MAE 2000

Thacker generally keeps a light mood and frequently lets the class out early for lunch. The semester is divided into two parts: the first half is spent as an engineering drawing class followed by what is basically an overview of Materials Science 2090. There are two tests in this course, each of relative difficulty (DO THE READINGS) but the lack of a final exam makes up for that.
Although Thacker has his ''fun'' moments, he's a very boring lecturer; the notes are essentially a re-cap of the readings and are provided on Collab, however it behooves you to go to class because attendance is taken.
The lab for this class uses Inventor, which at first can be a bit frustrating but by the last week you'll be very proficient in the program. Also, Neal (fall '12's TA) is very helpful when it comes to not knowing how to do something in lab so there's usually someone to turn to if you need help.

Professor Thacker as a person is pretty chill and funny but his lectures are pretty boring. You don't need to pay too much attention in class since all the information is in the book. READ THE BOOK AND DO THE Q QUESTIONS in order to be prepared for the tests. The homework takes forever, especially the drawing ones

Thacker is a horrible professor. He doesn't teach, just reads of his lecture slides. Takes attendance though so you have to go to class. Grades are very arbitrary. For one homework I got points off for not writing my name is all caps (nowhere did it say this was required). This is a required course for mechanical engineering, so you have to take it, just be prepared.

This class was a rough one, the lectures are boring and there is so much material for the two tests. Definitely read the book!

Thacker is an intelligent person but a dry lecturer. "Dead Bug Theory" and the "Christmas Bonus" are the two biggest take-aways from this class. You take this class because it's required for Mechies. The notes that are given are extremely dry and often irrelevant to the material that he will test you on.

This class is miserable, the tests are on an unfair amount of information

Professor Thacker is a good guy and funny in an old man kind of way. He essentially skims over the book for his lectures. I would recommend reading a bunch before class and then just sit and listen. For the second half of the semester you should look at the homework before it due so you can ask Neil in your lab time for help. Neil is a helpful TA but can also be kind of rude / short with you as he is helping