Weinstein, Steve  

Mathematics

3.65/4.00

28 evaluations


MATH 119


Sophomore
C
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
An excellent professor. Clear and informative lecture style and always willing to help students in or out of the office.

MATH 141


Sophomore
C
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Dr. Weinstein has definetely been one of the best teachers I've had at Cal Poly. He knows sections that students struggle with which he tries to explain more clearly. He assigns homework but he doesn't collect it. However he gives 2 quizzes a week and the problems come directly out of the homework. His tests cover only the material he talked about. They are challenging but not impossible especially if you do your homework. He tells some funny jokes and he's pretty animated. He keeps the class interesting.


Freshman
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Very nice guy, funny, and always willing to help. One of the best professors I've had at Poly.


Freshman
A
Required (Support)
Dec 2000
The only problem with this professor is that he is very particular as far as proper mathematical format. He subtracts major points from tests for improper form (for example, defining variables, labeling diagrams, etc.) Other than that he's a great professor with fair grading. He drops your worst midterm of 3, and your worst 3 quizzes of 16. If you don't screw up too many times, it is very possible to get a good grade.


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Apr 2002
Moderated Comment
[I]f you want to learn nothing and listen to his terrible jokes and voice for 10 weeks take [him].

MATH 142


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Very good teacher. Good lecture style. Easy to follow. Always willing to help students.


Freshman
B
Required (Support)
Mar 2000
So far Weinstein is by far the best teacher that I have had. Because I was starting out my college career in calculus two I was afraid that I would be completely lost. But Weinstein not only was able to teach me the material in a record amount of time but also I picked up the new stuff just as quick. Speaking as one of the most lazy people in the entire world I was thrilled at the amount of material that I was able to learn despite the fact that I didn't do any of the homework and I frequently slept through the classes. I felt that his grading policy was intelligent and fair, the problems on his quizzes I am told were directly out of the homework assignments. And he had a great personality, I felt guilty for sleeping because I was truly interested in what he had to say. If I were planning to take any more classes in math I would definately make it a point to have him as my teacher. He almost makes me want to go on and take more calculus. And although a lot of this may sound very sarcastic, he was seriously a very talented teacher.


Freshman
C
Required (Support)
Dec 2000
Weinstein clearly presents material in an organized manner, which helps to obtain a clear understanding when the material is first presented. Always willing to help students, even outside of scheduled office hours. I highly reccommend.


Freshman
A
Required (Support)
Dec 2000
Lectures are easy to understand and the quizzes are straight out of the homework. Tests and the overall grading scale is very fair. He's very animated and keeps the class entertaining with his great sense of humor. This really helps if you take the class in the morning, which is the absolute worst time to take math.


Freshman
B
Required (Support)
Dec 2000
Weinstein is a good teacher. He gives clear lectures and does not collect the homework he assigns. He is willing to help if you do not understand something. His tests are pretty tough, but if you study well and check your work you shouldn't get too much marked off. He is strict with notation though so check your work!!


Freshman
C
Required (Support)
Jan 2001
A very excellent teacher. Good lectures, very helpful in office hours, and gives fair tests. By far the best Math teacher I've had at Poly.


Freshman
F
Required (Support)
May 2001
I found Weinstein to be a decent instructor, but his tests just ripped me apart. He gives weekly quizzes straight from the homework, however they are definitely not a good representation of what will be on the midterm. It is imperative to keep up in this class and make sure to answer any and all questions quickly, which I obviously didn't do. This class was no walk in the park. Go in to it expecting to work your ass off.


Freshman
C
Required (Support)
Jan 2002
Although I got an average grade in this class, Weinstein was a great teacher. He gave two 10 point quizzes a week, which were DIRECTLY from the homework and usually only consisted of one problem. There were 3 midterms plus a final and your grade was based only on these factors. However, he is very particular about problems. If you forget your + C or dx then its automatic 2 points off and that brings you down to an 80% on the quizzes. As long as you write the answer as he wants it written, pay attention, and do the homework; this class is a breeze.


Freshman
B
Required (Support)
Feb 2002
Weinstein is by far the best math teacher I've ever had. His lectures were straight forward and he taught you everything you needed to know for the tests. As long as you pay attention during class you shouldn't have much trouble. Weinstein really seems to like teaching, and he cares about the students. If you want to learn the math take this class.


Freshman
C
Required (Support)
Feb 2002
He is a great professor that cares about the students, is clear and percise in the lecture and teaches the material extremely well. He can relate to students that don't grasp a concept and clarify for them. His homework quizzes are easy and give your grade a cusion. He is great!!!!


Freshman
C
Required (Support)
Apr 2002
A great teacher. The problems on the quizes are from the homework which make them very easy. He cares about his students and is very helpful in his office and during class.


Sophomore
A
Required (Support)
Oct 2002
He sounds like Sean Connery a lot. kind of a funny guy. he is good


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Dec 2002
Steve is the best ever! He is so easy to learn from. I would take him again for anything. I have never met anyone who didn't love this guy.


Freshman
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2009
Weinstein is a good guy. He attempts to present the material clearly and does so very well. However, his weekly quizzes and midterms he grades very unfairly. Rather than looking to see if you get the main concept of each part of the lesson (or course for that matter), he looks for every way to deduct points from every problem. If you forget to put an = sign, it can result in 1 or 2 points off. So let me sum him up this way, he teaches you the material well if you keep up on the homework (because the problems on the quiz are directly from the homework), but it is very hard to pull of even a B. He is very old school and expects too much. If you are willing to work twice as hard as any other four unit class, then feel free to take weinstein. Other than that I would not reccommend him

MATH 143


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
This guy is great, He'll help you until you understand it.


Freshman
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
His teaching style is extremely clear and formal--I think he's obsessive-compusive. His tests are EXTREMELY difficult, and he takes off points on the tests for things that slid by on the quizzes.


Sophomore
B
Elective
Aug 2001
Honestly one of the best professors I've had. You actually learn in his class. But be beware of his tests - they are what kill you.

MATH 242


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
This teacher was another in a line of really good math teachers that i have had the oppurtunity to take here at cal poly. His lectures were very clear, and by keeping up with the class material and homework (which was never collected), you were able to do fine on the two weekly quizzes assigned each week. The midterms were very challenging, with much being expected of you from all the material learned. The final was one of the hardest that i've taken, but that was only because we had to know all the material that he covered very well. I'd recommend taking him because of how much you learn, which can be very helpful in your upcoming classes.


Freshman
A
Required (Support)
Oct 1999
I highly reccomend Professor Weinstein for any class. He has well prepared lectures that give you complete notes and a clear understanding of the material. He gives two quizzes a week which are from homework problems he assigns. His tests are reasonably difficult, but fair. And his awkward sense of humor keeps the class interesting. Overall he is one of the best teachers I have had at Poly.


Sophomore
C
Required (Support)
Apr 2002
Weinstein is an excellent professor. His lectures are very clear and well presented. It is very easy to take notes off his lectures. He goes very slowly so it is easy to grasp the concepts. His twice a week quizzes (straight from the homework) can be a double edged sword. They forced me to keep up with the homework so i never felt like i was behind in the class. There are 15 total quizzes and he dropped the worst 3, so only 12 counted. however, i'm a guy who likes to show up 5-10 minutes late to my classes, and his quizzes are all in that time slot, which sucked for me, so i missed 4. But i thought this quiz idea was extremely fair, it was my fault. i felt i learned a lot in this class and i truely felt i grasped all the concepts, but on every test there was a couple questions that just caught me off guard so my grade didn't reflect my knowledge. take weinstein if you can.


Junior
F
Required (Support)
Apr 2002
Quite simply the best math teacher I have had at this university. The grade I received was due to my own lack of motivation (although I feel I should have received at least a 'D'). He gives homework and a one problem quiz every day. This helps you keep up with the material. His lecture is very easy to follow and take notes from. There were two midterms, both of which sampled some of the most difficult material covered in class. Dr. Weinstein is also a witty guy and likes to crack jokes every so often. I've heard he's got a little routine going, try going to a different section of the same class and he'll crack the same jokes.


Sophomore
B
Required (Support)
Apr 2002
I can't say enough about Professor Weinstein. He's not only one of the best, maybe even THE best, professors I've ever had, hes' also one of the nicest people I've ever met. It was damn near impossible to get an A in his class though, but it was well worth it to actually look forward to going to math every day (and at 9:00 in the morning, no less). However, I'm pretty sure he retired after last quarter. That's too bad for those who never got a chance to have him, but I wish him the best, whatever he'd doing now.


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Apr 2002
Weinstein is just a great proffessor. The best math Prof. at Cal Poly. He explains things well, does lots of examples and gives homework quizzes to make you keep up. The problems are directly off the homework. he assigns odd problems so you can check your answers. Very nice, kind and approachable.


Sophomore
C
Required (Support)
Apr 2002
i love Dr. Weinstein's class from his awesome, easy-to-understand lectures, his friendliness both in class and office hours to his grading policy...He is now retired. Cal Poly is missing a great professor!