a lot

4.0
2.0
DISC1
Nov 10, 2012

Doesn't always seem confident about what he's saying and sometimes has trouble giving good examples, but if you need help he's always willing to give it. He's very approachable and easy to work with.

2.0
4.0
CALC283
Nov 11, 2012

On a very frequent basis I – and classmates I spoke with – felt that not only was the professor unprepared for the daily lesson, but not sufficiently competent in either the material to be taught, or the actual process of teaching it. I attended class only to be continually disappointed by the lack of useful teaching accomplished every day.

2.0
4.0
PBCAL3
Nov 11, 2012

He is terrible. Writes examples on the board then decides they are wrong and erases them. Examples in class are relatively simple when done correctly, but the he gives 30-40 homework problems that are absolutely ridiculous. The exams are hard too, tricky. He doesn't give enough time to take the tests either. Doesn't seem to care if you understand.

4.0
3.0
CALC1
Feb 8, 2013

He's a really nice guy, but I think he's still learning how to teach. The quizzes and exams are reasonable, but you do get that occasional ridiculously hard problem. The homework on the other hand is almost always ridiculously hard. He seems to ad lib through class, but if you ask questions he's good at clarifying. Drops lowest exam/quiz/HW

2.0
1.0
DISCRETE206
Mar 4, 2013

Was very difficult to understand and follow during lectures. Lacked self-confidence. Ended up teaching myself the material, and avoided his lectures like the plague. Easy A.

2.0
2.0
DISC2
May 5, 2013

Prof. Dreibelbis is a very nice guy, and a smart mathematician, but he simply does not know how to teach. He frequently gets things wrong and has to be corrected by his students. However, if you teach yourself the material, you should be okay. Homework and tests aren't too difficult as long as you don't only use his lectures as a guideline.

1.0
4.0
CALCIII
Jul 29, 2013

Absolutely miserable teacher. Sure he is nice and a total pushover but he is clueless what it is to be even a halfway decent teacher. He does not even realize how bad he is, kinda sad. I opted not to go to class and just do the homework on my own. Turns out my grade has improved by removing him from the equation. -AVOID THIS TEACHER

2.0
3.0
MATH181A
Nov 19, 2013

NOT GOOD AT TEACHING! It wasn't too hard to get a good grade in the class because homework and workshops were worth a lot, but if you want to actually learn DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!

1.0
2.0
MTH098
Dec 4, 2013

If you aren't naturally good at catching on to math concepts, do NOT go with this teacher. He is nice, and tries to be helpful,and seems to know what he is talking about, but is utterly confusing,and unable to teach to those not gifted in math. This class is going to tank my 4.0.

2.0
3.0
MATH181A
Dec 23, 2013

He wasn't very clear in class. He trips over his own words a lot and doesn't really explain very well. If you need to take him go for it, but if you have an option I would avoid him.

4.0
3.0
MATH182A
Grade: Not_Sure_Yet
Feb 4, 2014

He's a great professor as long as you're willing to give him your total attention. Granted he's not the easiest to follow he still gives many important concepts. I agree with his teaching style in that you must be willing to learn the material and teach yourself a lot of it as well. In the end you'll end up learning more than if he just lectured.

2.0
2.0
MATH190
Apr 3, 2014

Awful teacher! His lectures are so boring that it's practically impossible to pay attention, he spends the bulk of the class going over simple, redundant examples and then glosses over the difficult concepts. He makes everything more confusing, even if you're good at math. Homework is difficult, tests are fair.

4.0
2.0
CALCII
Grade: A+
Oct 6, 2014

Very nice guy, but if you are not a strong Calculus student then do no take his class.. His class starts off super easy and you feel like you are not learning anything until the last few weeks and that is because you really aren't. He goes super slow at first and then rushes through to cram all of the material that was on the final.

3.0
3.0
MATHEMATICS
Grade: B+
Nov 4, 2014

Eager to teach, but often confuses himself.

1.0
3.0
231
Nov 9, 2014

Professor is very unhelpful in class, over email, and in person. Lectures are terribly boring and when you can stay awake, you'll find he rambles and you can't really make out any points he's trying to make clearly. If you don't plan on learning all the material yourself, take it with someone else and save yourself the headache.

4.0
1.0
181
Grade: A
Nov 10, 2014

While I do think he isn't the most confident in teaching, he knows his stuff. The examples and notes are extremely clear. The homework, quizzes and tests are concise and to the point. He even does example questions just before the quizzes. His grading scale is designed to pass. 2 quizzes dropped, 3 workshops and 1 test. If you fail, its on you.

2.0
3.0
CALCULUS1
Nov 13, 2014

Very awkward guy in general. Seems shy to talk to students almost. He makes lame jokes which are worth a chuckle though. His voice is like a vacuum cleaner, it just puts you to sleep. Best I can say is that he does relevant examples right before tests that help out a lot. Homework is long and 100 times harder than any test. Gives grade boosting ws.

2.0
4.0
MATH231
Dec 14, 2014

I had to use multiple sources outside of class to get better clarity and comprehension of the material. At times seemed unprepared for lecture leading to the examples he would give being sparse and long-winded. If you can't self-study mathematics, I would avoid him.

3.0
3.0
MATH181A
Grade: D
Dec 22, 2014

If you've taken a Calc course before, you'll do fine. If not, you're going to have to teach yourself all of the course material and you'd better find a good study group. The professor wants to help but is incapable of doing anything for you.

2.0
3.0
MATH231
Grade: A
Jan 17, 2015

Didn't have much teaching skill and didn't know Differential Equations very well. Lectures were confusing and he often made mistakes in problems or taught a concept wrong. He prints out good handouts that summarize the topics well. Homework and tests were a mix of easy questions and incredibly difficult questions that he didn't prepare you for.

2.0
4.0
MATH182
Grade: B-
Apr 25, 2015

DONT TAKE HIM. His lectures are confusing. He sucks at answering questions and will never give a straight forward answer. His tests are nothing like what you do in homework, workshops, or in class. He puts on extremely hard questions that even if you studied all night, you could not prepare for. If you can, get a different prof.

2.0
4.0
MATH182
Grade: B-
May 1, 2015

He's horrible at answering questions and just makes you more confused. Tests are hard and he throws curveballs. Lectures are the most confusing thing and they don't help. Don't take him. He goes very slow in the beginning and rushes at the end. We now have only a week to finish the hardest topic in the class.

3.0
3.0
MATH181A
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 17, 2015

If you've taken Calc before this class is a breeze, besides the occasional new topics. Grading is fair. Do your work and you'll easily get a B. Drops lowest HW, quiz grade. For those that never took Calc, switch or ask questions and go to office hours.

3.0
2.0
MATH219
Grade: A
Dec 27, 2015

Not the best professor at explaining things. He would often get confused running through examples. However, his homework is all on WeBWorK and is pretty easy. His exams are largely based off of the WeBWorK assignments so tests weren't that hard if you studied the homework. Also no quizzes

2.0
4.0
MATH181A
Grade: B+
Jan 4, 2016

His lectures are long and very confusing. He often gets side tracked during them. He doesn't cover the material fully yet expects you to know it in the workshops and quizzes. Be prepared to learn material on your own time or get a study buddy.

1.0
5.0
MATH181A
Grade: C-
Apr 26, 2016

NEVER TAKE THIS PROFESSOR IF YOU CAN HELP IT. He is unclear and difficult to follow, his tests are nothing like what he teaches and I spent 10 hours every week on the homework in the tutoring center. Worst class I have ever taken, half of the class had dropped out half way through, 1/4th failed and the rest passed by the skin of their teeth.

4.0
3.0
MATH182
Jul 20, 2016
Would take again

I was really scared getting into this class because of what other people said about this prof. Yet he was one of the easiest math profs to follow and understand. He did assign a lot of homework tho but so did every other math(calc) prof. I was also really scared of calc II but it was really easy and enjoyable. He made it as easy as he could.

2.0
3.0
DISCRETE1
Dec 1, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Very difficult to follow along with. Frequently jumps between multiple topics in one lectures making it hard to understand what your actually on. Few grades, not a lot of practice. Gives WebWork, but then doesn't match test.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
2.0
MATH182
Grade: A-
Dec 10, 2016
Would take again

Great professor, lectures are a little lacking, but he will keep working with you until you understand that material. Has the class set up so that you will know what you do not know, and it will not hurt your grade, unless you learn nothing. Not a bad choice if you generally understand math, or are a quick learner.

Gives good feedback
Hilarious
Caring
4.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: A-
Dec 10, 2016
Would take again

While the lectures were unclear at times, the workshops helped to develop an understanding of the topics very well. The HW was based on the workshops, the quizzes on the HW's and the tests on the quizzes. He drops the lowest grades and gives extra credit. In general an well structured class that is easy to do well in provided you do the work.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
1.0
4.0
MATH231
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 3, 2017
Wouldn't take again

very nice guy, polite and respectable... not a great teacher unfortunately... very timid and hard to follow during class

LOTS OF HOMEWORK
SO MANY PAPERS
TEST HEAVY
3.0
4.0
MATH181A
Grade: C+
Apr 16, 2017
Wouldn't take again

He was willing to help me understand concepts outside class. Although he is very intelligent and knowledgeable of the material he sometimes has a hard time getting it across clearly. If you show up and do the packets, take notes, do the homework, and study, you will be fine.

Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
Inspirational
3.0
1.0
MATH231
Grade: A
Apr 25, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Homework is worth about 30% of your final grade, and its online and you get infinite tries at them without points off. You often will get to make your own cheat sheet for exams too. This is the easiest math course you will ever take here, but unfortunately he is very boring in class and strays off topic a lot. Easy A

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
4.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: B
Dec 1, 2017
Would take again

He is a great professor really funny in my oppinion. All homework is online and you have infinite tries. You could skip but he gives extra credit for attendance. I hope to have him as a professor again. Over all Calc II is hard but he is a great professor.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Hilarious
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
2.0
MATH219
Grade: A
Dec 8, 2017
Would take again

I had a good semester with him, infinite tries on homeworks made studying based on homework easier and he gave useful notes for reviewing. 10/10 will take this course again.

Clear grading criteria
Caring
Would take again
3.0
4.0
MATH182
Grade: C+
Dec 22, 2017
Would take again

He's a great guy but really cannot teach calc 2 well. Lectures are often confusing and covers the material in too much depth. Handouts are clearer and cover what is actually needed. Lots of webwork assignments, weekly quizzes that can be difficult, tests can be challenging, the final is miserable. If you study well and put work into it you'll pass.

Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
2.0
DISCRETE1
Grade: B+
Apr 5, 2018
Would take again

He is a very goofy guy. He makes a lot of goofy jokes that very few laugh at but he makes learning very easy. He gives a lot of examples and takes it nice and slow for everyone. Extra credit if you participate and show up to every class. Allows notes on some tests, and homework was all online with infinite trys. Would take again!

Clear grading criteria
EXTRA CREDIT
2.0
4.0
MATH190
Grade: B
Aug 30, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Really poor teacher. He has the knowledge but he's terrible at teaching

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
4.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: A
Nov 14, 2018
Would take again

"Ohhhhhkayyyyy!" Solid choice. Quite funny. Tests and HW aren't particularly difficult, tests are designed for conceptual understanding with easier questions. Not the best teacher in lecture but he gets the point across quite well. I would recommend to students already strong in Calculus.

Gives good feedback
Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
2.0
4.0
MATH190
May 6, 2019
Wouldn't take again

So, overall he's a great person, but he's just not a good teacher. A lot of the things he says, he doesn't really know and will ask for someone else to fact check it. When he grades, he nickels and dimes, pulling points off for every minute detail. I would not take him again, personally.

Lots of homework
Tough grader
1.0
4.0
MATH190
Grade: B
May 6, 2019
Wouldn't take again

There was material on his final that was introduced as an optional homework the night before. We barely mentioned it in class and it was noted on MyCourses that there would be either 0 or 1 questions on it. It took up about a quarter of the first part of the exam. This is unacceptable.

5.0
1.0
MATH182
Grade: A
Nov 13, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Without a doubt, the easiest calc class I have ever taken. His lectures are boring, and I do not pay attention, but you can spend that time doing homework or filling out this. His quizzes and exams are really simple and he essentially recycles questions. Sometimes I don't even show up and I'm more than fine. With 2 weeks left I have nearly a 100.

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
MATH182
Dec 16, 2019
Would take again

His class was one of the easiest classes to take, but his lectures were very boring and hard to pay attention to because he will spend 30 minutes on one problem. The hardest part of his class was the project, it wasn't bad until part 3 where things got really confusing. He gives bonus points for attending classes, which is great.

2.0
3.0
MATH181A
Grade: B
Dec 18, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Dreibelbis is a nice and caring person but he struggled to explain concepts in a way that Calculus I students could understand. He made many concepts appear more complicated than they actually were during lecture and struggled to explain things concisely in his office hours. He would be a good choice if you have already taken a calculus course

Accessible outside class
Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
3.0
3.0
CALC181A
Grade: A-
Jan 6, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Professor Dreibelbis was alright. I had his class early in the morning so it was hard to pay attention but if you can somehow manage to stay attentive in his class you should do ok. Online homework w/ unlimited attempts makes it simple to get a good grade. I already took calculus before this so this could influence why I did good.

Accessible outside class
Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
2.0
5.0
MATH104
Jul 21, 2020
Wouldn't take again

I highly recommend that you have the knowledge of calculus before taking this class. It is very tough when math is not your strong suit. The teacher was fine. He just has a hard time getting his point across to help those who struggle with math to understand what he is talking about. If you are good with math, go for it! If not, I recommend not to.

Lots of homework
Test heavy
1.0
4.0
MATH204
Jul 30, 2020
Wouldn't take again

He is a horrible professor. I do not recommend taking him if you are not strong in math. He doesn't explain the math problem clear enough for students who struggles with math in general. He doesn't really help when I was struggling. In a way it felt like he did not care. All he cared was that he was getting paid to do a lousy job of teaching.

Lots of homework
Test heavy
Beware of pop quizzes
2.0
3.0
MATH131
Grade: A-
Feb 13, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Do not take this class asynchronously, his lectures are years old and so dry you'll fall asleep during them. To his credit, he was active in the slack server, and helped out with student questions.

2.0
1.0
MATH131
Grade: A
Nov 19, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Professor Dreibelbis's class was incredible easy. I didn't go to any class except for the first week because everything is also online. I spend 15-30 minutes a week doing the hw. Every 3 weeks or so this is doubled because of exams. I can't comment on his lectures, but the online materials he provides are good as long as you watch on like 4x speed.

Clear grading criteria
3.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: A
Jul 31, 2022
Would take again

He was a good teacher, although his lectures were quite unengaging. He almost never asks questions to the class and seems to be teaching the board. His material, however, makes sense. He enjoys doing things online, which is nice, but beware of the final! Moving from an all-online format to a cumulative, in-person test is tricky.

Clear grading criteria
Accessible outside class
Online Savvy
5.0
3.0
CALC181A
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 7, 2022
Would take again

He's honestly not that bad as many people say. He really cares about you passing his class & will do anything to help you with that. While the lectures may be a tad bit boring, he won't waste your time & do everything in his power to make sure you succeed.

Clear grading criteria
Caring
Accessible outside class
3.0
1.0
MATH131
Grade: A
Nov 15, 2022
Would take again

Prof. Dreibelbis is ok. Attendance isn't required and if you miss class material is easy to find. The class is extremely easy and if you do the online HWs and exams, you will pass. He is always willing to help if you have questions. His lectures are EXTREMELY boring though.

Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
MATH181A
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 15, 2022
Would take again

I have to say Prof Dreibelbis is a good professor, He was not the original professor given but had to sub in for a large portion of this semester. He takes his time to thoroughly explain and is extremely flexible with grading and is very understanding. I would recommend him to anyone and can't wait to take project-based calculus II with him.

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
Caring
1.0
4.0
MATH181
Dec 8, 2022
Wouldn't take again

He was great for the whole semester but I missed the DSO deadline by an hour and the DSO said to ask your professors about extra time/accommodations. He did not give me my accommodations and Im 100% sure if I didnt just fail the final I got a C. Not because I didnt understand the material but because I didnt have enough time.

Lots of homework
Participation matters
5.0
2.0
MATH181
Grade: A
Jan 18, 2023
Would take again

He is a bit timid when teaching, but he knows his stuff. If you don't understand in class, he will gladly help you in his office hours.

Clear grading criteria
Caring
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH181
Apr 11, 2023
Would take again

He's a very hard-working professor and is lenient on grading. He understands the material thoroughly and will help you relentlessly.

Gives good feedback
Caring
Respected
2.0
3.0
MATH-190
Grade: B
Apr 25, 2023
Would take again

He post the content that he goes over in class online so you can always look back at it. Class has a textbook but isn't required as he just takes sections out of it and uploads it for students. There were 20 homeworks in the class and he only uses 16 for the final grade. There are 4 exams in the class and they were online this during my semester.

Lots of homework
5.0
3.0
181
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 26, 2023
Would take again

Very good teacher. Boring lectures, but gives lots of examples. Would recommend to anyone. Does all his tests as take-home tests and usually gives 2-3 attempts.

Caring
Accessible outside class
1.0
2.0
MATH182
Grade: Not sure yet
May 3, 2023

This class is the perfect class if you do not ever need to do anything math related in the future. Lectures were mostly useless, tests were online but the final was not. Professor was friendly, but I find his teaching style pretty much ineffective.

5.0
1.0
MATH190
Grade: A+
May 5, 2023
Would take again

I only went to class 5 times this semester and it was really easy for me to get a 100 average in the class beforethe final (haven't taken it yet). Homeworks can be tough but you have unlimited attempts for each question. All the tests were online and were basically the same as the review he gives us. We had multiple attempts for each test too.

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
2.0
5.0
MATH182
Dec 22, 2023

Tough grader with a lot of assignments. If you miss a few assignments you will fall behind.

Tough grader
Group projects
Lots of homework
2.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: B+
Apr 12, 2024

His class overall is very easy, but he does not prepare you for the final at all. My exams were all open note, open calculator, and online. Then come to the final. Closed note, closed calc, and paper. There was no prep for this. I was at a 95% the whole semester getting A's on my exams, but get a D on my final due to this and dropped to a B+

2.0
3.0
MATH131
Grade: A-
May 3, 2024

His classes is extremely boring. It was hard not to fall asleep. Most of the time I didn't pay attention in class. However, the work he gives isn't very challenging. All the home works and exams are all online and the notes for it are also pretty clear.

1.0
5.0
MATH181
Grade: B-
Oct 25, 2024

Very Dry. Seems like a very nice person, but horrible teacher. Always used confusing examples that were not related to math. Also moved very slow. Spend 4 weeks on what is a function. Would not take any class with him.

Lots of homework
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
1.0
181
Grade: A+
Nov 19, 2024

He is incredibly hard to listen to. He doesn't really teach as he just talks at you. If I had not taken calculus in High School, I would've failed this course. He also moves incredibly slow. Please try to avoid taking his class, you won't learn much.

Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
181
Grade: B+
Nov 21, 2024

If you want to learn nothing and get an OK grade, this class is perfect for you. Every lecture was boring, half the students were asleep and the only reason students pass this class is because they have taken Calculus 1 before. If you just need the credit and you don't need math for your major, he's perfect, if you want to learn, steer clear.

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: Rather not say
Dec 2, 2024

A kind person and open to help or re-open quizzes. Unfortunately, he taught material as if he was reading it for the first time when teaching it, leading to a confusing lecture setting that needed to be reinforced with *lots* of outside material.

2.0
1.0
MATH181
Grade: A
Dec 12, 2024

It's a free A if you stay on top of the assignments. Tests are all online, you get 3 tries and theres many repeat questions. Kind fella, but the lectures are a mess, and he never sounds confident in what he's saying. The pacing is backwards, 4 weeks on ez topics and the hardest were covered very briefly. Self-study to have any chance on the final.

Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
MATH181
Grade: C+
Jan 6, 2025

If you've already taken a calculus course, then you'll enjoy his class just fine. However, if you've never taken calculus before, you will need to self-study a lot. His lectures don't help to teach the material, and every exam he gives is online, open notes, calculator allowed. Avoid if possible.

Get ready to read
Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
2.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: A-
Jan 13, 2025

Professor Dreibelbis made a rather straightforward and comprehensible class almost impossible to understand. His lectures were often ridiculed with unnecessary tangents and practically never logistically progressed through the material he taught in a understandable manner. However, the majority of assignments were online with clear grading criteria

Clear grading criteria
Graded by few things
Online Savvy
5.0
1.0
MATH182
Grade: A+
Jan 14, 2025
Would take again

I took Calculus II with Prof. Dreibelbis, I would recommend him if you have already taken calculus in the past. I did not attend a single lecture but I received an A+ because I already knew the content. I heard he is not the best at lecturing from my peers, but the exams and homework was all online, so if you want a remote class, this is your guy.

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
Test heavy
3.0
1.0
MATH181
Grade: A
Jan 27, 2025
Would take again

While he's very nice and genuinely cares about his students, you don't really learn much in his class. Thankfully, this is not the end of the world because all exams, quizzes, and homeworks are online (you even get three tries for each exam). The only exception to this is the final, so be prepared to self study for it in advance.

Caring
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
3.0
181
Grade: A-
Jan 28, 2025

Lectures taught me almost nothing, I had to spend hours in the tutoring center if I wanted to understand the material. Lots of homework, but you get infinite attempts. All exams are done outside of class. If you choose to chatgpt your way through them, however, you WILL fail the final which is closed notes and worth 22% of your grade. Good luck!

Lots of homework
Online Savvy
3.0
2.0
MATH131
Grade: A-
Feb 10, 2025
Would take again

Dreibelbis' class is easy if you put in the work. The online materials are solid, and unstuck study is a great study aid. Attendance isn't crucial, but the lectures can be dry. Overall, a manageable course with some flexibility.

3.0
4.0
MATH190
Grade: B
May 24, 2025
Would take again

Lectures were uninformative and it seemed to be easier to teach yourself the material. Went through the semester getting As on each exam but when it came to the final, I failed, as well as others. Nothing like the exams throughout the semester.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
1.0
MATH190
Grade: B+
Jul 14, 2025

so dryy he told us a topic he didn't cover wouldn't be on the final and then told us like the weekend before that it actually was required to be on the final. had to self teach that one + it was all over his written portion. midterms were easy like the hw, final was nothing like the midterms. be prepared to teach yourself how to write a good proof!

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Test heavy
3.0
2.0
MATH181
Grade: A-
Oct 29, 2025
Would take again

There was nothing that particularly stood out about him, he would teach and then leave and that was that. Was pretty good about allowing HW to be reopened and the online exams are nice, but I did not feel well equipped for the final exam in the end.

Graded by few things
4.0
2.0
MATH219
Grade: A
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

Lectures are very boring but after add/drop ended attendance wasn't mandatory. While boring, the lectures are actually very knowledgeable and helpful. Homework is like 30% of your final grade and it's all online infinite tries. You can make a cheat sheet and use a graphing calc on all exams, including the final. Easiest math course I've ever taken.

Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
MATH219
Grade: B+
Dec 14, 2025
Would take again

I took him for calc 1 and 2, don't let the rating fool you, he is great. Lectures may be boring, but that's because calc 1 and 2 are boring. He is knowledgeable, and if you're not a frat guy trying to skate through the one math course required for your major, you will learn Calculus just fine.

Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: A
Dec 19, 2025

Definitely a better professor for those with a strong math background. Lectures may be a bit boring, but they are nice and in-depth with the information.

Get ready to read
Gives good feedback
Lecture heavy
2.0
4.0
MATH182
Grade: A
Dec 20, 2025

For me it was hard to understand a lot of the materials he was teaching, Lectures bad, half of the time he is teaching/showing us not important. Youtube and AI were a lot better than him. The topic quizzes and homework are online, exams and finals are in person. Exams and finals are kind of easy.

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
2.0
3.0
MATH182
Grade: A+
Dec 20, 2025

Be ready to study power series until your eyes water because he didn't spend enough time on them because of the broken pacing of the class.

Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

40%

Textbook Required

54%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

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Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 51 grades
Most common grades:
A (16)
A- (9)
B+ (7)
Grade Distribution
A(21)B(9)C(4)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(16)
Based on 59 reported grades
A: 16
A-: 9
B+: 7
Not sure yet: 6
Common Tags
Clear grading criteria (16)
Lots of homework (14)
Lecture heavy (10)
Caring (8)
Test heavy (7)
Accessible outside class (6)
Gives good feedback (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (5)
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