Curt Blankespoor - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: Curt Blankespoor

Department: Science

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO123
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Rushes lectures and has scattered ideas. Talks very loudly. Shows videos often. He likes to make up his own terms for scientific ideas instead of using the actual terms. Daily group assignments. Whenever I tried to talk to him, he was very negative towards me b/c I missed his class fairly often and he took it very personally. Tests are difficult.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Test material was not taught clearly in lecture and he often added material to the test that was not in textbook or discussed in class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I loved having this class with Curt. Very chill professor who tells you exactly what he expects and then holds you to it. His lectures are sort of free-form, but I think he tailors his lectures to his audience and provides a much more real learning zone than a prof who reads off the powerpoint.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Hard tests. Curved extensively because everyone does bad on them. If you ask a question in class, he'll blow through it, sometimes not answering it because he crams lectures. Hard to relate to him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof blankespoor is an awesome professor and a really nice guy to work with, just study hard for his tests, they always are curved massively though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Curt is a lot of fun and a great guy, but not particularly helpful. Never really sure what to study for on tests, although they had massive curves. Willing to meet with students though, which are helpful.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I am a bio major but I hated this class. The labs feel like a huge waste of time, the lectures were highly unstructured, and the tests asked ridiculous questions. Curt seems like a great guy but I can't get past how awful this class is.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's ok but I'd recommend you take a different Bio prof if you can. On the first day of class he assigns you to a group and you are stuck with those people for the rest of the year. Almost everything in the class is groupwork with those people so it kinda sucks if you have some blowhard in ur group or some lazy tard cause it screws over ur grade

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

First, do not take this class. Second, do not take this class with Curt. He is a nice guy, but his tests are ridiculously hard. His teaching style.... well... it's lacking in teaching and style. Take if you like animal behavior, but that is it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Curt's great. He is very approachable and passionate about the subject. His style is engaging, but there isn't much lecture in 123, lots of discussion and group work. The learning isn't very intense, but the class makes you think.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Grades tests on a curve. Everything is group work. He is good with feedback. Shares WAY too much personal stuff that is not aplicable to class content. NEVER used the text book. If he gets behind in gradeing, he doesn't assign more HW.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is a great guy and very passionate about his field. His tests don't always fit the material, more his opinions. The class was usually very interesting and not terrible difficult, but he is not very helpful outside of class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Curt is a great prof. I really did NOT like any type of science before coming here, and he totally turned it around for me. His tests are difficult, but he teaches the material well and you will do great in the class if you take good notes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

if you are taking bio 123 make sure you have Curt because he is by far the best. He will work with the class and takes feedback and criticism and applys it to the class and himself. Very good prof

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Acts like you waste his time when you visit him, lectures are good and interesting, test suck, he loves evolution sometimes above all else, get ready for some serious theistic evolution garbage, thank God they are switching up 242

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Although he may seem nice in lecture, he is extremely hard to communicate with in person. When you go to talk to him during his open hours or during an appointment, he always acts like you are wasting his time. His tests are hard, but manageable. He can keep a good audience.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Curt is a great guy. The class was easy, he lectured almost every day, Labs consisted of practical things like finding leaves to learn to use a "key" and watching movies. He gives you blue sheets to some up the week, and thats the info you need. His multiple choice are hard, but the tests were mostly "application" of topics in class. Great class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Makes lecture very interesting, knows what he's talking about. Tests are hard, but the course flew by, too bad next year they are changing it up. Not that organized but it's easy to know what's going on.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is very disorganized! Not a clear agenda, makes test as though you are testing for your doctorate in Animal Biology. Very, unpleasant in terms of communication. Would not recommend for Animal Biology. LECTURES DO NOT CORRELATE WITH TEXT.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Curt is a fantastic teacher. He is very hard and knowledgable. He makes class interesting. Doesn't hurt that he is hot too!