Jon Filer - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Jon Filer

Department: Science

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very laid back professor. He writes/draws a lot of notes, so attend lecture otherwise you will miss a lot. Pretty easy, not too hard as long as you take notes and study. I had a lab with him too and he was horrible in the lab class and did not really teach anything. I think he may be retiring very soon though.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Filer is an easy going professor. Lectures are a little boring but he goes into a lot of detail so if you take good notes you'll be fine. Gives a lot of partial credit on exams and the material is straight out of the book so if you do the readings you'll be in good shape.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOL121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Filer has become absolutely useless. In his upper level classes I haven't learned a thing. It really saddens me that the person who teaches most of the GEOL courses doesn't teach! Just shows up and lets the students figure out what's going on. It's time for him to retire and let someone else take over.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• 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 geology professor I have had. He is funny and helpful. The class is very chill, If you come to class and listen its an easy a. He is an easy grader and you don't need the book.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOL1211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Classes are really dull. He gives a review before the test but the things he focuses on most on the review and in class are not on the test. It is the things he least talks about.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very straight to the point kinda guy but every once in a while he'll crack a joke and it'll be the funniest thing. All tests are based on lab or lecture. Don't buy the book.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very nice, if you are not interested in geology you may fall behind but if you are he can keep your attention. A LOT OF NOTES. tests are fair and comprehensible.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEOL121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hes really sweet and wants you to do well. There is a lot of notetaking and it can be a little boring, but if you just study the chapters before the test you should be fine. I have an online pdf version of the book (works just like the book) that i will sell (username & password) for $10 if you want to email me at ahauck1@students.towson.edu for it

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOL121
• 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:

Great guy!! people who complain don't do the work, you have to pay attention in class to make sense of his writing and take notes. Exams are easy, he gives points just for trying so never leave anything blank!! I recommend taking him if you are at all interested in geology

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really nice guy, definitely intelligent, but teaching isn't his strong point. The class is unorganized and unclear. His handwriting (which is how you get all notes) is very hard to read. Study guides are unclear, tests are mostly open-ended q?s. Difficult class, not because the material is hard, but because the course is unstructured/unclear.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOL121
• 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:

Even though I had to audit the class, he's still a good professor (I audit because I fell behind). Though it is hard to stay awake in the class, the lectures weren't too bad.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• 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 Filer is a pretty cool guy when not talking about Geol. He always has great stories and jokes. However, this class is very challenging for those who have no prior experience. It was not a prereq to take Geol116 but he said that was a good idea to take. Lab is a cakewalk, but I barely passed every test we took. DONT BUY TEXTBOOK FOR LECTURE.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a really nice guy but this class is extremely hard for those who have no prior experience. If you come to class and copy down what he writes on the board then you have a chance of passing. He actually gives you credit for tying. Labs a re fun if you have a good lab group but he never actually checks ANY of the labs. Def. study notes!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Go to class, take notes, and STUDY THEM before the tests. That's all you need to do to pass. Note cards - a recommended method. Tests are not multiple choice so forget about trying to guess your way to a high grade. The book is useless; don't bother buying it, or buy a cheap, old edition.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• 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:

Good guy, tests are challenging,but not impossible,definitley need to show up to lectures and write down what he scribbles on the board.Study the scribbles and you'll be fine.Gives vague instructions for labs and watches in amusement at your feeble attempts to finish them,but doesn't collect them and grades lab tests very generously.Apply yourself.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• 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:

Nice guy. He is pretty disorganized and scribbles on the board, but take good notes and read occasionally, and you will do well on tests... especially with a curve. Labs are boring, but are usually done quickly. A B is easily possible.. most who complain about him are frat boys/sorority girls who are too lazy to come to class or read/study.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOL123
• 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:

Just a terible class, he doesnt explain anything. the entire semester was just one giant jumble of words, they were not even in chronological order or anything. a timeline would help. NOT FUNNY despite the fact he thinks he is. Tests are rediculous. labs are not labs at all

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

this guy is awesome!! he is soooooo helpful. will take as much extra time to help you understand things. totally goes out of his way to help you. tests are reasonable as long as you study. take him if you can (especially if your alternative is burks!!!)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take him for the GenEd. He's really disorganized, often fails to explain concepts in a way non-majors will understand. During labs he surfs the web while students wonder how to do the assignments. Exams cover too much material, very difficult, and count for too much of the grade. Really nice guy, but doesn't know how to teach.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

very helpful and laidback, tests are hard as hell. don't take the class for a gen ed, it's just not worth it.