Nelson is great. He creates a very comfortable classroom environment and he manages to stay on topic enough to teach the material. Like most CSMC classes grades are solely on projects, quizes and tests. All of which are easy to average difficulty.

he's a standup comedian

Nelson is pure awesomeness. He's hilarious. It's actually almost 'fun' to come to class. He often ends classes 10-15 minutes early. And he still manages to teach the material very well.

He's a great teacher, the lecture note supplements are very helpful. He's funny too, once he even died his hair pink.

What an excellent professor. Fascinates a bit much about being attacked by his students but otherwise one of the best professors a person could hope for. Not any easier though...

Best comp sci teacher ever, nothing more to it

Best teacher I've had.

Nelson is a funny mother. Before I took his class I thought, how funny can a comp sci professor be? But he answered that question time and time again. "Guys, is that ok?" And don't talk to him about computer-anything outside of class. He isn't kidding. I've seen**** go down.

Gets all the information across in a clear, understandable, 'and' hilarious fashion. Wonderful just to be around, and truly cares that you do well.

For those of you who think Nelson is a bad teacher, you obviously have not taken a lot of comp sci classes. He keeps people awake and paying attention with his hilerous antics while explaining everything in a clear manner. Projects suck thought.

Nelson is the MAN! whoever says his class was hard in any way is a total moron. if you have trouble in that class, YOU DONT BELONG IN COMP SCI or COMP ENG!! he posts lectures, and goes straight off those. I would ONLY go to class for laughs. otherwise, i barely went, never took notes, studied night before exams, killed the easy projects, aced class

Nelson is a great professor to take. Projects and exams are challenging but he does much to be fair with grading. Lectures provide a source of amusement throughout the course of the semester- despite jokes to the contrary, he cares greatly about his students and takes away from his own free time to find ways to make the course better.

Nelson is a great, fun and interesting teacher. Tests are not too dificult as far as comp sci is concerned, just study. If you can get Nelson take him he is the man...he even teaches dancing with his wife.

For a computer science teacher, he's pretty hilarious. You don't have to go to class except on a few days where he has in-class discussions. The projects are easy. The tests are kinda hard. He puts all the notes online, so even if you skip, you can still teach yourself the material.

He was a great teacher, who I still miss! He was not only funny, but he knew how to teach. I stayed w/the program because of him. He only asked that you stop screwing around and actually do the work. He was by far one of the greatest teachers the University has

hilarious teacher. Alittle bit hard to follow because he interrupts an explanation alot with a joke or something but overall pretty good at illustrating tough concepts and quite enjoyable to be in class with.

A hilarious dude. While you can get by not going to class, you'll want to go just to listen to the standup he performs at the front of the class. Also a very nice guy, and likes to help students.

Great class-- if you really take the time to learn the material you can get some high-paying jobs with the knowledge from this class. I just wish Nelson would stop saying how everyone looks so sad and unenthusiastic-- some of us are just shy! That's my only problem with the class. What we are learning really is interesting (at least to me).

Not the easiest class. Projects and tests are hard! As far as teaching- he's not bad but he doesn't cover nearly as much information as is on the exams or projects. TA's are useless.

Hilarious professor who wants everyone to do well. Is pretty clear about what you need to know for exams. Class can be difficult if you're not focused. Study hard, join a study group, start projects really early, study past exams, and you'll be fine. He can waste class time by going off on tangents, but he's just trying to keep you awake.

He tries to keep the class entertained. He teaches well .I did not like presentations initially but they were very helpful and to-the-point for reviewing before exams. The exams can be a little tricky. The project's difficulty level goes from average to hard to easy.Hang on for 3/4th of the class and he gives away some easy points during the end.

Nice guy, good teacher. He is helpful and friendly. Projects were easy and interesting.

Wonderful professor!His class is for those who doesn't like extremely creative or additional thinking on exams. But(!) you have to study a lot and know all the content of the slides he provides.The projects are pretty reasonable,they simulate real small development processes out there.Although he looks too energetic,treat his job seriously.Recomen.

One of the funniest professors I've had in a long time; Nelson has a great sense of humor and he's smart as hell to boot. Take one of his classes if you want a once-in-a-lifetime teaching experience from a man who knows what he's talking about (and is very good at transferring his CS knowledge to you). Highly recommended.

Great sense of humor. Make sure your cell phone is turned off in class. He loves teaching and does a great job, explains things well and is very good in office hours. Exams were good, not easy but all the material was covered in class. Projects were also good, well designed for learning material.

Extremely fun teacher. Just go with the flow in class, and he will make sure you're prepared.

He does a good job and he cares about his students.

Excellent intro programming teacher! Very funny!

Got a c- but still loved the class because the material is really interesting and Nelson makes class pretty entertaining. Also he's a really understanding guy, so if something crazy happens in your life he'll do what he can to help. Tests are REALLY tough though and some projects take a huge amount of time to complete. Prepare to work a lot.

He's funny and keeps the class engaged. He is super friendly and helpful. His tests are HARD. If you are good at programming this class might be easy for you.

Nelson is hilarious. He's a genius when it comes to C and Linux, and he's an excellent lecturer. I wish I could take more classes with him, but he mostly only teaches 216. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot.

For CMSC132/216 Nelson is a very solid teacher. Not sure where people are getting "rude" from- he does jokingly 'pick on' students but checks to make sure they are comfortable with it. He is very caring and genuinely listens to feedback from students. As someone with depression and social anxiety, I found Nelson's accessibility amazing.

Nelson was the most enjoyable professor I've taken in CS. He just has a way of getting across the material in an engaging way. I found his exams fairly easy. His projects were daunting at times but are definitely do-able. Everyone needs someone like Nelson during their CS career. He truly cares and works with students. He won't do you wrong. Take!

Nelson is funny and often makes jokes during class. Some students may find this distracting/annoying, but I personally found it made me more engaged. He also records his lectures and posts them on Panopto which means if you ever don't feel like going in/didn't understand something during class, you can go back later and watch the lecture online.

Funniest professor I've ever had. He's also a good lecturer, would recommend

I would definitely take another class with Nelson. Although, he might be scary a few times, he is generally hilarious and tries to motivate the class as much as possible. He puts lecture recordings online which is nice so you don't have to really attend class but I highly recommend attending lectures. Also he can be a little bit of a tough grader.

This man was worth taking an 8am section. He is so engaging and makes coming to lecture so much fun. He once stopped class just to ask a student what he was texting to his girl friend. The entire class will be engaged by his programming jokes and gimmics. He really inspires me as a student and a programmer. Just don't talk over him when he teaches.

This class is super hard, especially because its hard to switch from java to C, but Nelson made it way better. This dude is hilarious and extremely smart, and that combination makes it super worthwhile to go to lectures. You will be entertained and enlightened at the same time

He is such an amazing lecturer. He makes the material fun and engaging. He interacts with students and although he records all lectures, his humor and charm are the reasons most people go. He likes to know students names and it's very funny however I get a bad vibe from him as if he doesn't like me. I've tried talking to him but it doesn't change

The lectures were very engaging. Attendance is not mandatory as he records everything. Quizzes and exams are not that easy but quite fair - he posts old quizzes and exams for review. One of the better CS profs at UMD.

The man is a saint. He's super funny in class but he's also very kind and considerate as long as you follow directions and don't do anything stupid. His lectures are intuitive and he provides tons of resources for you to study from.

Genuinely cares about helping students - gave several extensions when the class was struggling, and takes feedback well. Sense of humor is hit-or-miss, but he's not boring. Personally I skipped lectures and watched the recordings on 2x speed later, but if you learn better in person he's responsive to questions.

Daddy is a great professor. You won't ever regret taking him.

Nelson really cares about his students and is very responsive to all student concerns. Not a great lecturer but he keeps it entertaining; exams and quizzes are very fair and he gives out lots of practice exams. Definitely recommend

Nelson is fantastic. Hes really knowledgeable about his topics, and hes always willing to help anyone who needs it. Hes also probably the funniest instructor in the school. Also, dont text in class. He will absolutely call you out on it, and you will be a meme both on Piazza and on Reddit within the hour.

I was new to CS when taking his class. He is funny & caring that he extends projects if needed. He is a great professor. Although he posts his lectures online, I recommend going to class every time and then rewatch/take notes bc that was very helpful for me on the final exam. Projects are hard but other students are willing to help you understand.

Nelson is hilarious and his lectures are entertaining; however, he records all lectures, so attendance isn't mandatory. He responds to student concerns (e.g. changing the release tokens from 24 to 12 hours after a student suggested it) and is fair. You will need to work for your grade but he provides plenty of practice exams.

Amazing professor!

I took Nelson for 132 and 216, and I learned so much from him. He truly is a great teacher and has a really good knack for explaining things. However, while he keeps class entertaining, sometimes his jokes cross a line and can easily get annoying, and that gets deterring quickly.

He's one of the best intro CS professors here and makes sure that the students are engaged throughout the curriculum. Still projects and tests are tough for 216, but if you pay attention in class it all should be manageable.

Nelson is a snag when it comes to CS professors. He can get off topic a bit during the lecture, but that's just him trying to make it a little less boring. He is a very fair grader, and overall the exams were very fair. Project descriptions can be a tad bit vague, but he will always answer questions for those that have them.

One of the best professors in the department. His lectures are great and keep you engaged, unless you're not fond of jokes. Once in a while he goes off on a tangent, but it keeps the class entertained and makes lecture worth it. Lectures are also recorded! You need to start projects early and study a lot for exams. All grading is fair.

I had Nelson for 132/216. He is a very engaging teacher and makes sure to get to know people as best as possible in a large class. His lectures are boring at times but he does his best by throwing in jokes that can be annoying at times. The projects are interesting and challenging. Prepares you well for exams/quizzes with study material. Highly rec

Nelson is a very good lecturer and gives reasonable exams. He is also very funny. The jokes are a hit or miss depending on the person. Some people love his jokes because they make class interesting, while others find it distracting and annoying. It's really up to you. Also, he posts lecture videos online!

luv nelson <3

BEST PROF OF THE DEPARTMENT! 5/5 MADE CS EASIER. I WOULD NEVER LIKE CODING WITHOUT NELSON. MY SECOND DADDY

Nelson is extremely sweet and understanding and also respectful to women.

Nelson is the GOAT. if you ever get the chance to pick Nelson do it. he is a hilarious guy that can also get lots of work done. the course load is just about equal with other professors and he is a fair grader. gives out the past exams to help you study. you will not be disappointed if you pick him.

tests are hard, projects are easy, lectures are great, nelson is everyone's dad

Amazing, and very funny professor. Lectures keep you well engaged, and he records them for you to re-watch later. Projects can sometimes be vague and tough, but if you go to office hours you will get lots of help and do well. Great guy very nice and approachable, and he genuinely cares about his students. Would take this prof again!

Nelson is a highly praised professor and now that I have had a class with him, I can see why. His lectures are engaging and hes pretty good at explaining the material. Additionally, Nelsons exams are fair, he provides us with exams from previous semesters, they are extremely helpful to study from. 10/10 would recommend. ily Nelson

I loved Nelson, but his exams you definitely have to study for effectively. I would recommend studying a little bit everyday, and for every small confusion ask a TA because it more than likely will be on the exam. Turn in projects on time and you should pass the class.

One of the best CS professors out there. Lectures are hilarious, but you don't have to go because he records everything. Provides lots of old exams that are similar to the actual one.

A solid choice for a computer science professor. He keeps the class engaged, and his lectures are really good. He gives out a lot of work, but I guess that's expected from a comp-sci class. 100% recommend him.

I loved Nelson, for his exams you definitely have to study. I would recommend practicing a little bit everyday, and for every small question ask a TA because it likely will be on the exam. Turn in projects on time and you should pass the class.

Nelson is one of the best professors I've ever had. He gives out a lot of homework and his projects and tests are rather difficult, but his lectures are really helpful and he knows how to keep the class engaged. If you want a good Computer Science professor, take his class.

This man made 216 a blessing to take

absolutely amazing

It was a computer science course, so it wasn't easy, but Nelson was amazing. Truly a great teacher and very accommodating to students needs. If you're taking a computer science class, definitely try to have him as your professor!!

ALWAYS DO THE WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS. LITERALLY FREE POINTS. I'd recommend putting your phone down during the pre-recorded lectures otherwise you'll fail. If you put in the effort you'll succeed. The wording for some of the projects/exams were kind of confusing. I like the way he says "prototype".

I'm a newbie when it comes to computer science, but Nelson has been an amazing professor. His pre-recorded lectures were very helpful. This class was definitely difficult, but if you watch the lectures, you'll be fine. I definitely recommend studying for the exams and completing the writing assignments too.

Nelson does a great job of making a potentially boring class, extremely fun. He explains the concepts well and adds in humor to make it bearable. This class is a lot of work, of course, but here are a lot of ways to get help if you need it. I am going to take his classes as many times as I possibly can.

Nelson is an amazing professor! I took him when the class was fully online so I never got to meet him, but the way his class was run was so easy to follow. The workload is really doable if you watch lectures and attend lab, and he's quick to respond to emails

Very helpful professor. Shows understanding for students who are stressed out. Highly recommend.

Amazing professor. Funny, helpful, does everything right. So lucky to have him

Class isn't mandatory, but if its your first CS class go to class or just quit the major while you can. The dude is funny and makes the class entertaining. Computer Science is one of the hardest subjects at umd, so if you don't know Javascript beforehand good luck. The Projects are hard, so are the exams, but if you study you got it.

Nelson is clearly a super caring guy. He acknowledges the difficulty of CS and wants everyone to do well. His lectures are also great and keeps you engaged with jokes and stories. However, make sure you don't blank out during lectures as you can miss important info. Projects and exams can be tricky, so make sure you are on top of everything.

Nelson is a great choice for an intro to programming. His lectures are entertaining and he genuinely cares about students academic and personal well-being. He wants you to speak up about issues and will frequently extend deadlines when he sees the effort being made. Start projects early and practice writing code by hand for exams.

Nelson is great!!! If you're the type of person to get kind of bored during boring old slide lectures then he's good for you! He relies on examples in the lecture and a few small concepts from the slides. He gives us one-minute breaks in between heavy topics/examples so that we can discuss them with our neighbors which is helpful.

Nelson is awesome. If you're in FC, you're lucky he's your only choice. He's so funny during lectures and he's always able to keep your attention. An excellent professor for an excellent class.

If you don't have that much computer science background he's good since he makes a lot of analogies to help you understand the concept better. Even if you don't get it right away, he gives you little breaks to discuss it with your neighbor and ask questions. His tests are very similar to the practice exams, so study those and you'll be fine!

I took CMSC 131, 132, and 216 with Nelson. He is hands down the best professor I've ever had and truly cares about his students. He posts all his examples, has very organized websites for each class, and posts practice exams. Projects are very time-consuming but the directions are clearly outlined. Would take him again if he taught more classes.

Nelson is the GOAT for 131. A tip to everyone taking 131, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.

CMSC132 was, is and will be my favorite CS course at UMD, taking it with nelson just made it more fun! If you end up taking it with him, please remember to do all the work on time and listen to all the advise that he gives. I went from struggling to keep up in CMSC131 to enjoying CMSC132.

He has a great sense of humor. Lectures are often him discussing a topic and then giving examples, potentially drawing an example to help visualize what is happening. He gives a lot of heads up on what will need to be known for a quiz, exam, or project.

I found this class somewhat difficult, but Nelson made it much better. He really cares about his students and made the class fun with his great sense of humor. Lectures are recorded and the class was based on 8 projects and 4 exams including the final. Don't procrastinate and find friends in the class or go to office hours to make the much easier.

Took this class as my mandatory computer science credit. Lots of work but Nelson explained things well and even recorded lectures so you could still get the material if you missed class.

Nelson's 131 class is tough but rewarding. His lectures are engaging, and he cares about students. Utilize office hours and tools like Unstuckstudy to stay on top of the workload.