MIT Subject Evaluations

8.321: Quantum Theory I
Fall 1998 Summary

Lecturer: Professor Roman Jackiw
Recitation Instructor: Professor Edward Farhi
Recitation Instructor: Professor Francis Low

Enrollment: 41
Number of students commenting: 10

8.321 is the first part of a two-semester extensive graduate course on quantum theory. Ten students responded to the survey. While they found the teaching exemplary, they did not like the problem sets. Overall they seemed to be fairly happy with the course.

One class member found the content basically a review of undergraduate work. Another described it as "ultra-fast, ultra-hard, but ultra-good." A third found it a hodgepodge of different, disparate topics.

The problem sets were not particularly liked by students; one commented that they were tedious and a few others wanted to see them written up more nicely. One liked the fact that the class has no exam but felt that collaboration should not be allowed on the problem sets in that case. Overall, except for perhaps the style of the problem sets, most class members seemed fairly happy with the course.

Professor Roman Jackiw, the lecturer for this course, received nothing but positive comments about his teaching style from his students. Three class members commented on his excellent presentation. Others found him illuminating, clear, excellent, knowledgeable, and well-prepared. All of this is best summarized by the comment "I bow to Jackiw." The only criticism was in regard to his board technique; one class member wanted to see a few more labels on the board, and another wanted less algebraic detail, feeling that the class could move more quickly without them.

Recitation instructor Professor Edward Farhi also received positive reviews, with two students describing him as excellent. However, one felt that he should be more accessible for questions in recitation, and another commented that he was not well-prepared.

A few relevant quotes from students:

"This was by far one of the best quantum mechanics classes I have taken both in teaching and in subject matter."

"Keep cruising, Batman."