Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2016 14:09:23 -0700 From: To: antoy@cs.pdx.edu Subject: Hi Hi Professor, You probably don't remember me, but I was your student in CS250 Winter 2016. I'm currently in CS311 and having talked to others who took 250 with other professors and feel inadequately prepared, I'm thankful for your class and everything you taught us. I saw you by the elevator in FAB the other day but didn't get a chance to say hi. Thank you for everything! ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 10:42:20 -0800 Subject: CS250 From: To: h7sa@pdx.edu Hi, I wanted to give you some feedback on your class, but missed the opportunity previously. I enjoyed it very much. You have a good natured easy going presentation and interaction with the students. I have a bs in physics with a minor in applied math and so never had any real exposure to proofs and sets, and I found your approach of providing an overview of the material in a straightforward fashion to be valuable. I hope the department continues this format, particularly for subjects like mathematics. It is invaluable to have another present a different perspective of the material, particularly someone with more experience who can place emphasis on bits which might otherwise be overlooked. As a student I find that getting the perspective and overview from a knowledgeable instructor is critical. My recipe for success in your class, which you may wish to pass on to your students in the future if you think there is value in it, was as follows: - Go to class. - 90 minutes per day x 5 days a week minimum outside of class. In the first half of the class, due to the faster pace, this was closer to two hours. I generally spent 8-10am M-F working on discrete structures with a hot cup of coffee. Like anything, mastery requires practice, not cramming. - Do as many problems as possible: if 3 a,c is assigned do 3a,b,c,d and 2 and 4 as well if possible. Again, mastery requires practice. - Be able to recite the material from memory, and even be able to explain it to another, *particularly* chapter 2. If I spent 15 hours total on chapter 4, I must have spent 30 on chapter 2 and early chapter 3 - going back every week (after they were done) trying to scour some detail that I missed. I feel this, as much as anything, had a huge impact on my performance. Everything builds on chapter two - and every detail is critical. Even if you can't understand it or don't like it, commit it to memory. - Do the most you can, not the least. This class is a foundation for a whole string of classes. Get ahead early and stay there. Thank you Sergio and see you around the campus. Have a great holiday!