Desmond Cook - Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Professor: Desmond Cook

Department: Physics

College: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Cook was a good teacher, but he is very heavy on theory. He would give you the easy examples in his notes and homework, but would test you on something he BARELY went over in his notes or something he didn't go over at all and just expected you to know how to do.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231N
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I genuinely liked this class so much that despite it being at 8am I am taking 232N at the same time with the same teacher. He offers extra credit for not missing lectures. (Miss 2 lectures, you get +3% to final grade, miss 4 you get +1%) make sure you can do the hw well and the problems and his lectures and you will do well. Highly recommended.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great teacher

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

HE is a good teacher that is really good at explaining the material.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor, very funny! Took in Maymester, so class was very fast paced, but overall learned a lot and would take again!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof. Took in Maymester and was relatively cut and dried. Very helpful. Would take again!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Took Cook for physics one and two. He is a great teacher. Physics is a hard class, but cook helps you get through it. If you miss less than 5 lectures, he raises your average half a letter grade. His tests are difficult But there is a large curve at the end of the semester. He assigns mastering physics hw on every topic. Get chegg. I recommend him

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232N
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty good professor, definitely suggest taking him. He has an Australian accent so he is a bit hard to understand at times. He has a pdf he goes through for each chapter and each one is available on his website along with practice exams which help prepare you for exams.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor reads a lot from the lecture slides, which are all online. However, he does explain the material more clearly during class as opposed to how it is presented on the lecture slides. Due to the subject there were limited examples done during class so be prepared to work a lot outside the classroom.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHY231
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best Prof I've ever had! Clearly loves teaching and it shows. Don't think I opened the book, just downloaded his notes to iPad. He made me like physics. He's not easy, but he is fair and responds quickly to emails. I wish I could have taken him for 232.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231N
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Great lectures, class was 6-weeks. I had no prior knowledge of physics before this class. Understand the concepts and you will do good. Got a A in the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231
• 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:

Very easy if you just listen to him and take notes. he explains the concepts very well too.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231
• 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:

READ THIS: His tests are very difficult, the averages are lower 60/50's if that,no curves, he can explain concepts well but good luck applying those to his tests from hell, HE IS MISLEADING when it comes to the tests, do not expect any similarity between any of the problems in HW, assignments and practice tests, they are 10 times more difficult.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BEST PROFESSOR I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. You HAVE to take him if you have to take physics. He explains things so well. He develops your logic so if you forget on a test, you can figure it out. He gives you a lot of info, but only tests on the basics. SO FAIR! He wants you to do well and is willing to work with you. Teaches SO WELL!!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class can be a bit bland depending on what part you're in, but make sure you follow along with his notes (if you can read them). One major piece of advice: DO ALL OF THE PRACTICE PROBLEMS HE HAS IN THE NOTES! Assignments are helpful, but just about everything on the test are loosely based on the problems in the notes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome teacher!! Uses props and everything to explain the topic. Provides practice tests with answers before exams. Group problems with some minor changes usually make up the exam questions. Tests aren't too hard as long as you run through the practice exam and group problems. HIGHLY recommended! Definitely will be taking him for PHYS 232 also

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHY231
• 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:

Good professor. Very clear in his lecture but tests aren't always the easiest. Mainly cause learning physics in 1 month isn't the easiest thing in the summer. Curves though which is great, but make sure to pay attention

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy with a funny accent. I took both Phys with him and was fun taking with him, Curves and if you do your HW you are fine...take him..

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was ok. Like someone else said, I felt like he was passive aggressive and couldn't quite "figure him out" personality-wise. That being said he was still pretty nice, and homework was a good prep for tests, which had low averages, but he curves a lot. I had a D before the curve, but he gave me a B. But don't bank on the exact same curve!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS231N
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his Physics 231N summer of 2010. Having majority of the material crunched in four weeks (test every week), I thought it was going to be hell. But Professor Cook was an excellent teacher. Very clear, down to earth. TIPS: Practice problems, especially ones in lecture (usually very similar). Understand the theory behind mathematics.