I am a student myself, university freshmen. I disagree with those ratings on the teachers. If a student was to fail based on their own lacking off then they will be bitter at the teacher and of course rate them low.

But then again from another perspective as a student I can see a lot about my teachers. I can tell if they are uncomfortable, or if they are working for the pay check and that only.

You're standing in front of a group of young adults and lecturing. They can see your body language, facial gestures the entire bit. Maybe they feel you are uncomfortable with them.

Now for assignments and the instructions I've already had a few teachers that only give the basics of the assignment and then expect us as college students to figure out all the extras, and of course ask if we are finding difficulties. It's not your job to mother them through an assignment, personally I find that annoying.

If they're saying the assignments are to simple or being graded to simple then I'd recommend bringing it on to them...challenge them.

Good luck I hope all goes well. Don't let what a few people say bother you..you're the authority figure and some will always disagree with you.