Jim Bowers - Langara College, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Jim Bowers

Department: Geography

College: Langara College, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed his class. Concepts are clearly explained and he is approachable if you need help. Textbook is a good place to get background info. Try a lab for a guaranteed mark of 75%, so ALWAYS ATTEMPT THE LAB. Labs themselves was composed of simple algebra and graphing.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are so many errors in the learning outcomes and labs. He will say "look on page 100 table 8.2" but there will be no such table. Unclear labs. He says read a certain portion of the text but then has questions on the lab that have nothing to do with what we read. Did not like this class at all.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jim doesn't seem to care too much about teaching. Unclear assignments and all these little screw ups that don't make sense which bring about questions to which he says "oh it's SUPPOSED to be this way", well then why don't you fix it?! you won't know what's going on in the labs or assignments. Very unclear. Trails off when talking in class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For a lab science course, the math is pretty easy. Some of the labs and assignments are unorganized, confusing and unclear so you will need to ask for help. Lectures were at times unclear and I found better explanations for various concepts on youtube.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You'll do fine if you are well-prepared. He doesn't do a good job at explaining the more complicated concepts. However, his tests are predictable.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 1190
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Basically it's a chore to listen to him but if you put effort into paying attention he still teaches fairly. It can be hard to hear him, he trails off a lot and makes awkward jokes. You don't need to go to this specific class to get a good grade, just be prepared to read a lot. The grading criteria is super specific and you can self-teach a lot.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 1190
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Basically it's a chore to listen to him but if you put effort into paying attention he still gets the job done. It can be hard to hear him, he trails off a lot and makes awkward jokes. You don't need to go to this specific class to get a good grade, just be prepared to read a lot. The grading criteria is super specific and you can self-teach a lot.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEOG2210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jim is great. If you are into GIS, and likely going to go down that path, then you should be good. Some independent learning is required. Google is your friend! But so is Jim. Projects are well designed and straightforward. Lectures are a good overview of the whole field, also pretty boring, but Jim is also entertaining if you pay attention.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1190
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think Jim could be a great prof he's just a little bit scatter brained, his tests are hard but if you took notes you shouldn't have too much of a problem doing well. His voice is a bit monotoned but he makes jokes and is kind of dorky. All in all of you're willing to put in work and have some geo knowledge your should do alright.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 2210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE GIS. What a horrible class. You will pull your hair out with this glitchy program. Jim does not get that others may not find this as easy as he does.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG22802210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

do not ever take bowers unless you want to risk a fail. WORST prof i have had at Langara, he should not be teaching and frankly, doesnt seem like he wants too either. he is anxious and fidgetty in the lectures and labs and his whole courses are confusing and pointless. waste of time and effort.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He tries but isn't very good at explaining concepts to students. I don't think he knows how difficult he makes it to learn. Confusion is a constant state of being in his class, where we end up going off to figure it out for ourselves or to the TA. He's a nice person and he is very knowledgable, unfortunately it gets lost in translation.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1190
• 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:

Basically to summarize , Jim is a passionate teacher but his tests and lab exams are way too difficult. Class average for tests were all 60>. Asks questions not included in lectures and slides. Dont take this course unless you intend on working your ass off only for a B-

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• 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:

I don't understand the negative feedback, he is very helpful and not contradicting like other instructors I have had. He makes it extremely easy to do well.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Jim is not very personable. He goes way too fast in his lectures, but posts slides online so you can catch up later. VERY self-taught class. Don't expect help from the lab aid, he is mean. Labs are HARD, start early. Study his learning outcomes as you go along, this is not the kind of class to easily cram for. Tests are hard, class avg was 55%.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOG2210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course focuses on the use of the IDRISI GIS. No textbook requirement as Jim photocopies all the reading material. Powerpoints and labs are posted online. As with all courses, you only get what you put into the course. He is very helpful, even to the point of giving you the answers. Labs = very time consuming. Knowledge obtained = great.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BORING class, he talks in mono tone. That killed the class. Lots of self studying needed, exams are all right tho

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are useless and boring. Sometimes have a hard time hearing what he says. Everything is online. Its pretty much self-study before midterms. Exams are average. As long as you study the main concepts, you'll pass. Very sure that other profs are much more helpful. Labs NEED to prepare beforehand to finish in class. Very hard marker.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LAME1111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

GIS 2210 do not ever take bowers unless you want to risk a fail. WORST prof i have had at Langara, he should not be teaching and frankly, doesnt seem like he wants too either. he is anxious and fidgetty in the lectures and labs and his whole courses are confusing and pointless. waste of time and effort. i want to complain to the school hes so bad.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEO1180
• 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:

Knows his stuff. Ask him any question and he will answer it. Lectures are boring, everything is posted online. Labs are hard to finish in the 2 hours ( do them when he gives them to you). Fair marker, I found the first lab exam to be harder then the second one. Jim is your average teacher.