Is this an easy A?
FairEffort
58/100An A is possible and sometimes easy on exams, but , and vague rubrics keep it from being a low-effort A.
, while in-person reviews include more examples of students earning As despite the workload.
Cabrillo College · Computer Science
CS1 · CS24 · CS20P · CS19CS21CS24 · CS20JCS21CS24 · CS23 · CS19 · CIS21 · CS21 · CS20JCS21 · CS20J · CS11 · 90 lifetime ratings
The decision
Key questions
Is this an easy A?
An A is possible and sometimes easy on exams, but strict style grading, tedious Zybooks work, and vague rubrics keep it from being a low-effort A.
Online reviews emphasize harsh grading more strongly, while in-person reviews include more examples of students earning As despite the workload.
Is the course easy?
The programming concepts are manageable for prepared students, but pacing, abstract explanations, and unclear expectations make the course feel harder.
Online students report more confusion and weak support, while in-person students more often say the courses are hard but useful.
Is attendance flexible?
Reviews do not show a consistent mandatory policy, but several students say missing lectures or skipping class makes it easy to fall behind.
Online evidence includes archived or live lecture options in one review, while in-person evidence suggests attendance is practically important.
Is this professor recommended?
Students recommend him when they value rigorous CS preparation, but many warn against him because of confusing teaching and strict grading.
In-person reviews are more polarized with strong praise and strong criticism, while online reviews lean more negative overall.
Course guide
Grading
Strict
25/100
Grading is repeatedly described as nitpicky, style-focused, unclear, and slow, even when students receive high final grades.
Format shift
Online reviews especially stress harsh personal-preference grading, while in-person reviews also mention vague criteria and meticulous standards.
Workload
Heavy
32/100
Workload is heavy because of weekly projects, Zybooks, coding assignments, readings, and exam preparation.
Format shift
Both formats mention lots of work, with online reviews stressing coding volume and in-person reviews stressing projects, readings, and Zybooks.
Teaching experience
Average
58/100
He is knowledgeable and sometimes highly valuable, but many students find lectures unclear, slow, disorganized, or hard to follow.
Format shift
In-person reviews contain more praise for long-term learning, while online reviews more often describe poor communication and weak support.
Assessment method
Balanced
55/100
Grades appear to come from programming assignments, Zybooks or readings, and a midterm and final rather than only one assessment type.
Format shift
Both formats mention assignments plus exams, but online reviews give fewer clear details about grade weighting.
Luni fit check
Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.
Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.
Course format
Classroom format
High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward
In-person reviews are more mixed, with strong praise for long-term learning but repeated complaints about disorganization and tough grading.
Main concern
Students must handle vague expectations, lecture-heavy delivery, and meticulous grading to benefit from the course.
What students said
“Probably my favorite professor ever by far!!”
“long non-interactive lectures, obscure/very nitpicky grading, takes MONTHS to grade work”
“Steve's the GOAT.”
Remote format
Medium confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro
Online reviews are mostly negative, focusing on harsh grading, weak communication, slow feedback, and confusing structure.
Main concern
Online students often felt unsupported and had to manage grading clarity and learning structure themselves.
What students said
“Lectures were long and not very helpful.”
“incredibly harsh grader, with many points taken off for his own personal programming preferences that he didn't previously explain.”
“I took CS 11 online, and it was fantastic.”
Exam style
Reviews mention midterms and finals with mixed difficulty, but they do not clearly prove open-book rules, proctoring, webcam use, or closed-book policy.
Assessment risk
Varies
45/100
Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.
In-person reviews mention exams, coding on paper, timing pressure, and inconsistent difficulty, but they do not clearly prove closed-book or proctoring policy.
“His tests are mainly just memorizing the algorithms you are being taught and coding them on paper.”
“Prepare to answer questions quickly in exams or you will run out of time.”
“Tests are extremely easy”
Online reviews mention midterms and finals with mixed difficulty, but they do not clearly prove webcam, proctoring, Lockdown Browser, or open-book policy.
“midterm and final are alright”
“Midterm is impossible. Final is even more impossible.”
Student evidence
Top student voice
“Steve's the GOAT. Took transferring to UC to realize just how much he sets u up for success.”
“He is a programmer, not a teacher.”
“very very slow grader, cannot trust any dates he gives you for grading.”
“Totally worth it.”
“Class wasn't too bad just weekly projects.”
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 3
Data context
Analysis sample
50
Recent reviews read by the AI
90
Lifetime ratings
88/100
Evidence confidence
Credibility is high because 50 reviews span many years and repeat the same themes of strong knowledge, strict grading, heavy work, and uneven teaching.
Inside 50 stored ratings
Reported outcomes
37 reported outcomes
A+ 2 · A 15
B+ 1 · B 7 · B- 2
C 2
No reported values
No reported values
Audit/No Grade 1 · Drop/Withdrawal 1 · Not sure yet 4 · Rather not say 2