3.7
Quality3.0
Difficulty64%
Would Retake270
Reviews64%
Would Retake
270
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
81
4
89
3
59
2
21
1
20
What Students Say
“McKay is really nice, however, she can be a bit unclear about what she wants out of assignments”
COMM1010 - 3.0 rating“Honestly, I loved the material that was taught in this class”
COMM2050 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
92%
Textbook Required
33%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.39 avg changeRatings by Course
COMM1
5.0
(1)COMM1020008
5.0
(1)COM1050
5.0
(1)STDEV150
5.0
(1)COMM1050002
4.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
COMM10208
4.0
COMM1050002
4.0
COM2050
3.7
COMM2050
3.4
COMM1020
3.2
Reviews (270)
She is an awesome instructor, if everyone taught like her everyone would have A's. Her assignments are good, her homework load is fair the thing is she takes you step by step, she has a packet made up, color coded and everything. the class is so fun because she gets everyone involved. loved it now i'm taking comm 1010 from her!
Enjoyed the class and professor. It was really easy except we had to do a group project which was a disaster. But other then that I would recommend it.
Easy class if you do your assignments. Not a really nice teacher. Made me feel/treated me like I was in kindergarten. If you had questions she'd refer you to the syllabus instead of answering herself. Makes the class seem childish. But, easy class nonetheless.
Pretty easy class and shirine knows alot about communication but the group project was a joke. She also was less than helpfull often refering to the syllabuss than answering simple questions like where her office is, treated the class like a highschool class or less, if you liked highschool youll probly like shirine.
She is a nice lady, and the class is easy. There is a textbook, but it is small, (more like a pamphlet to be honest). You just get a "mother" feeling around her, and she can treat you a bit like a child at times. Not always the most helpful, but she is still willing to help you out. Just come to class, take the quiz, and give your speech. Very easy
Shirene was a great teacher. She is pretty clear on all of her assignments and is very organized. However she kinda treats her students as if they are young children. This is a pretty easy class however, if you attend and participate. We used the book, but no assignments were out of the book. I recommend sharing with a neighbor.
Her teaching method is pretty cool. The learning packet was easy to follow and very helpful.
This class was interesting to me at the beginning. I enjoyed doing the first couple presentations, but near the middle, it became all busy work. I thought the group project was a lot of stuff that wasn't even needed. She does treat everyone like they are a child, but still nice.
She is a great teacher who likes to teach. If you pay attention you will learn something. The grades are fair and she makes the class fun.
Professor McKay is by far one of the most helpful educators I've worked with. Ignore the comments about "treating you like a child", in general students here at SLCC are adults yet there were a few kids fresh out of high school in my class. They needed the extra support she was willing to give. She is more then fair and genuinely an asset to SLCC.
She's an awesome instructor but forgets about assignments and due dates. Other than that, it's a really good class. Tests are SUPER EASY and the class was awesome all around.
I must say Professor Mckay really helped me enjoy the class a lot more than I thought I would. She made us learn everyone's names which I liked and over all an easy class! I would defiantly suggest to a friend!
I really enjoyed the class and have suggested for several friends to take it. Even people who are not going to school would benefit greatly from the knowledge of this class.
This class had a lot of work from the packet. We also had to do a group project that was very helpful to the class.
Great teacher! Willing to help, class wasn't boring. Class attendance is required. Chapter quiz every week but lets you use unlimited note cards
This teacher was very flexible with turning assignments in late for full credit. I liked her a lot.
She was a really great instructor. I really disliked my speech teacher in high school and dreaded this class more than any other but I ended up really liking it. Even though the public speaking wasn't fun, every other aspect of the class was awesome. Really well outlined information in the course calender and got assignments back in a timely manner
I took conversation class before. Compare to this communication class, I like this class more because I learn a lot from Shirene. I learned how to work in a team and. Also, it was interesting to become an interviewer to interview someone. In her class, she taught how to relax before presentation and be more confidence to present. I really like her.
This class is very structured and has a lot of busy work involved. 3 presentations and a class workbook required. Tests are easy as she lets you use your notes. She's passionate about COMM!
Very well taught, and very informative, but be ready to put forth some effort.
Great class. Easy tests, you get to have notes! Actual application to your life as you actually put what you are learning into action through goal setting. I would love to take more classes from her.
This class fun and made you put in the work. Expect quizes every week, but your allowed to use notes. It was easy to get a good grade if you showed up & did your work.
She is not a very good teacher. She says she told you things like dates, but doesn't and wont listen to you when you say so. She will find the stuppidest reasons for docking you points, and if you go talk to her to try and convince her you deserve the points she will pretty much ignore you and tell you you don't get them.
She is really easy. Probably the easiest teacher I have thus far. 3 quizzes totally. 2 of the 3 you can have note cards. Your final is a quiz. You do 2 speeches by yourself and 1 group project. She grades really easy as well so if you attend class and do your work, you will walk out with an A. Attendance is part of your grade.
Was a Decent class did have a lot to do in a short time but if you keep up on it you will do fine.
She is overall a nice lady, but I didn't learn anything from the class. She is very strict about grading and will find dumb reasons for subtracting points. However, the tests were really nice because they were just multiple choice and open note.
Disregard those people who are hating on Mrs. Mckay. They are slackers who didn't pay attention in class, then complain, saying that they were misinformed (trust me, they were in my class). The class is EASY- easy grading, just come, do the work and pay attention and you will get an A no prob.
She's an easy teacher. Way nice. And I actually realized by the end of the course that I actually learned something. Really easy teacher.
Fun class, you get to know classmates very well. Its very interesting, everyone normally enjoys her class.
Shirene is not exactly an easy 'A' because you have to put in a little work. However, she is a good instructor and if you show up and do her simple assignments, you'll get an 'A' no problem.
Typical Comm class. Lot of presentations, projects, and busy work.
i enjoyed this class and would take another class from this teacher
If you do all the work you will be good to go
In this class you will for sure know the name of all of the classmates. It seemed easy at first but for the final project it sucked. We worked on it for half a semester and there were a lot of outside meetings with your group and time consuming. Don't take it if you think it's going to be an easy grade.
Do not listen to anyone who says that professor McKay isn't a great teacher! As long as you go to class and do the easy assignments then you will pass with no problem! We get to know EVERYONES name which was great! The group project was a lot of work but as long as you do it then there is your A! Great class!!! It's a must to take from her!
She was a great teacher! As long as you go to class and do the work, you will get an A! I highly recommend taking her class!
This class was pretty easy. The only thing I didn't like was that attendance was important. I'm not going to lie this class was BORING. But as long as you have a good team and do well on all your projects you will do fine. You also get to bring notecards on the tests so do that for sure.
Pretty easy overall. A lot of group assignments. If you have a good group you can get a lot done in class. Did have a lot more homework than should have been necessary.
Professor McKay is passionate about communication and knows her stuff. You can only miss one class or your grade will suffer. A lot of group work and easy assignments. Tests are kinda confusing so take good notes. Overall, an excellent teacher if you're willing to learn.
I thought Shirene was a great teacher. The work was easy and all you really needed to do was show up to class. Tests are reviewed in class and super simple. Overall you have basically three speeches that are 3-5 minutes long. Group project was a little tedious but overall, I'd take it agan from her. Great Teacher!
worst instructor i have ever had and i have ben attending for 3 years now just about every assignment had to be completed outside class so if you go to school full time and work full time or if your a single parent it is pretty much to bad for you cause your goung to fail "professor" if she can so be called, couldnt teach kindergarten if you ask me
Hated the team project since I wrote the whole report myself and got stuck with lazy people. KEEP A RECORD of ALL your assignments. I had to hunt her down for a week since she misgraded me. The material is easy but its a lot of work. Not very approachable, always refers to syllabus. Offers extra credit, but this class should have been easier.
Barely used the textbook. I'm sure a fellow classmate will share. Two easy tests, but lots of projects to do. I knew some people that made stuff up and got good grades. The group project was a drag and worth half your grade. You don't get to choose your team. AVOID BEING LEADER or editor if you have a busy schedule. She's not as nice but ok.
This Professor was great yes there is some work and two big projects that are done outside of the classroom but isnt that what college is. She was great about allowing us to do our study groups in class. I would definitely recommend her to all you dedicated college students that are actually in college for your studies.
Engaging instructor, passionate about helping students improve how they present themselves in professional situations. The Learning Packet she put together for the class includes detailed instruction and guidance for completing all three projects, and was extremely helpful. I would recommend ALL students take this course!
McKay is really nice, however, she can be a bit unclear about what she wants out of assignments. There are not many quizzes and only a few assignments, but the assignments are a lot of work in a short amount of time. Because she tends to a bit unclear of how she wants the assignments completed, this class can be exhausting to keep up with.
Professor McKay is a great teacher. You do lots of presentations in front of the class, but she makes you feel comfortable in the environment. Must participate in group discussions to get the most of the class. She also gives great feedback on all assignments. Best teacher I have had so far. She's so kind and encouraging!
She is a good professor. I love the way she teaches and covers the material. We had a lot of presentations but she makes it very do-able and comfortable that I forgot I didnt like presentations. She is always willing to work with you at her office if you are not understanding or are little bit behind. I give her an A+ I learned a lot in her class.
Professor McKay was great. Assignments aren't too difficult, explains the content clearly, and creates an environment that allows students to get to know each other but not from too much group work. Overall she was a great professor. I would recommend her to anyone taking Comm. 1050.
She made zero of the required contacts with my supervisor, and lost my email with the whole semester worth of work attached. I'm still waiting to get a grade for the class, and I'm unable to send my transcripts to apply for another college until she decides to get around to it. Would not recommend for voc2000.
As this is a public speaking class, you must be here for your speeches. The speeches got better over time, but at the start they were very difficult. It was better as I got into topics that I found interesting instead of what would be an easier A.
expect papers that you turn in to be graded with alot of attention
great professor. I really enjoyed her class.
Mrs. McKay was an awesome teacher. She provided a fun learning atmosphere and I am really going to miss her class. It made me contemplate changing my major.
I enjoyed her class. Accept papers for further revision with a lot of attention. Attendance and participation is part of class point.
Great class. I learned so much valuable information in this class.
She is really particular about citations.
Professor McKay is a GREAT teacher! I highly recommend taking her class. She goes above and beyond to help you out if you are having a hard time and she teaches valuable information that you can use in everyday life. Take her class on campus you will love it!
The commutation class was alright and I learn how to speak, be more organized in my speaking.
A lot of homework but class discussions were very interesting
This class was clearly laid out and easy to follow. Each week there was a discussion and a quiz. The quiz wasn't technically due until the end of the semester. Midterm and Final were in essay form, but if you do the reading you will be fine. Read, do your discussions, and take the quizzes and you will get an A.
She's a great teacher, puts a lot of care into her lectures and really tries her best to make a fun and healthy environment in the classroom. Make sure you keep ALL of your papers because she will lose them!!
I had a family emergency come up. The normal policy is no late work accepted. I was given partial credit for all late work due to my family emergency. So helpful! Class has 1 long paper, the rest are discussions and short multiple choice quizzes! I took this class online.
Professor Mckay is a good teacher. She does assign weekly journals and papers throughout the semester. You will also be required to teach two in-class with a partner two times. She is a tough grader when it comes to papers. Make sure you cite correctly. If you do not, you will get a zero on the paper. She does take attendance.
she is a very hard teacher, she expects the book at all times. she doesnt email you when you ask questions.
She is a great teacher, and very nice. However, she is does not communicate very well nor will she ever respond to your emails. She expects you to make an appointment with her outside of class to discuss and concerns. She often goes over class time, and does not manage the time very well. A lot of participation and homework.
You are required to do a weekly journal where you share your experiences working toward a communication goal you set at the start of the semester. She does expects your paper to be cited correctly but gives you the exact citation you need to use. Class es structured in a way that you learn from other people. This has been one of my most beneficial
Great class. Out of class assignments. Multiple extra credit options. Two group projects/presentations.
This class was extremely helpful. Professor McKay engages with her students and allows you to be yourself. She helps tweak and enhance our speech and gets us comfortable speaking in front of a group. I would definitely take her for another communications class.
Expect to get out of your comfort zone, the majority of the class is practicing and giving speeches. You need to read the textbook in order to pass the quizzes. expect about 13 quizzes during the semester. But you take them online.
Overall, a great professor and a great class! Felt more like a group discussion than a lecture. She is very knowledgeable on the subject, and was easy to work with when I had work conflicts arise. Big on presentations, she will definitely pull you out of your comfort zone. My only complaint was the frustratingly slow feedback on assignments.
My class was online and she did not respond to emails or even grade our homework until almost 1 mnth into class and I took an accelerated course that was only 10 wks. Because of the lack of grades at the beginning of the course I was unable to adjust to her expectations right away to show improvement. She had very vague due dates also.
This was a great class to take at the start of my college career. Helped me get comfortable speaking in front of others and useful tools to do so.
She works hard to help you be prepared and comfortable, but you need to pay attention to the things she says about the assignments or you could miss things that will make the process easier. She does not take missing class lightly, and if you miss on a day when you're supposed to give a speech, you get a zero for that assignment.
She is very caring, respectful and full of joy! If you are having a hard time, she is understandable to your issues. She's very good at working around your problems, but only if you put in effort to do your part. Her class was pretty easy, you just have to participate and try.
Before i took this class i hated public speaking and i only took it because it was only option for the credit i needed that worked with my work schedule. But in the end i actually enjoyed the class a ton and Shirene was amazing! I hated missing the class and it wouldn't be a stretch to say that i actually liked talking in front of people by the end
Obviously, you give speeches. She's a pretty fair grader. Overall okay.
She's nice, just super specific about things. Make sure you do everything the way she wants it.
She rarely keeps grades updated. Good intentions I'm sure.
Not a hard class but taught very well. Make sure you come and have your assignments ready. You don't get hard homework but you almost always have something. Even though the homework can be done quick don't get behind because it can stack up.
I took this class online. Honestly, I loved the material that was taught in this class. However, I work full time and go to school full time so it's hard for me to stay on top of everything. There is a lot to read and there's homework due every other day or so. I would only recommend this class to someone who has the time
McKay is kinda annoying, but not that bad - the worst part of her class was that she got side tracked easily and spent too much time talking about irrelevant stuff. We did many assignments but she never explained them very well. Over all: Wouldn't take again, but not bad.
She does her best to include lots of opportunity for students to give feedback to one another, which, in her public specking class, is very helpful.
She's great, just kind of tough when it gets to grading. As long as do your assignments and follow instructions, you'll be fine.
She is a good teacher and always encourage you to finish your assignments. If you have any problems, just go to her offices and you will get great helps.
Shirene is a great professor. The class is easy so she gives you a lot of "busy work" to do. She is very understanding of fears and will help you become a great public speaker.
The most helpful class ever!
Don't buy the textbook, you'll be taking some quizzes, but buying the book is a waste of money. She treats you like a bit of a child. She is not very clear about due dates and how assignments need to be turned in. She's a teacher that in stead of helping you, says to go to the course packet and see what it says there. She is however very nice!
She does not update grades, until the last possible day and then says you have 2 hours to talk to her about them. She won't respond to emails, for over a week. Just show up to class and you'll pass, but its not a great class to take from her.
Shirene is a very polite professor who is always willing to assist in any questions and always offers to let you finish late work. Do attend class though, attendance goes towards your grades
Shirene is a very sweet woman, unfortunately being a communication course there was a little confusion with the online assignments which weren't discussed much in class. She grades the two term papers very heavily on her own criteria, so make sure to follow her guide for the grading criteria and her guide for citiations. Allows resubmissions.
Amazing teacher for communication 1020. She nice and helpful and help in any thing you need.
Very amazing teacher She is very patient
I really enjoyed this professor and her lectures. I thought this class would be easy but it turned out that there are a lot of assignment and you present in front of the class 5 times. The good thing about this class is that the professor is really nice and wants you to succeed. I would take this class again.
She gave two papers, pretty easy if you know what you'll be writing ahead of time. Good professor would take a class again, she really speaks about theories and puts them to use in every single course
For a public speaking class it's a good foundation. The main problem is her inconsistently of turning in online or in class. On top of that is how late we received most of our assignments and the confusion of what's is due. All that aside, I would recommended this class if you're interested in public speaking
She is very helpful if you have a question she will do her best to help you.
I really enjoyed this class, got out of my comfort zone and learned how to be a better public speaker.
She was very kind!
There is quite a bit of homework. But she is very good at helping out!
Sometimes not clear on points but is helpful when you have questions.
Shirene is a fantastic teacher, makes class fun. You can tell she is very intellelegent. Lots of different things to turn in though, so many that it gets confusing on what part of what speech/paper is due and when. I learned ALOT about speaking and this class has taught me valuable skills that are applicable to any school/professional situation.
The class was great, I came back a better speaker from it and that's the point. right?
Good Teacher
Her class was a good environment. She helps students overcome public speaking anxiety. Make sure you are prepared and bring the assigned papers to the class.
Shirene is obviously passionate about what she teaches. Her methods arent my favorite, but kind of standard so its not bad. She had sets of students take about 15 minutes out of each class to help teach the subject which made each topic a tad difficult to understand. She requires participation for attendance points, but its not hard to do that.
Shirene is a great professor and really took the time in presenting assignments, helpful information/tool, and helping students have everything they need to succeed.
I struggled communicating with the professor. A lot of the time I didn't understand what was being taught and I felt like she didn't care. I also spent three days on my final paper, rubric alongside me and she asked why certain things were in there while they were on the grading rubric.
Nice person,absent instructor rare response to emails - midterm paper kept rubric next to me,followed every point thought was perfect A grade,she returned it saying I didn't address the correct theory- told me to resubmit- asked for feedback for resubmitting - no response. I also think the course material is outdated - not inspiring
Great professor expects good quality but gives a break down of whats expected.
The one thing she cares the most about is References/citing must be perfect.
So much homework, every day there was something to turn in and she waited to the very end to turn in your grade. She is not clear about due dates either and the lectures seemed like a waste of time, she spent more time trying to keep the class quiet then actually teaching.
If you are the type of person who likes doing excessive amounts of homework, by all means, take this class. If you are a full time student, you work, etc. this class will be challenging because of the amount of time you must spend outside of class. Also, if you would like to have a communications teacher who can communicate, don't take this class.
Shirene is a very nice person, but she is not a good instructor. Many students were frequently confused about assignment and what we were expected to do. She was very poor at grading and updating assignment. I started school on August 23rd and my first assignment wasn't graded until October 30th. Lots of homework for this class.
Shes a very nice and caring teacher and really knows the subject well. She definitely made me a better public speaker, which, is the point of this class. I would only complain that she is extremely disorganized and will often want things turned in that she never even talked about.
Shirene is an awesome instructor because she is very detailed in the information that she is talking about. She makes sure that you understand that material. She likes the occasional joke and requests your attention. Don't expect to text or chat on the side during her class as she makes sure that you're paying attention. Her quizzes are fun!
Shirene is a very nice instructor. She was sick most of the semester, so she was very disorganized and her assignments were all over the place. You'll do presentations and quizzes in groups. She wants you to get to know your classmates, if you're not a social person this might not be the best option. She wants the essays you turn in to be perfect.
She is quite the sweet professor in the aspects of knowing the needs of her students. Very knowledgeable in her subject and understands the mechanics well. She is a bit unorganized but is compensates with the rest of her great attributes.
You will have two huge papers dissecting theories (painful). I'm in the middle of writing my final paper and I still don't know what my grade is on my midterm paper so I have no way to know what I needed to work on or not. There are a lot of reading and quizzes and you will use your book for every assignment. I wouldn't take again.
She is very fun to listen to. Shirene is a sweet person. I loved taking her class. Unfortunately, life happened and she had issues keeping up with assignments, grading, and due dates. There are TONS of assignments in this course. Would take her class again if there were less assignments and if it was more organized.
I really enjoyed this class. I thought she had a very different teaching style then most college professors,.The thing i like the most about her is that she actually practices what she teaches.
A great professor and very good at explaining assignments and the different theories used in the class.
2 papers are pretty much the entire class and if you mess up one little thing you get a 0, not a partial grade
I loved her tone of voice. It showed she was confident in teaching. She can be very approachable. Her use of turnitin website was very difficult for me. All papers are graded through this website. So know how to use this website.
Homework is not difficult, there are two big papers, one in the middle of the semester and one final. Both of these papers require a lot of research. When it comes to grading she is slow and doesn't post a lot on line so expect to be in the dark when it comes to knowing what your grade is.
Shirene McKay is a nice instructor! She wants everyone to communicate with each other. that way, everyone will get along. The only problem is that classes keep being cancelled. It's not her fault though, it's health problems, everyone has health problems. Overall, good instructor!
I love the class and the material! Great teacher
She is a very nice teacher but a little disorganized and doesnt update grades until the end of the semester.
It was a good class. We got to know everyone (name quiz), students taught lectures, quizzes were done with note cards and taken in groups (except one). There were miscommunication issues and she missed a lot of classes. Given she did unfortunately get lime disease. Sweet lady. Beware of the 2 final papers. Hope she gets better.
She was an amazing teacher. Would definitely take her class again!
She is good at helping even the most anxious student feel comfortable enough to try public speaking.
Teacher isnt nice, but be ready to give speeches and be recorded infrint of class. She makes you make an outline for each speech you do so its more homework trying to make the outline than actually giving the speech
Kind and considerate. Gave extra time on some assignments and corrected any quizzes that were not accurate or too tricky in the wording that was misleading. I really like Shirene, she is a great professor!
Such an amazing professor. Really sweet and is willing to help you and work with you. There's three main speeches through the semester and she lets you choose your topics. Great class!
She did a very good job getting everyone to feel comfortable with one another so we could all speak well. However, she grades pretty tough and does not give good feedback.
Shirene is kind and fun. Lots of speeches, but it IS a public speaking class after all. :) I really enjoyed and appreciated this professor!
This class is pretty difficult. It definitely makes you step outside of your comfort zone. There is quite a bit of homework that goes along with each speech. As long as you are always prepared you should be fine!
Very nice and willing to work with any students. She is particular and assigned a lot of busy work. She really creates a community and the class if fun with the classmates.
She forget to inform class of many assignments and is a very tough grader. Get ready to write and worry about the little things.
She is very smart and tells you about many statistics and new research done that's related to public speaking, but she has an overload of assignments and doesn't give good feedback. It's a lot of busy homework, so be ready to be on your laptop a lot. It's not a bad class though.
Excellent professor. Professor McKay is very responsive and great grader. The lectures are fantastic and well explained. Definitely recommend her!
Shirene is a great professor! Her instructions are very clear for each assignment and her main concern is that you improve your skills as a public speaker. You will give three speeches throughout the semester which require good preparation. The only time you need the textbook is for chapter quizzes which are done at home and have 6 questions each.
Does really well at teaching the subject of public speaking. She is very kind, and will work with you to develop your skills. You need to attend class. You need to be respectful and be an adult. She can be a bit soft spoken and too kind. Which is great if you have fear of speaking. Some kids in my class talked over her and were very disrespectful.
I did like her class but when we need to talk about homework for me at some point in the semester she add a lot of "Quizzes" that for me to be honest where kind of hard but she does do a lot of extra credit so that is really helpful :)
Shirene was a fine professor, and I'd take her again. The pros are that she is specific with grading rubrics, and she offers a lot of extra credit. The cons are that we had to fill out a sort of redundant and annoying outline for every speech, and she offered feedback on the draft on average 1-2 days before the final outline was due.
Very nice, flexible and homework is easy, but too much for a 1020 class. Outlines took over 2 hours to finish. Total of 3 speeches and 1 more for the final. Feedback is not great and biased. She does offer lots of extra credit though, and creates a fun atmosphere to attend class. Just do the work, show up to class, and be prepared for speeches.
She's fine, and overall a nice person but she's not a great professor. Feedback and critiques are not constructive or helpful. A lot of this class is just busy work that didn't seem to benefit anyone. She utilizes LDS conference speeches as an extra credit option - but not other speeches. If you take 1020 with her you'll be fine but you'll hate it.
There is a lot of homework In this class. A lot of repetitive work. Shes nice, but hard on grading.
Mckay is a very nice teacher. She is very clear about what is required in the class. The environment she creates in the class makes it very comfortable for the speeches/ presentations. There is a lot of busy work, you will have homework almost every day. Try not to miss class. Over-all she is a good teacher and a useful class.
Be ready to have a lot of writing, group work and random speeches. There is a lot of writing for a low grade. Speech outlines are work intensive and only worth 10 pts. Go to class every day or you will miss on a lot of point and it will knock your grade down!
I feel this class was very rewarding as far as the content I learned here. I noticed there was a lot of confusion amongst the students on which assignments were due and how to do them. They are pretty simple assignments but there are so many and she's very particular on how you do them. She is a kind professor, and gives good feedback!
Shirene is a great professor! She was always so kind and welcoming. Participation is big and she requires a lot of reading for quizzes.
A good teacher... she cares about the topic and her students' success, although not very relateable sometimes. That was the biggest drawback for me.
This class has a lot of homework I hope your are ready to write a lot. Deadlines are very important she can be very strict at time and willing to work with you most of the time as long as you go to class if you like to slack off you won't like this class at all
She's very polite but she isn't willing to work with you if you have to miss a class for some reason. I was on student government and I had to miss a few class periods for school reasons and I didn't even get a chance to earn those points I missed. Make sure you're in class if you want the points. Great person, decent professor.
PROS: Gives extra credit opportunities Textbook is short and affordable Attendance is part of your grade CONS: Incredibly harsh when it comes to grading Unclear standards for assignments Extra credit is required to pass the class Online quizzes don't represent the ideas of the current chapter Very passive-aggressive personality
There is a lot of work that does not need to be there and i'm not just saying that, almost everyone in the class will agree with me.
Solid professor. The class was front loaded with open-book chapter quizzes. Then the rest of your assignments are speeches. She is very good at providing detailed instructions on canvas, and she always reminds you of what is going to be due. Fun class, and if you like public speaking you will do fine.
I loved this class over all, but the only thing that I didn't like were the quizzes. The quizes did not help me a bit except for bring my grade down. I also read the book but still no help.
Good amount of homework for public speaking. It would be a good idea to to class everyday, if not make sure to check the syllabus.
The feedback after you had the assignments took way too long. I wasn't able to see what I did wrong until after the next assignment. She didn't take into account I didn't have professional cloths and docked me points. There was just so much work it seemed like she didn't know I had other classes with just as much to do.
Good class overall and attendance is mandatory. You get a lot of time to talk and discuss with peers which can be beneficial. The course did feel as if there was no enough time to get through feedback as the semester is only so long.
She always gave great feedback and would work very well with you when you needed it
It is a ton of busy work and almost none of it relates to the actual speaking part of the class. Seems like we read an entire book, did a quiz for every chapter, and then started actually public speaking without ever usuing the first month of class we spent reading and quizing. seemed like a lot of usless busy work.
at the beginning of the semester you take lots of quizzes on the textbook you need to purchase. the book isnt very expensive, but quizzes are difficult but not enough to not take this class. I liked how she made us become friends with each other making it a comfortable environment. its an easy A, but she is a little passive aggressive.
She has a unique personality. She knows what she is doing, but sometimes it may feel like you are being treated like a child. If you ignore that, she does a great job of helping you learn how to speak in public.
This class is a great class. Most people are timid when it comes to public speaking, this helped me be able to manage my speech anxiety. Skipping class isn't an option as your bigger projects require you to give a verbal presentation to the class (duh, it's a public speaking course).
She was really helpful and truly helped me improve on speaking. She made sure we all got to know each other, and it was a comfortable environment to be in. However missing a few days of school hurts your grade and she isn't really willing to work with you to improve your grade.
You will learn a lot of great ideas and theories for how to be a good public speaker, but the only time you will ever get feedback on your speaking is when you do your actual speeches. They come up fast and you better be prepared. No matter how great a speech you give, if you miss class or turn something in late, your grade will tank.
Sometimes Shirene talks to you as if you're children and can be a little passive aggressive, but if you do the work it's an easy A. She provides exact templates and rubrics for the speeches and papers, so if you follow them you'll be fine. Speeches come up quickly so prepare early on. I like that she had us become friends with our classmates.
She is a great teacher. Awesome class to take.
Writes her own quizzes that are VERY POORLY PHRASED. Example: True or False, Audience analysis should be done after choosing a topic. Correct answer: False, it should be done at all stages including before choosing a topic. Professor meant ONLY AFTER choosing topic but that was NOT specifically stated in the question... This happens on every quiz.
She is very caring, understanding and loves to hear whatever a student has to say inside or outside the class.
She doesn't grade things in a timely manner, and she doesn't manage time well within class. Her feedback is very generalized and not helpful for the most part, and she is very passive aggressive. You do things her way or you are doing them wrong. Her quizzes are horribly worded, and if I could give her a 0 rating I would. Do not recommend at all.
she is a great teacher and really love her
I took her class my first semester at SLCC, she is welcoming and makes the classroom environment friendly. I'm not a public speaker but she was able to challenge us and improve our speaking skills. Offers extra credit throughout the course as well.
As long as you keep up with your work and give it a decent try, youll do fine. She was kind of slow on getting feedback & grades from assignments - sometimes with less than a day to make corrections before giving speech or final paper is due. She works with you where you are and walks you through each step of the class.
I thought Miss Mckay was a good teacher. For me she seemed very knowledgeable on public speaking and passionate about the subject. She did assign us a lot of homework, and wasn't the best at keeping our grades up to date.
This class requires attendance. She has a lot of quizzes that did not feel very useful. She does have a lot of chances for extra credit. You do not give any speeches until about the middle of the semester then there are quite a bit of speeches one right after another.
Shirene Mckay is an all around great professor. She's very understanding, helpful, and knowledgable. She makes her class assignments fun and has a great way of connecting with her students so presenting in her class is comfortable and relaxing. Public speaking is a very important skill and i would highly recommend this course to all students.
She is very passive aggressive towards anyone who challenges her.
Is an overall great professor but is very heavy on work although does have multiple extra credit options to boost grade up.
Responded to all my messages within a day. Every class we had assignments due just about. Tough grader but i think it is a good thing as it pushes you
Lots of printing
I feel that even though there was a lot of homework in this class, it was easy to reach out to this professor when I needed help with something. She also provided numerous opportunities to increase our grade average by providing extra credit. Even though I have a hard time in classes such as this one I really liked this class.
Shirene has a good personality and she is a very calm person. But she is very passive-aggressive and picky when grading. She does not give good feedback on assignments and she basically expects you to figure out how she wants it to be done. The organization of her class was messy, we were cramming speeches in the very last day of the semester.
Shirene is very calm and collected, and overall a pretty good in her class. She does not respond to messages until a day later. She does not grade your assignments immediately which means she does not give feedback to her students on these assignments before the next similar assignment is due which means you cannot really go back and correct them.
Good teacher! Speeches back to back which makes it hard if you miss class. Overall good class but lots of work!
She is very welcoming and easy to reach if needed. Lots of class participation and feedback. There are a lot of assignments and quizzes over the semester, but quite a few opportunities for extra credit. Sometimes she fell behind on grading and at times the assignments or quizzes were confusing. Challenging but overall good class.
The professor is someone whos way more than teacher. Shes a friend you c am talk to easily and will hear you out no matter what its is. She shows how much she lovers teaching, as well as her students. Working things out when you miss class for a reason that you just could t make it, she will work with you to figure something and arent affected
Having already taken a public speaking class I was hesitant as to what I would get out of this class. However, Mrs. McKay was a good teacher in having us learn how to use different mediums as well as helping us through the speech anxiety that everyone feels.
I took this class for a communications credit. It really helped improve my public speaking skills. There will be a lot of homework. If you don't like outlines this wouldn't be a good choice. She also writes her own quizzes and the questions are confusing at times. You get to choose your own speech topics which is great.
a lot of the beginning work is more so busy work however there are 4 speeches you must right and they are very close together. I felt rushed a lot of the time.
She's a great professor! Sometimes grades harsh, but overall cares a lot about her students' success as long as they actually try in class.
She is very flexible with the due date for homework which is super nice.
She care about her student learning and she takes time to teach you how to be better at public speaking.
Professor McKay is a stern but fair grader, if you don't do well she offers plenty of chances to get extra credit. You really have to pay attention to the criteria for grading your speeches, it really makes the difference in your grade. She gives good feedback and the class gives you feedback as well which really helps you understand how you did.
Shirene was a great teacher. There was quite a bit of homework to do and if you are not on top of it it is easy to get behind in class. It was a fun experience to take this class.
I really liked her, but it easy to get overwhelmed. You have to look at the assignments one at a time and not think of how many you have to do. Overall if you want to be a better public speaker I really recommend. She helped every single person improve. I suggest this class if you are planning on being a teacher.
We spent so much time talking about things that didn't help with our actual speeches. We took so much time in the beginning of the semester so we were cramming speeches in the last day. It's hard to ask her questions, it's her way or the highway, and her answers are very passive aggressive. Ironically, she's just not very good at communicating.
There quizzes you will need to do so making sure you have the correct textbook is needed , you used the textbook mostly at the begging of the semester and towards the end you dont really . Her class is over all easy but many speeches are done , but no worries you will be fine ! She does a lot to make sure your speeches are ready to go .
I really enjoyed her public speaking class. She understands that it is a general education class and not everyone is going into communications. On top of that, she really helped me improve as a speaker and in the organization of my speeches. You're encouraged to get to know your classmates which made the tone of the class a little lighter.
I loved this class. The speeches were easy yet hard. they were the right difficulty level . However There isn't a lot of time for the speeches.
She is a good teacher who expects you to work but is willing to work with you
she was a good professor, i did not like all the quizzes and in the beginning we had hardly any speeches then they all hit at once and there was speech after speech,but she gives plenty of chances for extra credit.
There are a lot of assignments. I highly suggest getting ahead at least a week, especially with the speeches. One downside of professor McKay is that she gives you things back last minute and waits a long time to grade things. But, I love her! She is so caring. I made the majority of my friends in this class because she made such a great community.
our unique experience with professor Shirene mckay was where she had us write speeches, do audience assessments, evaluations, and reviews. She was a communication teacher who wants to hear specific things. Her attendance policy was when she arrived to class on time. our instructor had some availability outside of class if we had to talk to her
Shirene was very good at creating an environment where we all felt comfortable sharing our speeches. However, there was little time between speeches and we got our grades back so late that I didn't know what to work on when it came to the next speech. Also, don't buy the book I thought it was a waste of money and you can figure out quizzes without.
She's very kind, understanding and helpful! A great class that taught me a lot.
Great teacher. She cares about her students and their success
nothing much, she is caring, focused.
She is an amazing professor. She is caring and willing to explain things further. You should come to class it would be really helpful. We barely used our books.
Slightly confusing in explaining her assignments and quizzes but is really good to work with you if you just reach out.
She really wants you to learn and will help you as long as you ask. Make sure you do the reading and learn each of the theories because there are a great deal quizzes on it. If you don't like group projects then don't take this class. She is a great professor and I have learned a lot from taking her class.
Even though the COVID 19 made us go to online class. She was able to still keep the class well functioning.
She did a good job even though classes when online halfway through the term. I just struggled to keep up after the 'rona hit. Some of the criteria for assignments was unclear and I felt confused about her expectations.
Shirene McKay is a great communications professor! She's fun to talk to and get information from, but she does make you work for your grade! Get ready to write numerous speeches, know your classmates by name, and read four textbook chapters per week (they're short chapters).
This class was nerve wracking because it is public speaking. When i signed up I thought I would learn about it, not do it. Expect to do a few speeches in front of your class. Shirene was amazing, once this corona stuff hit and we switched to online classes she was very understanding and helpful. I am grateful because online classes are hard for me.
Took forever to grades even before Covid speared across the U.S and before SLCC moved to online classes.. I don't even know if I am passing right now or not. I had a hard time following the class and knowing if I was doing it right if Im not getting feedback on time. Also you think the final outline of your speech would be due before your speech.
Before Covid- 19 happened, I enjoy my time in class. Prof. McKay is great at communicating and providing information that we need to complete our presentations or assignments. Despite classes going online due to Covid-19, professor McKay was able to communicate well, keep the class going and it was well functioned.
I enjoyed the class because it really pushed me outside of my comfort zone, so it was a great class for me to take.
Great professor and teacher, but I never really knew what grade I had so I didn't know if I was going to pass or fail. In addition I never really understood what was expected of me. She would tell us about assignments and I had no idea what I was supposed to do. If she would put things into canvas faster is I had an updated grade this class would b
At times it felt like class was slow when in reality a lot was being accompished.
Knows the material. The only thing that I would change is the online examples she used for the audience assessments because they were misleading.
She is a great professor and is very understanding. but when it is the day of your speech you must be there. Because most likely she won't let you go on one of the other speech days. In this class you have about three days of people giving their speeches then you are assigned another one. she gives you enough time for preparation as well.
There is nothing that she does okay. She is terrible at keeping up with grading and giving feedback. It was frustrating when you're not getting told what to improve on before your next speech is due. When it comes to in-class, it is more of an acting class than a public speaking class. DO NOT TAKE
Loved how she has a name quiz, so you get to know everyone in class. More homework than I expected for a Public Speaking class. Grading is a little confusing.
Shirene is a nice lady, and an excellent public speaker. She is great at on the spot in person feedback. On paper and feedback in canvas? Just don't count on it. Slow at grading, moving onto the final and I have no clue what my grade is. She teaches the class like it's in junior high, I did not feel treated like an adult in her class.
This class is very educational in terms of practicing public speaking skills, but it is a LOT of work in terms of several assignments due on the same day. However, it makes sense due to the amount of preparations you have to do for your speeches. Mrs. Mckay is a very soft-spoken person and smiles often, but it can feel a bit patronizing at times.
I really enjoyed this class this semester, the teacher was great! She was always quick to respond to emails and always willing to help out.
Professor Mckay is great teaching. She definitely cares for her student and is willing to help you and take time to explain something you might not have understand. She is great teaching COMM 1020 it was such a big help to me. I have noticed my confidence level goes up because of that class. She is a great teacher and very thankful for her help
I thought the class was going to be about learning how to communicate better. You have 5 speeches to give in front of the class. I am super shy and it was very uncomfortable for me. If I had known the whole class was about speeches I would have not taken this class.
The only problem I can think of with this teacher is that she has multiple 'assignments' to describe one thing, and only one of them is the one you have to turn in. We may have been rushed because of the outbreak but she also is a slow grader. Overall not bad, plenty of opportunities for extra credit, but still wouldn't take again.
prof. Mckay is a teacher willing to put all her best to help her students. Throughout the semester, the class hasn't been easy but with the instructions, practice and class participation In was able to grow as a student. The teacher is really willing to help if you need help with the class.
Ms. Shirene is straight forward and I love that! It was easy to follow along, especially with student examples for the assignments. I've never liked public speaking, but she made it feel like a safe place.
I had a really great semester with Shirene as my professor for Public Speaking. She created an environment that was focused on improvement throughout the course and gives feedback to help with this. As long as you keep up on the assignments you'll do great in the class.
I like Mrs. McKay I feel she could have been more informative and clearer on what is expected on assignments. I understand with us having to move online during the last few months was difficult.
She's nice but it's her way or nothing. There are a lot of assignments for each speech everything felt rushed. Sometimes she was not clear on due dates. Took a long time to give grades and feedback. During the COVID-19 pandemic she didn't give extra time or a lot of breaks. She offers excredit but some couldn't be done due to COVID. Extremely Hard.
Slow grader, unclear feedback, changed how an assignment is done on the due date, and for some reason her process of an outline is. Draft, Speech, then final outline of the speech. Wouldn't it make sense to get feedback on the draft first to fix it for the final to make your speech better. If you can save yourself the trouble and take another class
We had three drafts due throughout the semester which came with instructions that we would receive feedback, and we would need to make changes to submit the final. Here we are on THE LAST DAY OF CLASS and she finally submits the feedback for all three today and expects us to get the finals in within 4 days. DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR.
Mckay's lectures were quality. i was confident i could walk away from her class knowing id learned something and my tuition and time would not go to waste. she constantly worked with her students so that they would also produce quality work.
Public Speaking was one of the most unique classes I have taken. It required the use of my English skills for writing papers, but had me apply them in another way. Instead of writing an essay, I was giving a speech. She did a really good job balancing out the differences between the concept of writing, and speaking.
You would think a teacher who literally has "name quizzes" and expects students to know everyone's names could get her students names right. You would also think that a teacher who penalized points for late work would grade things before the last day of class, but you'd be wrong. If McKay is your only option, drop out, it's not worth it.
She's alright. Really appears to care about her students and making them feel comfortable giving public speeches. However, she definitely treats you like a child. Participation is very important for her class.
Professor was very respected and helpful when it came to assignments that were difficult. I learned a lot about public speaking and would highly recommend other students to take her class.
great professor
My struggle with this class will have been fairly unique but there are some generally problematic parts of this class. She would not accept late work which can be highly stressful. Speeches are can only be completed on your assigned day at your assigned time further increasing any stress. She's a kind teacher but very unmoving to deadlines.
She's super nice, loves her job. This semester was rough with the whole turning to online and she was super understanding of emotions and all. Little slower on getting things graded but it all works out.
Even her good reviews acknowledge shes a slow grader. No one knows what kind of grade they are looking at and it's the last day of classes. She just gave me feedback on a draft from two months ago and expects me to revise it before Monday. Avoid this teacher.
She is awesome. She cares about what she does and wants you to do good. Not sure if it is just this semester but she is slow at grading so you aren't 100% sure what kinda grade you have. It may just have to deal with the fact that we went online halfway through the semester. She is a good teacher overall, would recommend her.
She was very nice , gives a lot of homework can be very understanding, besides mandatory attendance you have to show up to class or it will be very difficult for you to understand the material . She definitely made me a better public speaker it was worth the work load.
If you are willing to do what it takes, you will easily get an A. there is work to do but none of it is very difficult or time consuming. class/material/work goes at a good pace that i would say isnt very fast.
She has the nicest voice to talk to you, and she's really respectful, but it was easy to know when she did not like a topic, and it is not a good idea to start debating with her. Still, she is really caring and understanding when there's an issue and responds to messages very quickly.
I like the communication class because I learned how to give a speech . This is the first class that I stand in front of the audience and speak which was so difficult in the first semester but now I progress a lot and I good feedback from my teacher and student and I'm looking forward to taking communication class again.
professor Mckay is a very sweet woman and knows how to teach Public speaking. She is very forward if you are not doing what your highest potential requires. I enjoyed how much she cares and would take her class again.
She is probably best suited for young students just starting college. She does speak and act very much like a Jr. High teacher and some view that as welcoming and sweet, but I felt a bit patronized because most professors speak and treat you as another adult. Assignments and structure felt very much like grade school. May be a good thing for some.
DONT take her class if u dont like unnecessary hw & getting ur assignments graded by the pickiest person ever. The thing that bothered me the most is how she grades hw. On top of that she never grades! So u cant improve on feedback, if she does grade then be ready for some stinky feedback which is by the end of the semester. Great teacher, not.
McKay is one of the toughest graders I have ever had as a teacher. For reference, I got docked points on an assignment because I said "work cited" instead of "references". Her class is pretty easy but don't expect a perfect score on anything, as she always finds something to dock points for. Also, if you have any disabilities, do not take her class
Professor McKay has incredibly poor professional skills. She is unable to meet feedback requirements or communication needs within class. A week after class has ended, and numerous modules remain ungraded. Absent for the first month and a half of the semester, and still not caught up on grading. Email response time was within 2 weeks/no answer.
Seems like a nice enough person, but takes FOREVER to grade assignments. I spent half the semester having no clue where I stood as far as my grades go. The class is very boring and every single discussion or assignment requires citations from the book.
She made it impossible to recover my grade after extenuating life circumstances because she wouldn't reply to any emails, and then asked why I got her department head involved. As stated in a previous review, do not take her class if you have a disability.
I had a difficult experience with this professor. It got to the point where she would dock me points just to dock points. One paper I turned in she docked me points for putting "works cited" at the bottom instead of "reference page" when there was no clear instruction to do so. She also gave me a bad grade for not linking my paper when it was.
Her lack of attentiveness affected my grade. Two months behind on grading, left students unaware of their performance. This delay caused me to, unknowingly, repeatedly make the same mistake week over week, dropping my GPA. Additionally, her quizzes often contained errors. This class led to my decision to leave SLCC after many negative experiences.
I took this class for my major in Communications and I learned a lot! I will say the only downside to Professor Mckay was that she had a medical situation come up so she fell behind on grading and that made me bit nervous but things were eventually taken care of. Keep up with the work and you will be just fine with taking a class from her.
States that we will fall behind if we don't start on the first day but the course isn't available to open on Canvas. Emails 4 hours later saying it's due to technical difficulties but all of the other courses seem to be just fine. For a communications professor she seems to be lacking in that very department. Acts like her course is everything.
Professor McKay has a caring teaching style, though the course workload can be demanding. With practice and tools like unstuckstudy AI, you'll gain valuable public speaking skills. Attend classes and engage with the material to succeed.
This course was essentially automated due to a life situation that came up. Don't expect a response to emails in a timely manner, despite the syllabus stating 24-48 hours. I was unaware of my grade in her course until the day final grades were due, but extra credit options are plenty. Be ready to stay on top of work, as it is easy to fall behind.
She's not good at grading or emailing back. I didn't know my grade for the class until the day that grades were due at the end of the semester, and it wasn't even her that graded, she had someone else do it. She will not respond to your emails until 3 weeks later, so if you have questions don't expect her to answer. Other than that, it was fine.
Hands down the worst online class experience I've taken. Professor did not have the course open for multiple days, did not respond to messages about being unable to access the online textbook until AFTER Spring Break, Missed grading major projects, and stopped responding to student messages entirely by the end of semester. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
Didn't grade until a week after grades were due. Had no idea what my grade was half the semester.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
92%
Textbook Required
33%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.39 avg changeRatings by Course
COMM1
5.0
(1)COMM1020008
5.0
(1)COM1050
5.0
(1)STDEV150
5.0
(1)COMM1050002
4.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
COMM10208
4.0
COMM1050002
4.0
COM2050
3.7
COMM2050
3.4
COMM1020
3.2