Geraldine Akman - McGill University, Montreal, QC

Professor: Geraldine Akman

Department: Geography

College: McGill University, Montreal, QC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEO410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed this class. If you are unclear about any of the assignments she will gladly sit down during office hours and help you out! Her slides are very clear, but she does not post them on mycourses so it's somewhat necessary to go to class. The readings are all in the coursepack and they're straightforward and not very long.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Akman is experienced and knowledgeable, but she can be occasionally downright rude to students who ask questions in class or seek assistance during office hours. Upon asking a question in office hours on a test, she took 5 minutes to find the answer buried in a reading and couldn't offer any further explanation or clarification.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She treats you like you are 5th grade. You memorize the reader and spit it back out. The readings are not relevant (maybe 10 yrs ago). if you try to expand on the ideas in the readings, it is clear she is only able to repeat the text. Don't even bother trying to question her opinion. She is always right and doesn't even care to listen or engage.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOG219
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I rather enjoyed Dr. Akman. She spoke clearly and slowly and her slides were well organized and succinct. GEOG 219 is an interesting course and you will learn a lot (despite the leftward lean). It is not hard to get an A if you memorize the slides and do the readings; the tests are tricky but fair (especially with the bonus on the final)

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• 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:

I just love her! She is VERY CLEAR, she speaks SLOWLY, always happen to see you in her office. BUT her tests are kind of tricky...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a very helpful professor. She made no effort to go over past midterms. She clearly made a mistake in one of the multiple choice and stubbornly refused to correct it, or at least take out the questions out, when most of the students got it wrong. Class was a bit interesting but most of the info can be gotten straight from the course pack.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The lectures were okay, but nothing too intriguing. At times, Akman was really kind and friendly... at others, she was quite unfriendly, making it slightly uncomfortable for students asking questions or commenting in class. Lectures follow the slides quite closely, so are fairly clear, but quite dull.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Most information that is tested is provided in class but the readings really help make sense of the notes given. If you have a real interest in the material presented take advantage of office hours to have a chat with Prof Akman, she is an incredible woman that has worked all over the world and has much knowledge to share.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Akman is a rude, unpleasant, and unhelpful teacher. She reads straight from her slides and offers no arguments in favor of her material. When I attended office hours to get clarification on a quiz she referred me to the readings with no further explanation, assuming (incorrectly) that I had not previously read it. Memorize slides for an A.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOG309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the easiest classes at Mcgill.. I did it as an elective and got a high grade. Only 3 midterms which are pretty easy, one 3min oral presentation and one 1 page paper. She speaks slowly, has powerpoints are main points from the textbook (you need the textbook). Lectures not recorded. Take this for easy grade!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• 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:

Prof Akam is a tough cookie. Her topics are SO interesting, and it takes her some time to give you that knowlege-base in order to continue to more specific topics. She is rather impatient when students question her statements/research/theories, and will readily debate them openly during class. But she is a fair grader and an adorable person.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• 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:

Great class when breau teaches it. Akman is not very interesting and makes class somewhat boring. As a visual learner she makes class disadvantaged towards you because her use of schematics, graphs, etc. is limited to her and a powerpoint. VERY uninvolved as a student! She frequently references her experience dealing with "drugs" while in the "war"

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOG302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Opinions for Prof. Akman seem to be all over the place.This is because it all depends on which class you attend.The higher level classes she teaches will be a much better experience than say, 216.It's true that you'll be disappointed when it comes to getting assessment results. Still,she makes it clear what must be done to get an A, which isnt easy

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I don't understand why people are calling her a bad teacher, she's great. Easy and fair exams, an engaging classroom full of discussion, and always willing to answer questions and help. She doesn't use WEBCT, but she's right in saying it makes students come to class, take notes, and learn. I got an A, and anyone else can if they go to every class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOG309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Akman SEEMS nice...until you get to know her. She shows up on the first day talking about how her course is so easy, the tests are simple, no final- everything sounds great. THEN..she turns into the terrible person she is. Marks RIDICULOUSLY hard, not willing to help students...and you will not get the A! Do yourself a favor and STAY AWAY!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Akman is a terrible professor! Several times she gave us conflicting information, or that was just false! When questioned on her sources, she was unable to provide any, leading me to believe that she ballparks #s to incl. on her slides, which are possibly the only interest in this class. Won't accept other credible sources of info on exams/in class

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class seems easy but the average was a B-; the exams are ridiculously nit picky. My grades were all over the place, ranging from a C+ to an A (in terms of exam results) and this class was pretty boring. If you like memorizing many useless facts, this is the class for you! Waste of time - do not take it unless you have to.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• 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:

The class wasn't hard, but she did her best to be unhelpful. She was unpleasant whenever questioned and made up statistics. Her co-lecturer Breau was much better.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very friendly disposition. It's as if a kindergarten teacher were teaching at a University level. Very warm and caring. As a teacher, she is about on par for an intro level class. Spends a considerable time going over very basic topics, but she is fairly engaging and a pleasure to listen to. Recommended.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She has earned the title 'Slackman' in our circle of friends. In review sessions she has been known to answer questions with "look over your notes" or "If you were paying attention..."the point of review sessions is to go over material that is UNCLEAR:by simply telling students to review the material that was initially unclear is REDUNDANT