Jim Colbert - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: Jim Colbert

Department: Biology

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is hard but Colbert is a great lecturer. The tests are only what he lectures about/what is on the slides unless he specifically says otherwise. Use the extra credit opportunity to your advantage and make sure you do all of the homework assignments and attend class for quizzes.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Didn't have a final, but had seven exams instead. He covered a lot of information in between each exam, and if you get behind it is hard to catch up. Wasn't a terrible professor, but if you're not a bio major it will be hard to get yourself to go to class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gives very interesting lectures to keep students engaged with videos, pictures and activities or breaks. Lots of pop quizzes during lecture and on paper submissions so skipping class is not a good idea. Tests are relatively easy as long as you pay attention and review your notes (questions are right off the power points). Very nice, funny guy!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

-attendance isn't mandatory but there are pop quizzes and in class assignments at least once a week -7 total exams - not cumulative -usually get out of class 5-10 min early -reads of slides and ONLY information form slides in on the exams so it makes it easier to study -book isn't really needed besides for pre-quizzes

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Colbert is a great lecturer has a lot of enthusiasm for what he teaches, pretty test heavy but that's more of a blessing than it seems--offers 10 points of extra credit and has a curve based on tests. Attendance is not graded but there are pop quizzes! Tests are heavily based on lectures and SI! Book required but not used very much.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mr Colbert is very smart, especially in biology. But, for me, he just really didn't connect. He would present the same way every lecture. Tests were on the more difficult side and included an average of 4ish pictures on every exam. Lectures were often boring, so I got into the habitat off taking notes outside of class, which he posts online.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Colbert super passionate about bio, but didn't teach it the best. He reads right off his powerpoint and has tests very frequently so the work basically never ends. His class is not much homework, but instead memorizing and studying lots of brand new material off of powerpoints. There are frequent in class quizzes, so make sure you go to class!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was pretty difficult but the professor is good at keeping you interested during the lectures, he reads right off the sides and moves too fast for you to write down notes so he will post the slides on canvas. I would recommend going to the SI sessions until you get used to how fast-paced this class is

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've had at Iowa State. Lectures are so boring and all he does is read off his powerpoint slides.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Colbert is a very nice man and really does seem to care about his students. When people say his tests are hard, they must not have studied, because ALL of his questions come straight from his powerpoints. I never took notes but studied outside of class and did just fine. Go to class because he has random quizzes at least once a week.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Colbert is very unfriendly and is not someone I enjoyed spending 3 hours of lecture with each week. I would highly recommend getting a different professor for Bio 211 if it is possible. Whenever I spoke with him outside of class, I felt as though he always looked down on me as unintelligent.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy must have 10 year because some of the things he does and says is soooooo unprofessional. Tests were hard and never consistent. I HIGHLY recommend going to SI to feel more prepared. Only positive thing is this class was not too difficult if you put the work in and he is easy to talk to outside of class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Exams were very hard, especially for students that haven't had biology recently. You must attend class because he has random in-class quizzes and class is where you will learn all the material on the exams. Really nice guy, just a hard class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Colbert is a great professor and tries to make his lectures as interesting as possible. Although, attendance isn't mandatory there are pop quizzes most days. His tests are difficult and come directly from his power points and top hat questions and are very specific so make you are paying attention. Overall, would have him as a professor again

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Colbert is a nice guy and cares about biology and his students. However, this class is very challenging. There are in class points that are easily attainable if you put forth effort, but the tests are the most difficult aspect of the course and also most of your grade. I studied for all of the exams and only got a good score on one. Go to SI

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Colbert is a great teacher. I learned a lot in his class and with a little studied I did great in this course. Exams are biweekly and questions come straight from the powerpoints or in class quizzes. Attendance isn't required but there are random in-class quizzes and assignments worth points that you might not want to miss.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Colbert overall is a great professor, he's passionate about what he teaches and he makes some bad jokes, but overall he cares. Yes, the test averages are on the low side but its also kinda easy to get a low score especially if you don't study. Show up to class because you need the lecture and because the points may make or break your grade.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Respected professor around campus and very knowledgeable about his field. The class isn't too hard, the two weekly quizzes outside are easy and easy points. Attend class for the in-class points and quizzes. Overall, if you study for the tests and go to class for the points, you can get an A pretty easily. (Don't get the physical book.)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Colbert keeps class engaged and interesting, tests are hard but he provides easy points in class with team quizzes or pre-lecture quizzes. Overall one of my favorite professors this semester.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Colbert is a very good lecturer and is very familiar with the material. Attendance is not mandatory but you should really go to class to get more familiar with the material, the book and slides will not cut it. It's nice how he connects the material to real world and close to home applications. Test material is very specific.