John Locke - University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Professor: John Locke

Department: Biological Sciences

College: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is trying to be an engaging prof and tries to help students in variety of ways (encourages PAL, squire, always starts class with a Q&A) but 207 is just really heavy and tough.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

207 was a ride, man. I'd get destroyed by the exams, go to Locke and successfully argue for 20%, study everything only to be tested on a fraction of it, go through his practice finals and be given the same (except Star Wars themed) final as the practice all while getting 50s on lab assignments. Would not recommend for the faint of heart.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great prof! Has an interesting "old man" sense of humour, and is really helpful during his office hours. His midterms are quite tricky, but the curve makes it so that an 80% is an A+. What's great is that he has his own FREE condensed textbook online that helps clarify any concept briefly covered in class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far my favourite professor this semester. Very passionate about the topics and very helpful outside of class. Tests very similar to practice exams study concepts as all tests are written. 2 midterms 1 final (loved the final - star wars based genetics test Yes Please!!!!) Tries very hard to make the lectures engaging and interesting.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL107
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Midterms & finals set up similar to his old tests but you really had to understand how to get the answer. Must study a lot in order to understand concepts, memorization won't help much. PAL sessions were useless (questions didn't meet the standard of the tests). Locke's a great guy though and has open office hours. 207 itself was just brutal.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a hard course, but if you have to take it, take it with Locke. Hes a clear lecturer and his notes are very detailed. GO TO THE PAL SESSIONS!! Saved my life. If you show up to every class and pay attention youll be fine. Only study his practice exams, his real exams are identical to the practice ones, literally sets you up to pass.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Notes are not very helpful and lectures are often confusing. I found going to the PAL sessions at least helped me understand larger concepts. Best bet to do good is to study and understand his practice midterms and finals.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Notes are enough for a basic understanding but are useless for exams. Go through old midterms and finals if you want to stand a chance on the exams. Some answers will be identical, others not. So understand HOW to do the questions. PAL sessions are useless. Worst lab of my whole undergrad. Time consuming and doesn't help to understand the material.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Just studied his previous exams and was in the 95th percentile for both midterms, of course the questions wont be the exact same as the previous years, but it tests on the same concepts, not really any surprises on the exams.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Locke is vague, confusing, and monotonous. His notes and lectures confuse me and the open textbook is no help (considering he helped to write it). I took GENET 270 as a coreq and I had to use what I learned there to help me with this class. His practice exams are useless because they are all the same and he makes up new questions for you instead.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The exams are NOT the same as the previous years - there may be one or two questions that are re-used, but do NOT focus all your time memorizing the previous exams. Exams are horrible, but the averages are so low that its hard to fail. I got 38% on the first midterm and it worked out to be a C+ with the curve.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Perhaps it was just the material itself, but I found myself falling asleep in many of his classes (monotone voice). He has some interesting class participation times which help clear up confusion about material. GO TO THE PAL SESSIONS. THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WILL HELP YOU IMMENSELY ON YOUR EXAMS. Will re-explain concepts as many times as needed.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Locke is awesome. There are two midterms, a final, and online open book quizzes. If you pay attention and do your work, you will do very well in this class. Dr. Locke was very engaging, and I really enjoyed his classes. Also our final was Star Wars themed this year, so that makes him hands down the greatest prof I've ever had!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Locke is a pretty good prof. He can be really confusing sometimes, and go through material fast. However, if you work hard you can get a good grade! He posts a lot of practice midterms and finals and they really help, do them! There was no surprises on the final. Make sure to keep up with the material! The free textbook is helpful.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His notes are clear and everything is written out, but his in class explanation aren't that great. His exams are IDENTICAL to the practice, which I thought was a good thing at first, but then realized that the class is curved, so getting an A meant getting over 95% . Kind of wish I took Harrington instead.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall a pretty good professor, not outstanding but very fair. His notes can be a bit confusing but lectures clarify what you need to know. Exams are similar to old ones but can still be difficult. Really nice guy and obviously loves genetics. Looks like Santa too

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had a starwars themed final!!!! Was very similar to the practice finals he uploads but was also very confusing due to him adding certain twists that weren't on the practice ones!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His notes don't help you at all. His tests are hard, but somewhat similar to the old exams that he posts online. Honestly memorize the old tests or you're screwed.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good lord, avoid taking this class at all. He's so knowledgable but can't teach & his exams are hard but similar to previous years. He loves flies. Just dodge.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL207
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Favourite prof I've ever had, super enthusiastic, and tests are identical to old exams