| Information | Review |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/10/2024 |
I'm going to start out by saying this, if you want an easy A in COMM107, do not take him. But if you want to actually learn how to give a good speech, take his class. His grading is a bit harsh, but if you really want to improve, it's a constructive criticism. Only one speech has been graded slowly, and that is because he was sick for like 2 weeks, so I don't know what other people are saying, but if you actually talk with him, he's really nice. He's passionate about you learning how to give a good an effective speech. I know after his class that I feel more confident in my ability to speak publicly. Also fun fact, on the first day he will dress how you think a professor should dress and then he will slowly fade in regular attire and he will wear T-shirts that align with the class topic for that day. If you have questions about the comments he left, he will be more than happy to explain them to you because he wants you to learn. Make sure you incorporate his advice into you're next speech because it will be extremely helpful. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/09/2024 |
Do not take him for COMM107 if you have other options. Makes you think this class is the most important class you will ever take. Harsh and slow grader. Gets angry if you do not retain information fast enough. The class environment was very anxiety-inducing. HOWEVER, I feel that my public speaking has improved. Mainly my anxiety around public speaking was lessened because I got used to feeling anxious before every class. Not a bad teacher, but hard to really enjoy this class. His feedback on assignments can be cryptic, however, if you take his advice on the delivery for the speeches you will improve. I started to like him a little bit more towards the end of the semester, but honestly, if you do not vibe with him as a person you will have a hard time in this class. I would just suggest an easier professor for a mandatory gen ed. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/06/2024 |
He is a harsh grader, grades kinda slow, and has a condescending tone during lectures and tries to make everyone in the class treat communication as something extremely important. I think this is kind of funny however because he treats this gen ed seriously, so I did learn to like him as a person the last few weeks of the course after I realized how STUPID it was stressing about this class and thinking my life revolved around it (which is kind of how this class is portrayed by Dan the first few weeks to be fair). I WONT LIE THOUGH, this class was a bit of a blessing in disguise though because the classroom environment was just anxiety city and doing speeches in that type of environment is really difficult- so if you can get through this.. you can get through any other speech to be honest. Towards the end of the semester I feel like he chilled out too. So yea it made me a better speaker but sucked especially during the first few weeks when his intimidating act was full force. |
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Daniel Foster
Anonymous 11/21/2024 |
I like him as a person, but he makes the class way to hard. He's a tough grader and this class is objectively a joke. I wanted to treat it as such but could not because of his grading. I will say I've gotten better at public speaking. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting a C+ Anonymous 10/11/2024 |
makes an easy gen ed class into a massive unnecessary commitment |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 08/27/2024 |
takes comm way to serious |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 08/21/2024 |
Class is outrageously hard for what is supposed to be an easy gen Ed. The most nitpicky grader I’ve ever had in a class. What I will say is that I definitely got better at public speaking in this class, however it took so much effort which made my other classes more difficult. If you want an easy gen ed to knock out, pick someone else. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/23/2024 |
DO NOT PICK THIS PROFESSOR. I am a freshman who took this class for the FSOC credit, expecting an easy communications class; this couldn't have been further from my experience. Dan's main issue is his expectations when grading, scrutinizing every tiny detail of your speech, down to the fact that you are holding your notecards with both hands (which, according to him, is poor body language). Throughout the year, he takes away as many points as possible on various assignments. Compared to all other COMMS/INAG professors, this guy makes the class feel like a level 300 course for your major requirements. Please pick another professor if you want to get this credit without giving this class all your attention. I think that along with my hardest ECON class this semester, I gave this class the most attention and couldn't even get a B+. Tread with caution. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM424 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/10/2024 |
I tried hard to understand him, but it felt like his rules would change every day. He is a rigid and slow grader, so getting feedback and improving is challenging. Nobody ever wanted to go to class. He is personable sometimes, but sometimes it also rubs everyone the wrong way. Honestly, I would avoid him if possible. It's not that he's a bad person; I just think he's not a great professor. The midterm was difficult and is entirely based on memorizing and grasping all the content. It's not hard content, but his way of teaching is talking at you. There are no visuals, papers, etc. He talks at you, expects you to engage constantly, if you don't, he starts going on tangents. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/22/2023 |
Dan was a great teacher, seems to have an interest in the students and nice class environment. While his grading was harder than other professors, his class is relatively easy to do well in, with him giving good feedback and constructive points. He was overall a solid professor who I would take again. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM424 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/21/2023 |
Nice guy overall. Lots of reading, like 30-40 pages 3x a week for a 50 minute class. You write a paper almost every other week, but none of our grades got put in until week 12. He is passionate about material but his lectures are kind of confusing, and there are no powerpoints or visuals. Attendance is mandatory. He has said he doesn't care about his reviews 😬 |
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Daniel Foster
COMM424 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/20/2023 |
Dan is an awesome communications professor. As a COMM Major in a 400 level course it is very engaging and feels like you are learning relevant skills to finding a job in the communications world. He is very passionate about his teaching, and classes are held as discussions more than just him “talking at you” he wants students to engage with him and be real, give their honest feedback and recognize the course and material as more than just a grade or way to earn a few more credits. If you give the effort, it will be reciprocated. He genuinely cares about his students and wants to help prepare them for their “real job” post-college. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/29/2023 |
He's a great teacher and he genuinely cares about the students and the material. You gotta go to class for attendance but you don't really miss anything crazy he doesn't give any out-of-class assignments except reading and you can skim that. He's an extremely understanding guy and if you put the effort in you will be fine and definitely learn a thing or two. He's also very interactive and entertaining and makes an effort to get to know you. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/29/2023 |
He started the class by saying that we were all the same person and that he doesn't have to get to know us because he already knows who we are, since we are all the same, then spends the rest of the class trying to prove that he cares more about us as students than the "average" professor. He is a HARSH grader, he thinks that the standard should be a C, has very obscure grading criteria and treats the outline that you do for the speech like the review of your doctoral thesis. I have a lot of speech experience and I barely got an A in the class, absolutely ridiculous that he is willing to jeopardize your GPA because of his beliefs. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/11/2023 |
Hands down the best professor I have had at UMD so far. He genuinely cares about all of his students, and goes out his way to make sure we understand concepts in the class. Your public speaking will definitely get better! Highly recommend taking Dr. Foster's class! |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/07/2023 |
He thinks this class is the most important class you will ever take, and acts on it. He is full of himself and narcissistic and has genuinely talked crap about other professors and has hinted that he personally thinks he's the most intellectual professor (when the man teaches a gen-ed 100-level course). He has favorites. He makes COMM107, a supposedly easy gened for others, feels like a 300-level class for your major. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/04/2023 |
Ditto to the comment below. One of the first things he warns you about the first class is that he takes his class seriously, and you should drop if you aren't ready to do "well" in COMM. I thought he was bluffing, but he was obviously not and is super spiteful. He genuinely thinks that COMM107, a GENED class, is the most important class ever. I consider myself a hard-working student, and I have never had a problem with public speaking and am constantly getting mediocre scores on my speeches. My roommate, who says he looks at his slides and never practices his presentations with another professor, is getting high 90s on each presentation, and in my first one, I got an 85%. Dan PICKS favorites, and sometimes it's really awkward and weird, and you can tell who he enjoys talking to and who he doesn't. Also, he highkey cursed out our class one day because someone wasn't paying attention, and he told us it's insane we weren't paying attention because "nothing is more important than COMM". He genuinely thinks you need to put in 10+ hours a week into COMM and COMM > your other classes. He has exceptionally high standards; he's probably just annoyed he got stuck teaching a 100-level course. You should take an 8 AM with a professor with no reviews over him. TRUST me. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 05/02/2023 |
He takes this class WAY to seriously. He always says that his class if more important than my major classes. Keep in mind I am an Aerospace Engineering student. He grades super harshly for a communications course. I haven't received a 100/100 on any assignment he was able to grade himself. TAKE ANYONE ELSE especially if you are Engineering or another hard major and you want an easy way out. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A- Anonymous 04/28/2023 |
Seems like a nice guy outside the classroom. I can tell he is passionate about the subject and cares about students improvement, and is willing to meet outside of class to work on assignments. But this guy is so entitled. Thinks COMM is the most important subject. Literally said first day of class "this is the most important class you will take at this school" or something along those lines. So he thinks his class is the most important out of all your classes, and it seems like he expects you to put in that level of work but this class is just a gened. I understand communication is an important subject, but when you downplay the other classes students take it really irks me the wrong way. I can also tell he plays favorites, and I am clearly not one of his favorites. Takes points off for random small details. Also said whoever didn't read the chapter are "failing to be adults." If you are looking for a chill class to take, do not take this class with this guy. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Anonymous 04/25/2023 |
The dude is aight. He has decently engaging lectures but grades unreasonably harshly for a gen-ed like COMM107. He will give you massive point deductions for stupid details on the assignments and seems to take points off the speeches for the sake of doing so. Don't expect to earn above an A- on your presentation even if you thoroughly research and practice your speech. Overall, I guess he's not terrible if you can't find anyone else. But you're better off with a professor who actually grades based on effort and cares about your improvement. This guy grades like he has some sort of dignity to uphold. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Anonymous 02/08/2023 |
This guy sucks. He's so full of himself and takes this joke of a gen ed way too serious |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/02/2022 |
This guy is a great professor. He is very down to earth and real with the students in his class. One thing I will say is don't take this class if you want an easy COMM professor who doesn't care much about the speeches. Dan will give you real feedback that will genuinely help you become a better public speaker and tends to be a harsh grader on the non speech assignments (such as outlines and reflections). However, if you take COMM with him, you will definitely come out a better speaker at the end of the semester. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/08/2021 |
His lectures are engaging and he is a fun person to talk to! He is very understanding and wants the best for his students. You can tell he enjoys teaching and that makes the class enjoyable. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 11/17/2021 |
Very vulnerable and understanding guy. Quizes are very easy and open book, the work load in general is very laid back. He's also very funny |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/02/2021 |
This dude is wackyyy and so chill. Barely any work. Lectures were fun and engaging. Being all online, this was the only class to genuinely put a smile on my face during lectures. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/24/2020 |
Great guy. Straightforward class. Syllabus schedule is detailed so you should never forget about some minor assignment. |
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Daniel Foster
COMM107 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/19/2019 |
Wackiest dude I've ever met. He has a great teaching style, and vividly exemplifies the concepts. Absolutely magnificent. |