2.3
Quality3.8
Difficulty41%
Would Retake92
Reviews41%
Would Retake
92
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
9
4
14
3
14
2
16
1
39
What Students Say
“i had to leave his class”
MATH106 - 1.0 rating“He is a really nice guy but I would never take this class again”
MATH106 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
70%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.56 avg changeRatings by Course
106
4.5
(2)CALC114
4.0
(3)MATH221
4.0
(1)MATH114
3.2
(17)MATH
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
114
5.0
CALC1
5.0
STATS
5.0
ANALYSISI
5.0
MATH351
5.0
Reviews (92)
No Comments
easiest math teacher you will find
No Comments
He is terrible, hard and not percise at all...but he does look like Shrek a bit, so its kind of funny...
No Comments
Really didnt seem like he knew what he was doing. He would go over a problem for like 20 mins and then be like i am sorry this si wrong!!!!
He is very hard to understand...he would keep making mistakes on the board when going over problems and it would be very confusing...and he is boring. If you suck at math don't take him!!
Loved the class. Nice man. Not too very hard.
No Comments
DO NOT TAKE! TRUST ME! He cant teach, doesent show up for his office hours and you cant understand what the hell he is saying!
Really nice guy. Can be funny in a sarcastic way. He really wants people to learn the material, so ask questions. Just do the assigned problems because that's what'll be on the exams.
This guy can not teach. He goes way to fast and just says "alright u understand" and if you say no then he just says to practice. How can you practice if you have no idea how to do it? Try to avoid this guy unless your a math genuis!
No Comments
Good teacher, but doesn't answer questions clearly
um all i have to say is NO!
Do the homework and study guides. Make sure you do things the way he wants them done. Youll be ok, he tends to give extra-credit.
Horrible teacher. He may know the material, but he cannot relate it in an understandable manner. Frequently messes up the problems he is working on in class and follows it up with "You get the idea, just practice". Dropped halfway through the se
Somewhat of a hard teacher, will help if you ask for it. Gives extra credit on occasion. Kinda looks like Shrek.
this guys is horrible, as simple as that. This guy can't teach, im dropping him halfway through the semester after me and my buddies studied all week for this test. I got a 35, my one friend got a 15, another friend got a 12, and my other friend got a 28. What does this tell you? Do not TAKE!!!!
I got less than a 50 for my total grade for the semester, which was worth a B. Why? Because most of my classmates also got below a 50. This guy cannot teach! Another Math genius with no communication skills who was just dropped into a classroom.
this guy is horrendous, do not take at any cost
data legend: this man is awful. he knows the method for himself... he cannot communicate that with the class. if you must take him, bring some sunglasses so he can't see you sleep in your seat.
The guy is smart but he expects you to be just as much of a math wiz as him, and does a poor job of teaching you to use the math programs he requires you to use for the tests. Also remember: he is always right; it's the textbook that's wrong.
Otarod IS difficult, but not as impossible as anyone on here says. There are obviously different ways to do the same thing in math, so you can't freak if he does it differently than the almighty book. All you need to do well is common sense. I got an A with maybe an hour a week studying.
not half as hard as people say. ask for help and he will be more than willing to work with you, very understanding. if you show interest in your grade he will give you a break, i thought he was funny and i loved him
No Comments
After 12 hours of work on an IMPOSSIBLE take home test (he doesn't usually give take homes) i want to kill myself. THis is the worst class i've ever taken. IT's filled with math majors who mostly agree with me. DONT TAKE HIM. A very nice man, but impossible to do well with.
I have done well in all my classes, until I got to this man. I hated every minute of class (usually because I had no idea what he was saying) and it was the first time I considered dropping a class. Even if you get most of the problem right, with a minor mistake, he will take HALF or FULL credit off. Do not take, save yourself the trouble.
Terrible. Explained everything so that even the easiest stuff looked complicated. Everything was "you see this?" and "it's very a-straightforward". Likes to make himself look smart and the rest of us look stupid. UGH.
It may just be that he is teaching a low-level course, but started off very demeaning, saying how we wont win a Nobel Prize for solving a quadratic equation. Not very helpful in class, tends to go by far into too much depth with answers and just confuses people, and was condecending when he felt somethignw as easy. Not impossible, but not easy.
umm...do the work and you'll be fine...he expects a lot from people, doesn't want his class to be just a fulfillment of the Q requirement...he does try hard to help people, but they're just lazy about it....get over it and do the work, he'll love that you try, and you'll pass
i had no choice to take this man, but i wish i did he is horrible. He says everything is so easy all the time. then he tells you he wants everyone to get good grades yet his tests are impossible and not what we learned, and he doesn't give ANY PARTIAL CREDIT. if it isnt completely right you get all points off. AVOID horrible teacher
I didn't think he explained anything well at all. When a class average is a 67... there's definitely some problems
Has quizzes almost every other class, the beginning quizzes on the homework given on the material you just learned, so you may not even understand what he is quizzing on. So make sure you go over everything Will help you 1 on 1 in office but quizzes and tests are not put together with ease. Have strong algebra skills beforehand! 3tests 18quiz Final
im not gonna lie, i like math, alot. and otarod was tough, he dosnt really give much partial credit, but if you know what your doing and you go to class and you do the non manditory homework, you will get an a
nice guy but bad teacher. I only got an A because i had taken the course before and i almost forgot what i knew during the class!
Do not take this teacher for Math. He does not take his time to explain and is not nice at times. He makes things MUCH MORE complicated than they really are. Most of the stuff I learned previously and knew what he was talking about. He just makes it all complicated.
At first I thought I was dumb. I was failing tests that I spent days studying for. Then I withdrew and took a higher level Calc. course at a major research university over the summer. I got an A. Harder material presented by a better teacher made all the difference.
i hate this guy. he smiles as he fails people.
The guy can't do simple algebra. He keeps making mistakes when doing problems. It is shocking that he is an university professor and more shocking that he was hired as a professor. He is no genius, hs is a fraud. Avoid him at all costs.
I have him for Quantitative Method II, and we actually use a calculus book (wonder why don't they just call it a calculus class). Having no calculus coming straight out of high school (I took pre-calc), I wasn't too sure if i can handle it. Half of the class i assume took calculus already back at high school, and they are just reviewing, while I am
no idea what he talks about in class. tried to teach myself from the book but there were only limited answers in the back. can't understand him
Otarod is a nice guy who cares about his students and is willing to help them as much as possible. However, he has a difficult time explaining things, has a very disorganized class, and his in-class exams are way too hard. Because of the lack of organization and his terrible explanations I would not recommend him.
Nice enough guy but terrible teacher. Does not explain things in a way students can understand. Highly recommend a different teacher or at least a tutor.
Masood is a good guy. He will definitely help you if you need it, and he really tries to make sure everyone understands. As he said himself, he is a little difficult to understand with his accent, but you'll get used to it. Also, if you go to his office hours and talk to him (about anything), he WILL make sure you get better grades.
Easily the worst teacher at the U.. does not care if people understand the problem or not.. went to see him about a few things and told me there was nothing he could do..DO NOT TAKE HIM for your own sake
I won't insult the profession of teacher, instructor or professor by categorizing him as such, very unorganized, no teaching skills. I got a Tutor immediately, didn't help, the tutor was good. I learned more from the Tutor. Exams and quizzes are impossible. I stuck it out.Dont make the same mistake. I learned one thing....STAY AWAY!!!
Note where he says "the text book likes to be gentle on you, I will not". Basically what this means to you is ...do all the homework you want. You will not recognize the tests or quizzes. Easily the most awful professor at the U. Stay away.
Super helpful guy. go to his office hours and ask questions. If you can do the homework u can do the tests. Gives a big hw packet before the test and the test is very similar to the packet. You need to go to every class but he's willing to take the time to explain anything you don't understand. if ur any sort of good at math this class will be easy
Initially class seemed like it was going to be a breeze, especially if you took calc before. He progressively stopped being as generous on the quizzes, unless you meet with him privately where he'd be more helpful.
This professor has good intentions. He is very unclear and if you do not have prior knowledge to calc or you are not good at math I DO NOT recommend taking him.
Worst teacher I have ever had. He always says that the material is so easy and you should know it right away. never explains the topics and gets annoyed when he has to explain things. i took math 107 again and passd with an A-. just shows sometimes it IS THE TEACHER...unless you had prior knowledge about this class..AVOID HIM AT ALL COSTS!!!
I took this class as a reader. It has been the worst experience of my college career. He barely looked at what I did, felt almost condescending when I asked him questions, and was very often late to our meetings. He barely looked at what he was assigning me and it did not help prepare me for the tests, which were painfully long. Avoid if possible.
I had this professor for statistics, and he was the worst teacher I have ever had. I'm not the best at math, but I can get a good grade with a good teacher. He didn't explain anything and made us learn a complicated computer program that was VITAL to getting a good grade all on our own. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROFESSOR: GET OUT OF HIS CLASS.
Worst professor I have ever had. His teachings are unprofessional and expects you to get a pity grade unless you already know the material. Do not recommend, not sure why Scranton has this teacher.
If you want to fail, then definitely take this guy!!! Unclear and if youre struggling the administration and him could care less because of how tenured he is.
Took him in the summer. He grades based on correct approach to the problem not if the answer is 100% correct like some teachers do. Since it is very easy to make dumb mechanical mistakes especially during a test, this was very helpful. He tests your understanding not your ability to add. Very willing to help and minimal homework.
Dr Otarod is a great professor. If you show that you actually care about passing the class and make an attempt to understand the information he will go above and beyond to help you out. His tests are hard but he is great with partial credit. If you do the homework problems assigned and ask questions about them during class, the test should be easy
No matter how stupid a question may seem he will help you with it. Whatever you do not understand he will make sure you understand by the end of class. Definitely helpful when learning the material.
Makes a lot of careless mistakes. Took him for stat and the course was fairly cut-and-dry. Way better than Mansour (though that's not saying much). Usually one graded homework packet due before each test, but it's virtually a copy of the test so it's very helpful. Uses minitab a lot which was great because I suck at math.
He is a very strict and tough professor. I definitely recommend a tutor if you HAVE TO TAKE THIS TEACHER. If you show effort he helps you out but this class is very confusing and A TON of work!
I dropped Mansour's stat class and took Otarod instead. Much better. Heavy use of minitab but as long as you figure out how to use the program you can do decent in the class. We use it for tests as well. Got a B- which was one of my highest math grades in years. He gets confused a lot during lectures but he's always willing to help. Nice guy.
Really nice guy -- should not be teaching algebra. Doesn't wait for his students to solve the problem and moves on way too quickly. Giving us the answers to everything isn't teaching, it's lazy. Seems like a brilliant man, however, he is not the greatest teacher. I would sincerely not recommend taking him for this course.
Took Math 114 over intercession and was very pleased. Although it's 3.5 hrs a day, you will be able to focus on calc exclusively. I found him to be a very clear lecturer. He does plenty of practice problems during class and gives review guides before tests w/ practice problems. Test every Thursday over intercession but one was take-home. Recommend
Took Dr. Otarod for calc over intersession. His lectures are helpful and tests are fair. With some previous background in calc I was able to get an A with a reasonable amount of effort. Highly recommend.
Dr. Otarod may seem intimidating at times, but he is very genuine in wanting his students to succeed. I took Calc over intersession, and although it was fast paced, I felt he taught the class fairly clearly and was always willing to help you if you asked for help. Lots of practice & hw problems just like the tests. Highly recommend taking him.
worst teacher!!!!!!!!!! i had to leave his class. If you get him switch out immediately!!
He is a really nice guy but I would never take this class again. I should have dropped the class when I had the chance. Definitely do NOT take this class if you have it! I have no idea what I'm learning in any class and I go to them all...
first piece of advice is to get a tutor. masood talks at 500 mph its impossible to understand him. also - everyday was an anxiety attack for the whole class bc he gave pop quizzes so for the first ten minutes before class started everyone used to scramble and try to teach each other the material before he came in so rip
This class is extremely difficult. Pre-calculus was taken to the most extreme level. Do not take this class if you struggle with math in even the slightest way. Lectures are long and dry. Also he moves extremely fast, so ASK questions if you are lost or else you will remain lost. Exams are very difficult. I would strongly advise against taking.
Awful teacher. Tests are nothing like homework problems and the guy makes mistakes all the time in class. Puts in almost no effort into teaching class and pretty much bs's his way through the year. Nice guy but absolutely horrendously bad teacher.
smart guy but really does not know how to convey his knowledge to other teachers. his test are the absolute worst and he does not prepare you for them at all. his take home final took me over 20 hours and i could not complete it. overall he doesnt give you the knowledge you need to pass
Extremely boring and unclear lectures that do not prepare you for the exams at all, which are impossible as it is. I took another professor for the same class the next semester and got an A. Avoid this professor at all costs.
Nice guy, but an absolute horrendous train wreck of a teacher. Every review I have read on Dr. Otarod is 100% accurate.
Do NOT take him! Absolute worst math professor I've ever had. His boring, dry, and extremely rushed lectures do not prepare you at all for the exams.
Really cares about his students. Can be challenging at times and makes ALOT of mistakes but as long as everyone is vocal and persuasive he can be understanding. The textbook will be your best friend in this class.
This class was super easy! We had three tests and three graded homework assignments. We didn't have to take the final because our class average was pretty high! He is kind of boring but the class was easy and he was dedicated to the success of all the students!
Great professor! Homework packets are very similar to tests. Super easy class as long as you pay attention. I did little-no homework from the textbook and passed the class by reviewing notes and homework packets. Professor Otarod is super chill and helpful! Be sure to participate.
Hardest class ever. Do not take if you want to be successful in life.
As a sophomore in high school, taking a Calculus I course with older students was very menacing to me. Then Dr. Otarod arrived, and all my worries seemed to disappear. Many complain that his accent is very hard to understand, just try. By far the most rewarding experience in my life. I could feel my hard work paying off. Don't take if you're lazy.
After taking AP Calc AB and BC a few years ago, this class was insanely easy. Dr. Otarod was extremely respectful towards his students. He was always available outside of class and his lectures are extremely helpful and so are the study guides he gave us before every exam. Tests were straight forward and he is an extremely fair grader.
I was nervous for this class because of the negative reviews but Dr. Otarod was great! He was a very understanding professor and made sure we really understood the material instead of just going through the motions.
Not sure why most of these reviews are bad. He was great! Very good at explaining things and answering questions. Also very generous when grading. I would certainly take him again.
Dr. Otarod is a really good guy. He is very generous with grading and gives take-home tests often. He is happy to help. Take this guy's class.
Dr. Otarod isn't the best at explaining things in simple terms, he mainly explains theory. He is generous with grades and two of our four exams were take home, but they were difficult. He also gives extra credit so it's not hard to get the grade you want. Just make sure you know the general concepts for the final and you'll be fine.
Dr. Otarod was a good man. He is sometimes difficult to understand. He tries his best to make sure everyone knows what they are doing. His tests are very difficult. He does offer extra credit.
He always would talk about random problems during class and put completely different topics on the tests. Nice guy but bad teacher. Do not take his class
Whatever you do, do NOT take his class. He is the most confusing man ever and does not explain anything. He made me cry almost every day. Save yourself.
DO NOT TAKE!!!! I ended up doing well in the class, only because I had prior knowledge of the subject. He does textbook problems all class and makes them 10 times more confusing. He is a very nice guy, but not good at teaching. I have never been more confused
I would not recommend for Calculus if you have not taken it before. He does not give partial credit. Typically makes 2 of tests take home. 3 tests (20% each), final (30%), extra credit (5%), and homework (5%). Take Muir or Jasinski instead!!
Easy A if math 114 is the highest math you need, but DO NOT take if you need to take calc 2 or 3. Doesn't explain how to do the problems, just the proofs of the math. Nice thing is you can do half of the problem wrong and he'll still give full credit. Makes a lot of mathematical errors. +5 on overall grade extra credit. 2/4 exams were take home.
Professor Otarod's class is challenging but rewarding. He's not the best explainer, but generous with grades and extra credit. Unstuckstudy helped me stay on top of the concepts. Worth taking if you're willing to put in the work.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
70%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.56 avg changeRatings by Course
106
4.5
(2)CALC114
4.0
(3)MATH221
4.0
(1)MATH114
3.2
(17)MATH
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
114
5.0
CALC1
5.0
STATS
5.0
ANALYSISI
5.0
MATH351
5.0