The class was very easy, not too many assignments. Not hard to prepare for the exams. Totally recommend.

He goes beyond the slides and text to make the class understand the subject. Grades and tests are very reasonable. His test preparations will give you a very good idea of what will be tested on. It is easy to get an A or B in his class. Took his class on summer, and class could drag on though.

He gives good explanations and examples beyond the slides. Prep tests actually prepare you for the exam and he's hot.

Really nice guy, just pay attention and do the homework and lab assignments and your guaranteed a good grade!

Very good Prof! A lot of patience and VERY good teaching skills. Highly recommend.

great teacher!! easy class!!!

Made a boring subject somewhat interesting... somewhat

Very good, knowledgeable professor. Lots of material for the final, but three sample exams help a lot. Grades tests pretty good.

Very long ppt slides... however very helpful prof and always think of ways to make students' lives easier. Tests are from study guides and hw's so do them seriuosly. Overall an easy class and great prof!

lovely personality, patient, understanding to students' differences, stats concepts become more applied and real to use ! HMWRKs & EXAMS kind of tough but his guidance always there; certainely you'll leave this course with strong basics successfully

very knowledgable, a gentelman with all what the word means,highly recommend taking his classes, extremely helpful and dedicated to stats & students success, need to keep track of homeworks & practise exams (tough a little bit) but he is always there for help& advice and you'll get the A

He's a cool guy, only 2 tests, don't really need to ever show up for class since everything is on blackboard. Only attend days where he goes over the homework, cuz some stuff might not be on blackboard. Also go on practice exam days. Both exams are pretty easy, and if you play your cards right you can still get an A and rarely if ever go to class.

He's hard to hear sometimes since he mumbles and is boring, but I recommend you sit near the front. He will go over how to do the homework assignments in class and will prep you for exams to the best of his ability. His practice exams are extremely similar to his real exams. Read the book if you can't understand his lectures. I'd say an easy A

The lectures are kind of worthless, don't need to attend except on days when he goes over the Practice Exams or Homework. There are two tests, the final is harder but he gives you a cheat sheet with formulas. He's awesome cuz he goes over homework in lecture, and in lab you go over quizzes.Cool guy, he doesn't like talking in class btw.Pretty easy

Professor Sparks was a very helpful teacher, answers questions to the best of his ability. There are multiple homework assignments and quizzes; but there are only two exams. Exams are similar to practice problems and for the final he lets you use a cheat sheet. Lectures & discussion aren't mandatory, but I highly recommend attending them.

He's a nice person but an awful teacher. HW from book is so tedious and worth way too much points. Midterm exam is really easy, but final was somewhat difficult. With some effort, it is possible to get an A. No curve. Labs teach you nothing that you didn't learn in IDS 200.

He is a cool guy if you get start up a conversation with him. Homework from book is useless and so is lab, especially when you can't understand your TA. Real meat of the course comes in the second half when you actually start applying formulas to problems. Overall I liked him, studied hard for the final and got an A.

I took John Sparks over summer 2011, IDS 270 course. Excellent teacher. He really knows his stuff. If you want an easy A than take another professor. If you want to learn statistics take "Mr. Sparks" class. Made the class interesting. He even answered my email and pointed me in the right direction pertaining to my career goals. Highly recommended

Awesome professor. He gives out the answer for homework during lecture and he can even "check" your quiz before you submitted online. Not 100% easy but if you do follow his practice sets and homework, there are only 5% on the exams that is not "greatly reminded" in class (but that 5 % is still easy if you read his powerpoint).

His lectures are boring and useless just about until the last 3 weeks when he reviews all the material for the final exam. Only like 20 of 300 showed up to lecture everyday and those that did were just playing Angry Birds on their phones (to which he noticed and would comment on frequently). He is very jittery in class and always wired up on Coke.

Took this class online (statistics for management) A lot of work, but I felt I learned statistics. He was also very responsive to email questions and a fair grader. Good class to take online.

The guy sets you up for success. The material can be tricky if you hate stats but he gives you A TON of review material and tools to help you learn. He gives all the answers to quizzes and hw, so try to attend class and you should have no problem getting a good grade.

He gives you everything you need to succeed. His test are moderately challenging,but if you attend class regularly you can get an A..

Extremely clear and helpful. I just wish the class was offered for more than just one time slot. The class was at 4pm and that gave me 6hr gap that really did nothing but make me want to skip, which I did more than I am proud up. Hmwk is online as are quizzes and they're not all bad. Test and final were discussed in class with tons of practice.

Take his class! He is very clear in his presentations and is very helpful. He will stay back after class to help anyone that needs it. Tries to be funny during his lectures from time to time. All of his power point are on Blackboard so you didn't need to attend lectures. His homework and quizzes are fairly easy if you try.Overall, good professor!

This class is pretty easy if you study last year's old exam 2 weeks before he reviews for midterm/exam. Asian ta(s) are the best because they basically tell you the answer to homework/lab. If you can not get the answers to homework or quiz, just google it.

He provides so much review material that is impossible not to do well in the class. Good quality.

Very clear professor! He explains very well. He is willing to repeat his explanations if anyone has any questions. All the material in his exams is covered in class.No surprises. For midterm and final: STUDY THE PRACTICE EXAMS & learn how to do those kinds of problems!Great professor... I would definitely recommend taking IDS 270 with him!

Good Professor. Very helpful. The best teacher for IDS 270!

Take this class at Harold Washington w/ Jeff Swigart. He is more enthusiastic of this class. Sparks class is BORING and at 4pm. Learned more at HW than I did at UIC

Funny, interesting, awesome prof. Prof Sparks puts videos , ppts, textbook pages on Bb, and he really tries to help every student. He would stay after class to go over questions with the students. He is really good at explaining the super confusing math. Loved that class! You don't have to go to class but you should. The class is enjoyable.

Funny professor! Sparks puts everything on blackboard I mean everything. He keeps a boring class pretty entertaining. You don't have to go to class, because he puts his lectures online, but you should go because its easy to fall behind. The only downside to his class is that it's at 4.

Undoubtedly, the most helpful professor ever. Makes sure that every topic is covered and well explained. Willing to repeat himself until absolutely everyone gets it. Even though everything is on Blackboard, attending lectures is your key to success. Moreover, you wouldn't want to miss his funny jokes. Highly recommended!

The best professor that I had this semester! The tests and exams were really easy if you show up to class everyday. Really helpful if you have any questions. I would definitely take another class with this professor.

Nice guy, BUT his exams were difficult. There is a LOT of material crammed for the second exam so be prepared- do the practice exams way ahead of time. The first exam is prty identical to the practice. I think everyone bombed the last exam :/

Great Professor. Very clear and his reviews/drills cover everything on the test. Attendance isn't mandatory and you can watch his classes online if you don't feel like going. Absolutely recommend.

Put in the effort every college course deserves and you will get the A. Sparks is quite straightforward and helpful. Go to class, study, practice the problems he tells you to go over in class, and the A is yours. Very organized and is lenient with due dates. He can make any difficult topic seem easy, only a great Professor can do that.

Sparks chooses to go over concepts that he knows will help us in our future careers. Therefore, every topic covered makes you feel satisfied to achieve and has you looking forward to the next. He is very helpful and always willing to clarify. Study for weekly quizzes, be attentive to homework assignments, and a good grade should be yours to keep.

My first review here because he is great. Statistics is a challenge no matter what professor you have. Sparks gives you all you need for the mid-term and final. He will help you as much as legally possible to understand the class. Optional attendance, but it'll be your responsibility to put in 2-3 nights of hard work come exam time to get the A

I found the professor's videos highly valuable and they allowed me to refresh the understanding of concepts before my job interviews. I should say that his lessons and projects had a significant role in me securing a job!

He was of my favorite professor. The class is hard, but he gives examples to help you understand. Yes the exams was hard, but the practice exam is extremely help. He's lectures are boring, but he tries to crack a joke here and there.

Favorite Professor, Ive taken him twice. The course (IDS270) isnt easy but he provides you with all the information you need to succeed. If you get a bad grade, it means you didnt try hard enough. Literally drills for weeks before the final. Lets you re-do anything you bomb. Highly recommend, its not like any professor makes stats super interesting

Fun professor that makes a dry subject bearable. There's no reason to fail this class unless you're being lazy. Everything's posted online including the lectures and ppt slides. His reviews cover 90%+ of what will be on the exam, it's up to you to study it. It's very easy to fall behind, though, when the concepts get harder.

He's probably the best professor for IDS 371, The class is long, but it is not that boring at all. Class attendance is not mandatory but recommended. The class material is not that bad, and if you attend every single class, you should be able to get an A with no problem. Highly recommended.

Anyone who says that his exams are impossible must not go to class very often. He literally reviews and states everything that is going to be on the exam. Have only NOT gotten a 100% with this guy on the regression exam in 371. Bottom line: go to class, don't talk during class, listen when he says "this will be on the exam", and you'll get an A.

I highly recommend taking his classes. His lectures are not boring and easy to follow. The review section is really helpful and you do not need the textbook for this class.

Best professor in the IDS department currently. He is very, very good at explaining the material and the exams are faithful to the material he covers. He is also funny and cracks a lot of jokes. Go to every class and pay attention to the lectures, it really pays off. Don't slack on the hw or comp assignments and you'll be good.

He is a good professor, but its a hard class too. Lots of homework, lab, and computer assignments. Dont slack on any of them, even though they are worth only 5 percent. Midterm is VERY similar to study guide. However, the final exam is harder and not as similar to study guide. Make sure to go all the review sessions and follow up on the echo also

Study the practice test along with doing the HW and you will get an A

Sparks try's his best to make the lectures entertaining. There was 2 tests worth 75% of your grade. The midterm review is almost identical to the midterm itself. He goes over the final for around 2 weeks. Easy to reach and contact. Just study intensely for the tests and you will be good. He is an all around good guy.

Amazing Person! Hilarious and You'll learn a lot with him.

Sparks is a great guy. If i could take him for every class, I would. He gives you everything necessary to do well in his class. If you need help, he's very helpful during office hours and will even stay late to make sure you understand it. He's hilarious too. Overall, great guy and he made stats a lot easier. Take him you won't regret it

Cool professor. I appreciate the fact that he records all of his lectures because I work full time and couldn't always make it to class, although he did give homework hints to those who attended class. He is great at reviewing for the exams, drills for a week straight. Online homework and quizzes. Would take him again.

Definitely take him. He makes the topic easy to understand lowkey. He's a cool guy too. As long as you put in the work in and out of class, you should be fine.

Just go to class and you will get an A, the actual exam is almost identical to the practice. Whoever said this class is difficult must be SKIPPING classes a lot. Cool and funny guy, willing to take it again.

take him, trust me

Currently taking him during the summer. Funny and sarcastic guy. Class is graded by 2 exams worth 75% of the total grade and the other 25% is homework, labs, etc. Overall excellent professor, my only complaint is that exams make or break your grade, luckily his reviews are very precise and helpful. Course load not heavy, but material is hard.

Professor Sparks is my favorite professor at UIC. He is knowledgeable on his material, and he teaches the material in a way that everyone can understand with some jokes. I have taken him for both IDS270 and IDS371. He is been extremely helpful, and I have learned a lot. Take Sparks you wont regret it.

Professor Sparks is the best professor I've had so far at UIC. He makes the material extremely easy to understand, and is very helpful outside of class. His final makes up 45% of the final grade, but this doesn't bother me as a. he reviews a LOT before it and b. the class is all about application, which makes sense for a statistics class. Take him!

He gives you everything you need to earn an A. The content is challenging until you study and practice. Exams are 75% of your grade. Study hard for them. He also has an irrational fear of roaches. Never ask him about that. Don't talk in class. He will stop the lecture and yell at you if you do. I love you, Professor Sparks!

Definitely the toughest and pickiest grader for the memos. The web videos are mandatory to watch. They do help. But going to his office hours will be the biggest payoff when you're re-doing your memo. Definitely record him on audio when you're getting feedback on the memos or else you'll forget how he wants you to do state your analysis.

Great professor! Funny and smart about everything statistics. He is very strict about talking when he lectures and strict on test day but I found his class enjoyable. He uploads a video of every class session which is a bonus bc he doesnt require attendance! Take him you wont regret it!

I only paid attn to this class during midterm and final review. Lots of easy online assignments due every week. I only went to lab if there was a written assignment we had to turn in. Don't slack on studying for the tests bc you will really hurt yourself. The material is challenging but if you study a lot do the practice tests you'll be good.

John Sparks communicates business statistics in an effective and understandable manner, and he doesn't ghost you outside of class. He's entertaining, work-oriented, generous, and respectable. It's pretty rare to find a professor in the information science department that possesses all these qualities, especially an encouragement for students.

Prof Sparks is a solid choice! Ive taken IDS 270 and 371 with him. His PowerPoints are very helpful, dont even waste your time reading the textbook. For 270, make sure you prepare well for the midterm and final. Study off the PowerPoints and !!practice exams!!. For 371, theres 5 exams and a final, so make sure you study regularly.

I took IDS 371 and the class was decent. He provides lectures online after each class. All homework and quizzes online. 5 exams and 1 big final. The review sessions before exams and finals are critical for success. I would take him again.

My only issue is that SPSS is a bit old as companies are moving towards R and Python which are free, but spss is still a great tool. However, professor sparks taught well and I laughed at all of his ohio state jokes.

John Sparks is one of the Greatest Professors of all time. Sure there are only two exams and the final is worth 45% but he will help you every step of the way. Make sure you go to his lecture everyday and ask questions don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand something he encourages it. Highly recommend John Sparks for IDS270!!!!!

This class is test heavy, so buckle up for that. Don't get the textbook, you won't needed because he post all the materials you will need. This class can get difficult, so if you don't commit the appropriate amount of time for it and go to class, you'll be lucky to walk out with a C. Mr. Sparks is really patient, but don't talk during lecture.

There are two tests which are worth 75% of the grade If you show up to class everyday and review the study guide material the tests are straightforward. There is a lot of online assignments due which took a decent amount of time to complete. Half of all the assignments were pretty pointless and seemed like busy work if you understood the topics.

The class material is not that bad- you just need to PAY ATTENTION in class and not be on your phone otherwise you will miss something. It's really not that hard to do with a 50-minute lecture. Class attendance is not mandatory but recommended. You get lecture capture but most who do that and never attend, fail. You get out to what you put in.

Sparks was an awesome teacher. He comes off sarcastic sometimes; only because he knows alot about the material he teaches. Funny lectures. Going to class and taking good notes is essential. Also his study guides are the key to success. He only puts exactly what you need for the test in them instead of unnecessary fluff like other teachers.

I was most impressed by the prompt reply to the emails I send him to clear my doubts, even on weekends. The class is quite fun and he makes full effort to keep it as interesting as possible. Additionally, he is very respectful to the students in the class.

This course is easier than IDS 270. Sparks tries to explain the material in a way that makes statistics easy. You can definitely earn an A or a B in this course if you put in the work. 5 exams and a final, along with homework and quizzes. He prepares students with study guides also.

Homework and quiz every week, 1 midterm and 1 final. Can do good on the exams even if you do not attend classes. I couldn't understand much in classes, but I understood a lot by just attending review sessions that he conducts before exams. Just make sure to understand everything in the review. Difficult subject, but he makes it as easy as possible.

An amazing professor. The class itself is tough, but he tries to simplify it as much as possible though his study guides. Just study those and you will be good. Not going to lie, you have to study for it, but it is college so we have to get used to it one way or the other. His study guys are enough to get you a decent grade.

Professor Sparks was very thorough and clear with his instruction. All material was more than adequately explained and demonstrated- so with proper preparation on the students behalf, an A is easily achievable. Professor Sparks was quick and direct with communication outside of class, and I enjoyed his course very much.

He's an amazing professor that actually cares about the students wellbeing during exams and out of exams. Yah, they might say he's tough and all that. But the truth is, the course isn't that easy, just except it, he'll help in anyway possible. He's the real deal & You gotta put in the work.

Professor Sparks is so caring and is always willing to provide more extra credits and stuff. Always ready to listen to students' opinions and gives productive lectures. The stuff he teaches is challenging, but what he gives on his final or midterm is based on the memorization of his presentations. I memorized well of his slides and got almost A.

in his first email to students, he said if you aren't able or willing to put in the time, then his IDS570 class isn't for you... this has proven to be extremely true! he's always quick to respond to emails and provides plenty of resources for success. i am learning a lot, and it's been worth the effort, but it certainly has been a huge effort.

His exams are exactly like the study guide and he tells you exactly what's going to be on it. Just do the work and study for a few hours for each exam and you'll pass with a high A. Easiest IDS class I've taken so far.

Great lectures and uses various techniques to explain complicated topics.

Very enjoyable professor

Professor Sparks is very clear, accommodating and explains material in great detail. If you are willing to put in work you will pass with an A. It has been a tough semester in COVID era but professor Sparks made sure we learn material and succeed. His exams are exactly like study guides. There is HW and quizzes. 100% would take again!

Many people will say, Professor Sparks is tough. He tries his best for the students. The great thing about him is that his explanations are clear and concise. He does not waste your time explaining unnecessary materials. NEVER MISS HIS REVIEW LECTURES HE COVERS EVERYTHING YOU NEED LEARN IN THE CLASS IN THE REVIEW SESSION.

Online lectures are boring but if there is humor and passion added then it's worth watching. Professor Sparks did that for us.

The concepts can sometimes be difficult, be he explains them really well and thoroughly and also teaches you the actual application of how the material is used in the real world. He teaches more based on understanding the concept instead of just plugging numbers into equations. Definitely need to watch lectures and do HW to succeed in the course.

Allows students to have an organized agenda, unlike other professors that are over the place. In addition, he responds quick to emails and always accessible.

Professor Sparks goes above and beyond for students. I had to take an incomplete in his class and he was so helpful with getting the rest of my coursework done so I could complete the class. He emails back almost instantly and is flexible, plus he's always available to help if you're having trouble with the coursework. Highly recommend this prof

I took his IDS270 online course, and though I was terrified when he announced that the final exam would be worth 40%, the week given is more than enough time to update yourself on the lectures. All problems he gives can actually be solved with material given in class which is not like all professors.

He's really heavy on the lectures but it really prepares you for the final! He gave us a week and if you paid attention you'll do just fine! His lectures are heavy but he makes them really enjoyable to watch! One of my favorite teachers this semester!

Professor Sparks is a great professor and has really informative, clear lectures. As long as you do the exam reviews and understand everything on the slides, you're good for the tests. Don't hesitate to ask questions - he's very prompt and willing to answer any concerns about the material. Definitely recommend!

He provides amazing lectures and I was a marketing student back then but enjoyed his class so mich. Of course I studied really hard to catch up course material. The tests are difficult only if you don't study. He even provides a sample test which will almost look alike with the mid,final exams so make sure to study those. He is also nice. Fair.

These bad reviews are from people that didn't go to class and didn't try. He is a tough professor, yes. But he gives SO MUCH review material and goes over ALL OF THE MATERIAL for the exams. The class is not that hard. Go to class, study, and see him outside of class. It's not rocket science y'all.

Prof. gives you all the information you'll need for the exams. The ppts and homework quizzes are the best way to study for exams. HW quizzes are reasonable. Lecture attendance wasn't mandatory. He gives good lectures with just the right amount of explanation (however he does speak slowly).

Very understanding and genuinely wants his students to do good.

Honestly, he is not that bad. All you have to do is listen to his lectures and do the homework. ALWAYS attend his review sessions. Cool dude!

He was overall a great professor. I had an 89.7 and he brought it up to a 90! I was really happy about that.

Due to the course being online all the information for the semester was already pre filmed for us. Meaning we were pretty much on our own, he does answer any questions you might have over email as well as his lecture videos are pretty straight forwards

Professor Sparks is a very solid Professor. His tests are pretty straightforward and he lets you use a notecard on them. He gives you partial credit on tests if you make a good case for your work. The homework isnt bad at all. Theyre simple quizzes on Blackboard. If you pay attention, take notes, and study well for the exams, youll pass!

Professor Sparks is a great communicator, has plenty of office hours and has quirky jokes. There are a lot of quizzes/assignments but that's what you would expect out of a college course. As long as you put in the work, follow his lectures and study... you will have no problem getting a good grade!

Its definitely not an easy A class you have to work for it but he gives multiple opportunities to get your grade up between the tests, homework, and quizzes. We get a cheat sheet for exam day (3x5 notecard) and be sure to come to review days. Just apply yourself he knows what hes doing, you got it!

The exams, homework and Computer Assignments are very easy as long as you attend lectures or watch the Lecture videos. The Review material is golden to your performance in the course. Make sure you review the review material thoroughly and understand it properly. The professor makes the course really easy to understand. Recommend this class!

His class is easy as long as you watch the lectures and do the practice problems. You have many opportunities to make up your grade with extra credit exams.

I've taken IDS 270 & IDS 371 with Professor Sparks and I've received an A+ both times, there are plenty of chances to get your grades up because of all the assignments he gives. If you apply yourself, attend the review sessions, and aren't afraid to reach out for help via him or the TAs you will be good. You got to put in the work but it pays off!

can't complain about your grade if you don't show up. probably 1/8 of the class ever showed up. ids is inherently trickier as it isn't commonly taught. if you want to do the bare minimum, literally do the practice exam-not many other professors give out those. be grateful, this guy is a great professor. take some responsibility.

Professor Sparks is a great professor and all his exams are based off the lectures and reviews so if you put in the effort, and keep up with his material you should get a good grade in this class. Additionally, he is very understanding and genuinely wants you to do well in his course so if you ask for help he will be more than willing to do so.

I loved his lectures, he made stats really interesting for me.

His lectures are recorded online word for word so you don't really need to show up. He provides helpful study guides to prepare you for the exams. Exams aren't hard if you are actively watching his lectures and practicing the material from the study guides he provides. If word problems aren't a problem for you then you will do fine in the class

Lectures are easy to catch up on. Quizzes are short questions on what he teaches. You can score well in exams if you understand lecture and practice review questions. Grading is absolute.

Lectures are all over the place and aren't worth going to. I would only show up during review week and watch his recorded review videos and I would do perfectly fine on exams. STUDY GUIDES=EXAMS. Pretty straightforward class.

You have to study for exams!! People don't do well in this lecture because they don't properly prepare for exams. Sparks literally gives you every resource you need to get an A on every exam. Videos, explanations, walk through for problems, BIG study guides. The homework, quizzes, and lab are all easy to do and he'll provide vieos for every lab.

John Sparks is an excellent instructor of statistics at our school. His lessons are structured, yet entertaining, and he is able to make abstract concepts easier to understand. All in all, John Sparks is a fantastic teacher of statistics and is highly recommended.

Professor John is awesome. He makes learning fun. I truly enjoyed taking his Stats class. His lectures were so helpful. Moreover, the drill exam gave a good sense of what may come in the exam. Professor has a great sense of Humour so the class is never boring.

Class is not bad, professor sparks teaches everything u need to know. However, 80% worth of exams is too much for a grad class.

I recommend going to class, especially in the beginning. He focuses on what you need to know, but this doesn't mean it's easy. You still have to do the work and understand his lectures & powerpoint slides, but you don't have to worry about missed/surprise information on your homework, quizzes, study guides or exams! Easy to reach through email too!

Sparks is a very funny man! While attendance isn't mandatory, it is advised! His lectures can be boring at times but they're so useful and help when it comes to the exams. I know many don't like him, but those ppl tend to be those who don't attend lectures.

Statistics is a hard subject to teach. Sparks is hilarious and teaches statistics in a practical, useful, manner.

A class with all of the answers online... with that being said, you need to know the information well to do good on tests. Sparks's lectures are okay, nothing crazy special, but overall good enough to get the job done for the course.

I LOVE HIM! FAVE PROFESSOR!! he cares so much and provides you absolutely everything you need to succeed. People only dislike him because the content is complex, but he really sets you up for success.

He will make this content stick! An absolutely amazing professor in the way he sets up his courses and teaches them. He is a very hard grader and the content is so confusing but he provides you absolutely everything you need to succeed. If all my classes were set up this way, I'd be an honors student. I've taken John Sparks for 270 as well.

Professor Sparks is very knowledgeable, very kind and very patient with students. He gives a homework assignment, quiz, lab assignment or computer assignment a week. The exams are exactly the same as the review. Lecture available online but I highly recommend going to class because he gives more examples. If you do your homework you'll be okay!

The class itself is very easy if you pay attention to how Sparks teaches it. He provides his lectures online with a recording, and does the same for some of the homework. Attendance isn't mandatory but he does pass back your exams in class or printed out study guides. I enjoyed IDS 270 with Sparks he's a great professor.

Sparks is a really good professor! Just pay attention during class and you will be good. He also gives extra credit for the first exam which will help you for the final grade. Prof. Spark if you read this " YOU ARE AMAZING"! " The mean in the population" is his favourite sentence don't be surprised if he mentions this thing during all lectures.

He is a very nice and chill professor. I don't get why students are rating him badly. From my side, just come to class and pay attention to his lectures. Even if it's an easy question he still answers, and makes sure to come to exam reviews. If you do then it should be good. Prof.Sparks if you are reading this you are 5/5, you are the best!

Amazing professor, I really enjoyed his lectures. Exams are a bit hard but if you study the review sheet he sent out before exam you should be able to get an A. This is my second class with this professor and I would take another class taught by him if I have the chance.

He actually sets his students up for success. Everything is on blackboard. Reviews, recorded lectures, how to do certain homework problems, lab assignments.

If you are looking for an easy A this is not the class for you. If you are looking to learn a valuable skill for your trade Professor Sparks is an excellent choice he sets up everyone for success only thing that could hold you back in his class is yourself. Would take again 10/10

He has a clear grading system that is stated in the syllabus. If you go to class or at least learn the lectures you will pass. IDS is a difficult subject to teach in general and more than half the class doesn't show up which is why so many people fail. You will get a good grade on the exams if you actually listen and learn the content.

Everything is online and there are no surprises to what is expected. I never went to class in person, but when I did attend 4 classes out of the many missed, he had great humor and was enjoyable.

Great professor. Good lectures, he explains things well and attendance isn't mandatory. Puts lectures on blackboard if you miss class. Not a terribly hard class if you try a little. Multiple exams and a cumulative final however he prepares you well for each exam with review sessions and he will pretty much tell you EXACTLY what will be on each exam

Sparks is a good professor. If you really want to learn about the units taught in the class Sparks is your go to person. The exams are based of the lectures, and study guides basically are your bestfriend when it comes to exam because its like copy and paste.

Good and just professor. You have to go through pre-recorded lectures online and do homework assignments. And appear in bi-weekly exams. Lectures are decent. Exam questions come from his review material. So, not at all tough if you have been a little sincere. He is a no-nonsense guy. Clear grading criteria.

Sparks' class can be tough, but with the right approach, it's manageable. The lectures can be dry, but attending and paying attention helps. unstuckstudy and the free textbook are great study aids. Overall, a decent class if you put in the work.

Provides clear guidelines on grading. Attendance isn't mandatory as his lectures are uploaded to blackboard. Just pay attention in class and study before exams and you will pass with flying colors

Steer away from the negative comments, unsure why he's hated so much.... in the population. He's truly a great professor.

Sparks is such a nice man. There's a LOT of assignments, be sure to stay on top of the due dates! He posts videos for everything, you can't fail unless you aren't trying. He dedicates one week of lectures before the exam just for review and the exams are almost the same as the review. Just put some effort in the class and you'll pass easy.

Professor Sparks loves his students. He's willing to explain ANY (even repeated himself a couple of times) questions. Attendance is mandatory and must be on time (max 10 mins late). Study the worksheets and you'll get an A for exams. He may seem trick to people who don't show respect, but he's a happy spirit with old jokes! I'll take his IDS 371!

Honestly just do all the HW on time, get attendance, the review sessions have all you need to know for exams, study the worksheets and you will get an A Cool dude and he gets the job done and is willing to answer questions during his lectures, which is the only thing ill take points off for because they can get boring at times.

Sparks is honestly funny like dad funny but funny and he teaches the material well and gets you super prepared for the exams as long as you show up and participate

Very kind. Very understanding. Very fair course.

His rating should be higher... in the population! There is no reason to hate this guy, as he tried his best for all of his students to succeed. If you get a bad grade, you were not in class and were not paying any attention.

Very chill professor. Class is easy if you pay attention, do the homework, and study for the exams. Lectures can be very boring and confusing, but they're summed up to be easier than they look on the exam review worksheets, so as long as you do those and get the material down, you should be good. No reason to get a bad grade.

Such an AMAZING professor, although some days his lectures are boring. The worksheets before the exams are exactly like the exams, same exact format, so the contents of the exams are never a surprise. Study the worksheets. Always answers questions in class. Sometimes he assigns a handful of hw but its not that bad. You can find the textbook online.

Its imperative to come to class. You will miss a lot of explanation and assignment deadlines if you aren't present. He does a lot of review. The professor is very supportive and wants you to ask questions if you don't understand something. He is very accessible via email and responds promptly. Do not BS any of the assignments. He will easily know.

Great teaching style with humor.

Prof Sparks is one of the best professors. He cares about his students' success and is always willing to help. He's very supportive—whether it's homework or exams, he walks through the materials and provides clear study guides. His exams are fair and reflect exactly what's taught in class. Stay engaged and follow him, you'll definitely do well.

One of the most helpful IDS electives! We learned R, analytic techniques, and how to write business memo. Unlike other classes where you're lost on homework or exam, he explained everything clearly, gave study guide, detailed feedback, and shared examples for homework and projects. Just attend class and stay on track. Glad I had him as a professor!

The person claiming that Professor Sparks writes his own reviews probably never attends class or pays attention to what he discussing. He's very straightforward and doesn't sugarcoat things; on the exam, he does REVIEWS, and the exams are similar to the review. It seems like u're upset cuz the class isn't an easy A that you can pass wo any effort.

Professor Sparks is honestly one of the best professors I've had. He makes things easy if you show up or watch the recordings. He dedicates full class time to homework walkthroughs and even gives the answers. Exams are taken straight from the review doc he goes over in class. If you're struggling, it's probably because you're not attending class.

Professor Sparks is very caring, and fully supports students both inside, and outside of the classroom in order to enhance their learning. He answers all questions & never makes students feel dumb, quickly replies to email, and dedicates an entire week to prepare students for exams. If you put in the work, you will learn a lot and get a good grade!

Awesome teacher!

Took multiple classes with him. Super straightforward. Exams are literally pulled from the review which he solves during class. One short weekly hw, no textbook, and attendance isn't mandatory. Lectures are recorded sooo you lowkey don't have to go if you really cant. He's also pretty sarcastic which i think some people misunderstood😭😭

Professor Sparks is extremely helpful and responds at all hours of the day. I had extreme life circumstances for which he was very understanding and lenient. IDS 371 is an advanced topic, which naturally makes it quite difficult, and you will see plenty of bad reviews of students who simply did not prepare accordingly. Material is absorbable.

Highly recommend you take his IDS270 before taking IDS371 with him. Make sure that you watch and understand the lectures and study the exam reviews; also, lots of practice will help. No extra credit whatsoever, but he gives you the chance to retake one makeup exam if you scored poorly on the previous ones. Not an easy A, but you'll learn a lot.

Sparks gets carried away during his lectures but he holds review weeks before exams during lectures which basically informs you of what will be in the exam. At longest you study those review sheets you're solid for the course.

Before all the exams there's 3 test review days that cover everything on the exams.

His general lectures drag, but when it comes to exams, he does review sheets which are near identical to exam material (each sheet worth attendance grade). Offers extra credit for exams. Acadly attendance, HW is weekly hw and mini lab assignments on blackboard. (discussions not mandatory and are on Zoom) TLDR go to worksheet days and youll be fine

He made exams really easy to understand and made sure we went over material until it stuck with us.

Sparks is a very tough-love type of teacher. He will provide you with everything you need for the exam, and if you choose to slack off, you will have a hard time. The lectures do drag a little, but his corny jokes can make it a bit more interesting. If you study the review sheets and turn in your homework on time, you should be fine for this class.

Prof. Sparks is one of the BEST professors to have an IDS and takes the time to explain what the concept is as well tells us about how it is applied to the real world. He also goes over in class the homework, what will be on the quiz, the exam, and lets you resubmit to improve your grade. Accommodating just go to class and you'll be set.

He makes a lot of corny jokes and goes off on tangents sometimes but he sets up a really good foundation for his students to learn and succeed in his class. He gives several quizzes and assignments along with videos explaining the logic behind each problem. He also says what will and will not be on exams so students can prepare properly.

I would without hesitation recommend taking Sparks for IDS 462. His slides are intended to supplement the lectures, so attendance matters. He is incredibly flexible with assignments as long as you put forth a genuine effort. He gives detailed feedback and opportunities to correct mistakes. Show up, engage, and you will do well and learn a lot!