Delany, Jim  

I know I wasn't the only one in the class wodering what was going on. If a problem was too hard for him to do from the homework, he would tell us to either figure it out ourselves or he would tell us that something like that wouldn't be on the test so we didn't have to worry. But, he never answered them. I don't recommend him at all.

Dr. Delaney does not use the book for the introduction of the course. He is hard too follow as a result. His tests are fair if you study hard. He is professor that I would only recommend for people who have good independent study skills. He refuses to go over questions that students have during lecture. Often uses the phrase "we already went over that!!"

Are you kidding me? This guy is a flake and a terrible teacher, however, he grades on a deep curve. and makes up for his lack of teaching by curving lower.

HA! Teacher? I think not! He is a sorry excuse for a teacher!!! He doesn't even have a syllabus...and it's required that a teacher passes out a syllabus. His test are so hard, and he doesn't teach anything. He's really shady with points on the test too. After we get the tests back he doesn't even go over the test. He also gives us problems that are almost impossible without a calculator. Definitly DO NOT take him!!!! He needs to find another J.O.B

Sometimes this guy doesn't even show up for class. He speaks in a monotone which makes everything sound like, "blah blah blah squared..." He doesn't collect homework, but assigns it every day. Test questions are from the homework, but I swear he purposely picks out the most difficult problems! Questions aren't answered; he tries but it again sounds like "blah blah blah squared..." Don't take this guy; everything I've learned in calculus was from my friends, not Delany.

I didn't learn anything from Delany, but that's because I never went to his class. That worked out well, because on Friday's he often didn't go himself! He sort of fits the typical math-teacher image: a decent enough individual but pretty reserved, with a somewhat monotone voice. He assigns homework but doesn't collect it, which was good because, like I said, I never went to class. His tests are difficult, but not overly so, and the problems come directly from the homework. There are 4 grades in the class, midterm, midterm, and final (counts as two), of which he drops the lowest. I was basically a warm body for the first two tests, and then studied a bit and got a good grade on the final. If you already have some understanding of calc, have a full schedule, have more important things to worry about than grades, and are just looking for some credit, the policy of not collecting the homework is very handy. I'd take him again.

Delany seems like a old guy with no personality who talks to himself. This is true. He does the examples his own method with no regard how the book teaches it, and he assumes you remember every single math formula and rule you learned in high school. However, instead of trying to follow his lecture, just take good notes and study them later on. His "alternative" ways of doing problems sometimes help out. Nevertheless, the tests are somewhat fair and he drops the lowest grade.

I would not recommend taking this guy. He assumes you don't make algabraic mistakes and is vauge on where you made a mistake. Sometimes I think he has a harder time answering a homework question than I do. He seems to like to cancel class a lot and come back expecting that you learned something.

The whole quarter, I wondered how this man still has a job here. Not only is he a bad teacher, but he acts as if he has better things to do than his trade to students who pay him for exactly that. And sometimes it was true. He would consistantly cancel classes. Half the time, students would have to teach him, as he would regularly mess up when doing demontration problems. If you are a good book learner, go ahead and test your luck. If not, look somewhere else...and fast!!

There is nothing I say about Dr. Delaney, other than he is absolutely, positively the worst teacher I have ever had in my entire life! He is not a bad guy, and in visiting his office hours, I know the he is a very intelligent man. However, his lack of ability to convey simple material to students is astounding! In the beginning of the course, I was confused as to the differences between derivatives and limits. When I asked him what the difference was, after several attempted explanations, he concluded, "They are just different." If I would have known that he was going to say that, I would have saved myself the ten-minute walk to his office. In a class period about half way through the quarter, some students were asking questions (a rare occasion - it almost feels unnatural in his classroom). One student asked a question about undefined points on derivative graphs. Dr. Delaney recognized the student, heard the student out, and looked at the blackboard only to continue exactly where he left off in the lecture. He ignored a student, and that just shows his lack of caring and empathy. His tests are not difficult, taken straight from the homework. But, if you have as much trouble answering the questions from the homework as he does, you won't do too well. Two midterms and a final. Each midterm worth a third of your grade and the final worth two thirds (so, if you do really well on both midterms, and bomb the final, the final only comprises a third of your grade

WORST TEACHER EVER!!! -The Collector

Every thing that is said about him is true. Avoid Delany at all coasts. This man should go teach math at a elementy school cause he sure as hell can't teach calculas.

Delany is a nice guy, but the worst teacher I have ever had. Many classes I wouldn't know what we were learning unless he had announced it at the beginning of the hour. He goes off on tangents, never completely explains anything and leaves you wondering how you will ever figure it out. One time when learning about derivatives he explained how it tied into Calculus 241 and started doing a problem at that level. It would have something to learn if I had know how to do derivatives in the first place. I don't put him down because of my grade in the class, I went to tutoring, did all the homework and studied for 10 hours for the final. If he had actually done his job and TAUGHT the material, I wouldn't have had to find an alternative way to learn it all. Derivatives are the biggest part of this class... but Delany still hasn't learned that the derivative of teacher is TEACH.

Delany is the man! You mustn't listen to all those students who rip on him. He is my favorite math teacher at Poly so far. Homework takes a while but hello, its calculus. However, his test questions come straight from the homework unchanged. He also adds a fatty curve to each test, so like if you get like a 50% on the test, with a curve it will be close to a 75% How great is that? Even though he may be a little dull, I didnt care. I just wanted the grade. You still have to do all your homework, but if you do, I promise you'll be rewarded in the end when you see the same questions on the test. I will definitely take him for 143.

There is no worse teacher than Delany. If he is the only teacher u can get DONT TAKE THE CLASS!!! This man is an imbicile. He fails 1/2 his class and should be euthenised.

AVOID THIS MAN AT ALL COSTS. HE WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE. SKIP MATH THIS QUARTER IF HE IS THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN GET OR CRASH ANOTHER ONE BUT DONT TAKE HIS CLASS. THE WORST TEACHER IN THE WORLD.

do not listen to the people who tell you he is a good teacher because of his fatty curves and what not. you do not learn anything in his class and the only way to pass the test is if you already know the stuff. getting a 50% in the class then hoping for a 20% curve is bull and just getting a 50 is hard, really hard. yeah, i know it's calc but it would help if this man would try to teach it to you instead of figuring you already know it...because we dont and thats why we are in the class. he seems easy but beware, he will ruin your life and he gives no partial credit.

Delany teaches well. Step by step he will show you how to solve the tough problems presented here. However, just like any other math class, it boils down to your effort

Delany isn't that bad of a teacher, I just think he's not all that well prepared for class. He does review homework problems (which helps) but when he goes over new material, he often pauses to think about what he's doing. Or he'll start figuring something out (with you copying away in your notes) and then go back to change something, or he'll relize he made a mistake. He's pretty helpful in office hours though.

Delany doesn't exactly teach the material. During each class period he does a few example problems but spends most of the time trying to show off how smart he is by doing unneccessary derivations. He gives 3 tests and a final, which he counts twice and then drops the lowest score of the 5, which is nice. HOWEVER, the tests are *incredibly* hard, and he doesn't not allow any calculators or notes at all.

This guy is the worst teacher ever, he gives no partial credit, so if you do one thing worng you get nothing. His teaching is so bad that the entire class would fail his tests and he would have to use a 42% curve to get anywhere near a respectable average. I've taken the class before and i forgot more material i learned in is class. Do whatever it takes to get another teacher, anything is better then having him as your teacher

I tried so hard in this class, and I could not do well. He gives no partial credit on any tests. Think about it you make little mistakes on two problems, and you are already at an 80%. I took the class the next quarter with Wolf, and got an A. I understood the material all along. I just needed a fair grading system.

Jim delany is not a bad guy. he will only go over a certain number of problems in class to get through the lecture, but in office hours, he'll do all the assignments if you like. homework is not graded, but EVERY test problem comes from the homework. he usually chooses the more difficult problems to use, so do them all and get help on all those you don't need. his grading is fair and he's a nice guy, just a bit dull and can trail off during lectures. but he presents the materials clearly and will help you as much as you wish. you'll leave his class with a great understanding of the material beucase his class is much more difficult than others. he's straight to the point, helpful, and not as bad as everyone says. go in there and give him a chance instead of gianing a bias reading all the posts here from people who never worked in the class and failed because its difficult. he doens't collect the hoimework or go ove rmost of it in class, SO DO IT ALL AND GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!! it will SAVE YOUR GRADE!!!! overall, jim delany will move you on with a great understanding of the material and he's not a bad guy at all.

Delany does know his stuff, he's just dull to listen too. I had the misfortune of having him at 8 in the morning, so it added more to the wanting to drive a pencil through my ears. but if you do your homework and if you don't understand a problem on it and have him do it in class, the tests won't be so bad since all the problems come from the homework. but don't expect him to EXPLAIN anything, cause he'll do the same problem with the same explaination everytime, no matter how many times you ask him to do it in a different manner. if you motivate yourself you can do well in the class, just don't expect delany to make you want to do any math cause his lectures aren't very exciting.

It's true... don't take delaney, yes all his test questions come from the homework.... but he does a horrible teaching job anyway and he doesn't go over all the hw problems the next day.... for his tests, he chooses the most difficult questions with the longest answers that you think will never be on the exam.... he is horrible at teaching because it seems like he talks to amuse himself and his "brilliance" he really spends most of the time talking to the chalkboard... he rants and never pauses for the audience's attention.... he proves things that don't even need to be prove just so he can have fun with himself... this wastes our time in class for going over hw questions... i honestly think it would be worth it not to take him even if this would somehow be the last class for you to take in order for you to graduate

Avoid Delany at all costs. He cannot teach, and when he tried he is the slowest professor I have ever taken. Ask him a question and you get a question back...well only if you aren't his favorite little teacher's pet. Do yourself a favor and take someone else.

He's easy, but the thing about this class is that your grade really depends on how well people in your class do. If you're lucky, you can be the person who got the second highest grade on a midterm, which is a C, and still end up with a 100%. He sucks at teaching. He mumbles a lot, I can't hear him half the time. If you're good at learning yourself, then do the hw and you should be fine. His tests aren't hard. He doesn't put the extremely hard hw problems on the tests because it'd take too long to solve. This class was overall not hard. Even if you don't know how to do a problem, look up its solution or ask a friend who does, then memorize it. That's how I got a B. You think I know shit about interest rates and how to derive shit by cutting the fucking shape up? NO. Practice makes perfect. Practice the homework if you want an A or B. I could've gotten an A if I went to class because I'm not very good at learning shit myself, but 9am became too early for me.

Delany was a chill teacher. He's old and doesn't care if you come to class. His tests aren't bad and questions are straight off the homework problems . . the exact questions. By the way the hw is not collected. If you do all the homework the week before the test you should have no problem. I got a B in the class because I hardly studied at all for the final. He curves all of the tests including the final. Take him if you can teach yourself out of the book though, class is kind of a joke. If you take him, you will pass, period.

The man is freaking old, but, he's cool, and better yet, damn smart. Class started with him answering questions, and he would always do plenty of examples to try to present you the material, overall it's a pretty easy class because of what it is, basically all integrals, which is easy stuff. Even if you have problems just ask him and he will help. The problem is his lectures. They are lifeless, he takes too long to do some things and mumbles a lot, he also doesn't care that you're there. Basically, it's an easy class and I'd recommend it if you're pretty good at grasping not too hard integrals. Tests are made of exactly HW problems, and he never puts the hard problems on there, or collects it. So, as long as you do the HW, which you should be doing, you'll know how to do it, even if you found the HW hard, you'll at least remember the problems on the test and finish out on top. Don't really expect him to teach you anything though.

I wouldn't say Delany is a bad guy, he just doesn't convey the course material too well. He teaches pretty much on book examples and on problems in the book. Also, his lectures lack enthusiasm, something that all great professors have. He doesn't collect homework, but all his test questions are from the book. Watch out though, sometimes he picks the hardest ones in the book (the ones that most students skip). Also, his final is pretty dumb. 25% is on Kepler's Law, something that other Math143 classes don't even cover or isn't tested on. Basically he expects you to remember over 1 page of notes on Kepler's Law (which he gives to you in lecture in the middle of the course) and duplicate it on the final word for word. As one great math professor once told me, Calculus isn't about memorizing formulas, but about knowing when and how to apply the techniques and tricks that you learn.

Pretty much everything everyone above me said is true. For being such a terrible insructor, he still managed to do worst by canceling a lot of classes. He actually had a substitute teacher teach the last week of class for him. It's beyond me as to why he still "teaches" here. As people before me have said tests come straight out of the homework which he does not collect. If you're looking to be taught calculus this is not the teacher, you will find yourself learning out of the book. Overall this guy will not teach you jack!

While other students may not like this professor. I found him to be a good teacher. The number one complaint about him is that he "doesn't present the material" or presents it in an odd fashion. I enjoyed his class thoroughly I got an f on the first test and an a on the second one. i'm awaiting the grade on my third. He tests on questions out of the book. So do the homework and you will know how to do all of the problems. I dont really agree with all of those students who are saying he is a bad teacher... I think he is a great teacher.

He knows his stuff, but does not know anything about teaching. Math is suppose to be clear and thats not what this class was. For his tests he randomly picks problem using the random function on the calculator from the homework, so you will never know if a hard or an easy problem will on the tests. I didn't enjoy the class at all....it made my quarter misrable.

What a dumbass. He cancels class all the time and if you have a question about homework he'll say" that's too easy. ask a hard one." His tests were from the homework so if you memorize the problems you'll do good. This guy sucks.

I read all the whiney crap said about this man -- make up your own mind. Why waste paper on a syllabus. He's required to teach specific chapters and that's what he tells you. Also, two tests and a final, exactly from homework -- isn't that enough of a blessing right there? He whips the test out in about 15 minutes the day he passes it back. As he doesn't like to waste more than the first 15 minutes of class time going over homework, I understand why he would say, "That's too easy, ask a hard one." People, at least he answers homework questions in class. Wait until you get a teacher who makes you go to his office to have your question answered. Having no calculator was never a problem. I often did wonder what goes on in his mind during the silent pauses...I think he's trying to consider our level of math and respond accordingly. I worked hard to get an A, but knew it was possible if I played by his rules. Don't lose momentum when you get to Laplace Transforms...they are the final.

Dr. Delany's lectures are a little hard to get used to at first. However, if you begin to follow him and read your notes you will discover that he is teaching more than just the subject. If you look at how he completes his examples you will discover a wonderful amount of organization and short cuts that make things easier for you. These mehtods and short cuts will help with all your math classes. He also test directly from the homework problems. Pay attention here because he will assign problems from different topics within the section. What am saying is that you will be able put your finger on what he is likly to put on the test. He is a tough grader, but he does curve. Overall if you do the homework and study your homwork after doing it you will do just fine. Also his final is very fare . In our case he put 6 question on it and we could choose 5 problems. Two questions were from the old stuff and 4 from the stuff that we had just completed in the homework. Oh yea another thing I liked was that he will replace your lowest test score with your final if it is better grade. He is also very helpful during his office hours. He likes to talk about Van Gogh one of his favorite painters. You can learn alot from this guy but you must do your homework that is the key to this class. He does not grade homework. Make sure your homework in organized and you will be able use it as an excellent tool to study with.

I have read bad reports before about teachers on polyratings and had their classes turn out to very managable but Jim Delany is by far the worst teacher I have ever had. He is too smart for his own good and almost seems to enjoy the look of confused faces in his classroom. I'm not trying to be mean, I gave him more than a fair chance. HE SHOULD BE FIRED. Primarily because he DOESN'T TEACH!!! I recieved an A in MATH 241 which is technically and conceptually a far more advanced course than MATH 244. Anyone who gets a B or higher in 142 143 and 241 should be able to get an A in 244. Chapter 3 is matrices; stuff i did in high school taken one step further... but he doesn't explain that one step. The book does very efficiently if you have 2 hours to decipher each section and another 2 hours to do the homework. His test questions come from the homework but the are the hardest questions from each section and usually the even numbered ones that were assigned. i havew been to every class but never leave prepared to do the assignment. It is only have I read the book that it is apparent how simple the material is. He asks you to prove stuff on his test that only die hard math majors would care about. In short the only skills you will get from MATH with Delany are those you figure out on your own. I can't remember one time in eight weeks that he has arrived at a solution in class and bothered to explain the steps, shortcuts, or reasoning used to arrive at that solution nor does he bother to tell you what this solution means. His lectures are poor reproductions of what the book says. He schedules his office hours at 7:30 in the morning and if you do go see him he will sit there and joke around or talk about totally irrelevant topics for a half hour. I asked him in office hours if he could generalize the concepts of section 3.5 for me so I could simplify the important concepts in my own mind. He said he would recap that material in class the next day. Come class he simply asked if anyone had questions on chapter three and spent two thirds of the class period solving a problem he didn't assign (and whose concepts did not appear on the test) three different ways. I haven't found any class that I did all the homework for to be difficult but the man is impossible. Jim Delany has no concept of how material should be presented. He merely opens the book and starts copying examples (from the book) on to the board after writing a few general equations that are related to what he is writing. I have not heard one explanation of the material in his own words during the 8 weeks that I have been in his class. I may as well have bought the book and tried to test out of 244 by studying by myself instead of wasting a quarter with this guy. I can honestly say that I have never left class feeling prepared to do the HW assignment based on his lecture. Everything that I have learned about Differential Equations this quarter is solely from the book. It is ashame that we have dushbags like this man teaching at our school. Especially a course that could be so valuable a tool when learned. He makes the most simple concepts hard because he never discuses the objective, the concepts, or even analagous applications. He simply rewrites as many of the book's examples on the board as he can in an hour. He'll crank out a solution and expects you to pick up on complex trig identies and several steps of unshown algebra without even mentioning how he arrived at his solution or what that solution represents and means. THIS MAN IS DEAD WEIGHT to our mostly hardworking professors and SHOULD BE CAL POLY's first buget cut in 2004!!!

Good teacher, really knows his stuff. Tests are hard! NO CALCULATORS, and very limited partial credit. he will work through any problem you want from previous homework no matter when they were assigned. I didnt find him all that bad as compared to the rest of these posts, however i didnt do any of the homework... therefore the grade. if you want an easy A, do NOT take him... but if you want a challange and eventually understand the subject then consider him.

He has a ton of homework that isn't graded or collected. He just randomly calls on you to do one on the board and then basically laughs at you if you can't do it. Go to his office for help and he makes you feel stupid and your question is never really answered. He has eight quizzes which are again randomly selected problems from the homework. The final is also one randomly selected problem from each chapter. He reads the book to you in class and has many long silence pauses of up to 15 minutes and his final answer is I don't know about that one. He does have the knowledge about the subject but seems unable to convey it to the rest of us. His grading is very confusing because you can miss one little thing (ex negative sign) and get no points at all or you can totally blow the problem and get 7/10. He also drops the two lowest quizzes and curves. That does help, but if I walk away with no understanding of the subject, what good did that do me? I don't recommend him to anyone ever!

I found his classroom teaching style contrary to my personal learning style, however he was very approachable in his office hour and we spent hours discussing the subject personally. He was always helpful. Grading was fair and the final was as expected. Dr. Delany is very intelligent and his ability to reason out the math mentally will amaze you.

Absolutely, the worst professor I

Trump 2016 -> Kanye 2020 -> Vermen Supreme 2024 -> ??? -> Profit