Paul Blaer

The course itself isn’t too challenging, but the lectures themselves were pretty boring. Blaer goes off topic A LOT (stories about himself that aren’t relevant to the course), doesn’t start talking about content until about 10-15 minutes into the class, and then we “run out of time” at the end. We were behind on content, meaning the last few lectures felt extremely rushed. We actually ended up not learning some things that were stated on the syllabus. In Intro to Java, he actually coded during class, which was very helpful. But then in Data Structures, he stopped coding in front of the class and instead started showing code and essentially read it to us with some explanation. Other times, he pulled up the PDF of the textbook on the big screen and read it off. Not helpful. He writes using paper/sharpie in class, so there are no slides or posted class materials. This meant reviewing before the exams was a pain, since if you didn’t catch something in your notes, you would have to rewatch the lectures (all lectures are recorded) and fast forward the parts where he talks about himself. Also, something that bugged me was that he always says “Homework is gonna come out tonight,” and it almost never came out the same night, always the next day or in two days. He also said our midterm 2 grades would be out “by tonight or tomorrow” multiple times, but it was delayed over 1.5 weeks. Over…

If you've taken COMS1004 before (or know Java) the transition into this class will be much easier than if you don't, so absolutely make sure you have some understanding of Java. That being said, Blaer's class is good as it doesn't make Data Structures any harder than it needs to be; it's certainly not a weeder class. Much like his Intro to Java class, attendance is optional and everything you need is posted online or is explained in depth the textbook, you can effectively treat this like an online class with three in person exams. However be warned that this fact does not make Data Structures as a subject any easier, and most people stumble by not taking the class as seriously as they need to. Attend/watch lectures live and ask pointed questions (or engage with Blaers questions). As while Blaer is a decent lecturer you'll find more value in what he has to say if you probe him for a bit more information. Make honest initial attempts on the homeworks despite their length, and clarify things with the TA's (the ones that are nice). The textbook is accessible online, and while you wont need it half the time if you watch lecture, I recommend using it to bolster your understanding as Blaer begins to blitz through certain topics after the first midterm and complete. This is a very manageable class which will reward you if you put the time in, and compared to the other Data Structure's…

Blaer's teaching style isn't for everyone, but as someone with a weak CS background, I can say it worked fine for me. Lecture attendance is optional, and everything is uploaded on Courseworks, though I recommend you engage with every lecture closely as while the exam content rarely ventures outside the bounds of the lectures, small things Blaer may say in between big topics can and have appeared on exams. Not to worry though, because if you miss anything Blaer says the Zybook Textbook is a wonderful resource, and if you do actually complete them you'll find yourself ahead of the curve. And he does curve the class, with the average being a B+. The biggest downside of this class are the exams, which may appear relatively simple when you take them, but have tough grading. Overall, Blaer doesn't make this class any harder than it has to be and is a perfectly good choice for an intro professor, and in the event that you find him to be unhelpful, the textbook for the class (and some TA visits) will do just fine.

Paul Blaer is an excellent professor with an obvious love for teaching. He explains things clearly, gives fair assessments, and is entertaining in class. Columbia is lucky to have him.

Good course overall. I thought Blaer taught Intro Java better than Data Structures, but that could just be me. He is still the same quirky and funny guy from 1004 though.

Really good intro CS course, particularly with Paul Blaer, who paced the course really well. He's a great lecturer, sometimes gets sidetracked with stories, but I feel like that just adds to his quirkiness. He's overall a great professor. This course teaches you all the basics of Java and some other general CS concepts.

Blaer is fire. Nobody can tell me otherwise.

Computer Science is a difficult topic to lecture. Blaer truly embodies that. His teaching is definitely difficult to keep up with because its just so boring. He's monotone, but not monotone in a quiet kinda way--monotone in a LOUD kinda way. He does record his lectures and give late days for assignments which are a huge plus and it seems like he understands that people go through things/make mistakes.

I enjoyed Blaer's lectures, though they can be a little slow-paced. He's clear, thorough, and funny. Homework is a little tricky sometimes, just go to TA office hours when needed. Exams are easier than the homework in my opinion––they're largely straight-forward and Blaer literally walks through question-by-question what will be on the exam. Just pay attention and you'll be fine. Blaer sets a good foundation for an essential concept for computer science students.