I had a really hard time in this class. Lectures were spent almost solely on practice problems, but Prof. Marks often introduced new concepts, notation and terminology without explanation which made following along really challenging. The difficulty of our homework problems didn't seem to match up with the content we covered in class, and our weekly assignments were a struggle to get through. Our exams - two tests throughout the quarter and the final - were extremely hard to understand conceptually; thankfully, before each exam we were given a practice test, so the only way I was able to pass the exams was by repeating homework/practice exam problems over and over until I had memorized the steps, rather than actually understanding the content. I often asked for help after lecture/in office hours, but Prof. Marks generally seemed annoyed or uninterested which made seeking help a lot more intimidating.
Covid specific; alternative exams options weren't offered, so if a student tested positive for Covid the week before/of the final, they were given an Incomplete in the class and would be forced to take the final in a following quarter after already having taken and put effort into the class for 10 weeks. It put sick students at a disadvantage and seemed unfair given that students in other classes were provided with accommodations.