Lectures are necessary, but since they are recorded, there isn't much benefit to actually attending them beyond helping with homework. Putting time in on the homework is really the best preparation for tests. The homework requires you to think outside the box sometimes, and make extrapolations off of the material presented in class. It isn't hard, exactly, but it does require some thinking. He does practice problems that are at least partially useful during lecture, and those aren't uploaded with the notes. Prof. Zhigilei is pretty helpful in office hours and over email, and seems to enjoy the material. Tests are doable, but there are so few over the semester (including the cumulative final) that they have a ton of material on them, and it really is necessary to know just about everything and understand it in order to do well. Grading on assignments seems to be fairly forgiving, and he usually has some extra credit available on exams; the class is curved at the end too, so your final grade will probably be higher than what you thought you understood. Overall, not a bad course if you put the time in.

His lectures are pretty boring. Between the notes he posts online and the recordings of the lectures, you could easily skip lectures and still do well. The main thing in this class are the homework assignments. There were a total of 7 during the semester. They can take a decent amount of time to complete and often require getting help during office hours, but if you do well on the homeworks you'll be very well off for the exams. Expect to be writing furiously for the entire time limit on the midterms, they're lengthy.

He was a knowledgeable professor but his accent makes it really hard to understand him some times. The class is really hard. The only reason I stayed in the course is because I needed it for my major. Definitely would not recommend. Would put it up there in difficulty comparable to Orgo.

Zhiglei was a pretty boring lecturer but, always happy and upbeat. There was no textbook. He posted all the material and HW on his own convenient site. HWs were every other week. They were never lengthy but some were challenging. No quizzes. Three tests, two of which were difficult. Depending on your previous course work some of the curriculum will be review.

Good course. Professor provides the material clearly in his presentation (which are available online), and is very helpful in general. He tells you what to worry about and what to not from notes. Additionally, follow homework closely, it is the key for tests.

Professor has a difficult accent to understand at first but is very knowledgeable and very willing to help his students. Class is well organized but you also have to be very self-motivated to do well. You will not get an A by simply showing up to class but if you put in the work on the 7 or 8 homework assignments he gives out, you should be fine.