Laurence Packer - York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Professor: Laurence Packer

Department: Biology

College: York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO4255
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Packer is an amazing prof. I enjoyed his lectures and the course. I recorded all the lectures and it was very helpful. The course content is different from other bio courses offered which makes it very interesting. Lab work is a lot and the reports are usually marked strictly. Tests were fair if attend lectures and listen to the recordings.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Cares about his students', even meets with each and everyone, one on one, to go over your progress and help you improve in the course.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4230
• 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:

Long lectures, very boring, its as though he can't stand teaching. He's not helpful at all if you need extra clarification, he explains it once and either you get it or you don't - no questions asked. And good luck if he doesn't like you or if you made a bad impression, it's gonna be a tough semester for you. I wouldn't recommend this course.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4255
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hit or miss with Packer. He can be a nice guy one day and the complete opposite the next. I feel like he does not really want to be teaching at all anymore. He is rarely interested in class but talks as if he is the be all and end all of all professors at york. He is very very very rude and smug about everything. It makes it hard to learn.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4230
• 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:

Awesome course! I took it mainly because it was offered in the summer, but it turned out to be super fun! the majority of the grade is based on your insect collection, which is pretty easy to do well with just collect as often as possible. Tests were fair, the final was much harder than the midterm. Overall very good course and would recommend it

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENTOMOLOGY
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Hand down one of my favorite profs at York. I took this class in summer of 2013 and have been an insect fanatic ever since. His class has helped me a lot, not just for school, but also open up job possibilities outside. Definitely recommend it and fairly easy if you start your collections early (don't leave anything to the last min.)

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very different style than other biology course-it is not about memorization but understanding the concepts. Lectures are mandatory to understand the material he does in class-important to write down what he says. His tests are application based and somewhat difficult. Final was easier than the midterm. Make sure you memorize+ understand lec notes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4255
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easily one of the best professors at York! Really enjoyed the class! I found that for a 3 credit course, there was a bit too much lab work (I'd rather he add a little more lab work but give us 4 credits). Not an easy class though; class attendance is absolutely mandatory and you really need to study (I particularly found the midterm to be tough).

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIODIVERSITY
• 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:

Great Professor who is funny and passionate about the material he is teaching. Class was easy, and if you study for tests they were a breeze. And Scott was the best TA!!!! Labs were a lot of FUN and stress free.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIODIVERSITY
• 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:

Great professor, interesting course, and not hard if you put in some effort. I would recommend recording lectures.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIODIVE
• 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:

AWESOME!!!! that is all i have to say! very easy and interesting!

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Awesome prof! Only A I got in a bio course! Glad I took it! Alana is an awesome ta, she may look strict but is super nice! Love it!

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

AWESOME PROF AND COURSE! even though i had to do a presentation in this course, it was not bad at all!Lectures and labs were stress-free! Its easy to get a good mark in this course! i was sad when this course ended! definately recommended!!!!! take it and you wont regret!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIODIVE
• 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:

Biodiversity was the only bird science course I took at York!!! Take it and you won't regret! This was probably one of the more interesting course I have taken! I think anybody can get a good mark in this course!

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

i took his course in summer 2004, not knowing what entomology was! (but the only upper year course available that summer that i hadn't already taken yet). since taking laurence packer's course, i've become an avid insect-collector. i'm totally obsessed with insects. i have over 700 different species in collection!!! insects are fascinating!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIODIENTO
• 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 don't know where these bad comments are coming from. This guy is the best biology professor at York! His courses are super interesting and his enthusiasm only adds to it. Tests are fair if you study and know your stuff, makes you think out of the box. Definitely a great prof and highly recommended courses!

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This guy is awesome... full of character and life.... kinda makes you wake up a little... very excentric, definitly a prof you'll remember... no doubt.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

by far the worst prof in te biology department .He lectures by putting his feet above the table facing the class of 500 people!!thank god this course is over.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• 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:

Tests were extremely difficult! Interesting in his teaching but nonetheless almost impossible to get marks in this course!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor. Got his students excited about biology. Likes to layer multiple sweaters (odd)