Martha Barker

6 problem sets graded on completion, 2 non-cumulative exams, 1 take-home programming exam (very easy)

I really enjoyed Prof. Barker's lectures! I know some people found her lecture pace to be too fast but I found her lectures very easy to absorb. She was always incredibly prepared and organized for lecture, and answered every single person's questions very comprehensively throughout the entire semester.

25% homework - reflections about what was spoken about in lecture and problem sets GRADED ON COMPLETION!! 25% midterm - in-person 25% take home programming midterm 25% non cumulative in-person final

I think a lot of these reviews are rooted in misogyny, which is ESPECIALLY prevalent among CS students. Calling Martha "unqualified" is a lot coming from UNDERGRADUATE students who are nowhere near having their doctorate in CS. Moreover, Fundies is an INTRO course which a PhD candidate is more than qualified to teach. Also, Martha Kim is more than qualified to decide who teaches her course! I think Martha Barker creates a supportive learning environment which I have rarely experienced as a woman in CS. Many of the professors in the core classes create a hostile environment that ultimately discourage students from asking for help when they are confused. Martha is very receptive and equitable of student's needs. I am someone who has struggled with CS and this has been the best class yet (first class I have done better than the median/mean LOL) because of the supportive environment and clear, slow lectures. She does not tolerate when a student speaks over someone else or is rude in general, which is also a huge problem in the CS department. She does not tolerate students interrupting each other/her or generally being rude to students or her. She definitely is nervous, but I think that does not affect the clarity of her instruction and that people are just mad that a young woman is teaching this course. She does not post recordings publicly, but if you ask her before the lecture t…

TA's are so strict on reflections you'd think it was a humanities course and not a literal cs class.

She needs to let Martha Kim teach and just step away and maybe practice teaching a recitation or something. She refuses to share the recordings of lectures for the purpose of avoiding an empty classroom, but her teaching makes the class so useless, that nobody shows up regardless. This has been the worst experience in my academic career.

Wow, this has been my worst academic experience at Columbia.

Please refer to the first reviewer's review.

All the things about her lectures being hard to understand are true. The worst part is that it is hard to ask for help in her class, both her and her TAs treat you very disrespectfully, literally never had this happen in any other class.