Professor Liu is a wonderful professor. Although his class is heavy on readings, he is always open for discussion during office hours! TAs are also super helpful in terms of digesting the readings. Liu is incredibly passionate about his work and a very well respected professor in his field. Attend lectures and take notes!

Professor Liu is THE BEST! He is so caring and passionate, it's easy to be engaged with his lectures. There is a lot of reading, but it really isn't bad. The classes aren't mandatory but I wanted to go to every single one just to listen to him talk.

Do take his 197 course as an English major. It's one of the best English courses offered in UCSB. Professor Liu makes these digital humanity concepts easily comprehensible and interconnected by a wide range of resources, examples, and theories. He really cares about his students and provides detailed feedback each time.

Alan assigns an abhorrent amount of reading each week. The grades break down to 3 essays, 2 midterms and section. 2/3 of the midterm and final are fill in the blank from one of the countless readings and author identification. Many students had no idea what they were getting into here, and only one grade was back before we could change P/NP.

While Alan is a perfectly nice man who clearly clears about what he is teaching, the material in this course is just not engaging. Unending readings about the history of computer technology and little else. There are also weird "ungraded" assignments which you nevertheless need to pass the course. Find a different GE/course.

While Professor Liu seems very interested and informed on the topic he teaches, this class went way over my head. Many people would struggle with this class. The content of the reading is very complex and difficult to understand, especially for someone with no knowledge of computers. And just in general there are too many readings assigned.