Matt Turner - University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Professor: Matt Turner

Department: Geography

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Matt CARES about his students- GO TO OFFICE HOURS. I was sitting outside his office studying one day and he was telling a colleague "If these kids would just come in more, they'd nail the test" & went on to talk about the success of group of kids who came in every office hour to go over lectures. Matt is a funny professor & the material is relevant

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are interminable. Turner is a really nice guy, knows the material, and cares about students, but the exams are way more difficult than they are made out to be and this class was a lot of work in general. Would not recommend this class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the slowest and worst lecturers I've ever had. Takes him an hour to say what a good lecturer would say in 20 minutes. I was excited for this class, but the guy just bumbed me out. Easy though.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO355
• 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 interesting class. He makes an effort to engage students with the assignments and clearly cares very much about both the subject matter and students' learning. He grades surprisingly harshly so don't slack off. He does like to make a lot of eye contact, but he's self aware about it so if you look away he will too. It's not really "staring."

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG355
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent professor. Very passionate about Africa, especially West. I felt like I learned a lot in the class and the debates were interesting even if not always organized super well. Tests were alright. He does make eye contact a lot but it doesn't bother me. Used images and PowerPoints well to illustrate concepts. Overall, decent class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Turner is super quirky in lecture. I suggest a seat in the back because if you sit in the front get ready to be stared at. He will stare at you for a long amount of time and you don't t really know how to react. His lectures are also long and boring. He also assigns long and boring readings every week that can be time consuming.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOGRAPHY339
• 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:

His lectures were on the painful side. He is very passionate about the subject matter and everything in the course is really important for everyone in the whole world to know. His power points were like novels. Every slide had words top to bottom which was overwhelming. His review sessions were really great so try hard to go to them.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While he certainly knows the material, his style of lecture will put you to sleep. He drones on, goes off topic, and repeats sentences constantly. He also never stops talking (in his monotone voice), so if you're trying to catch up on note-taking, good luck. He is, however a great person and highly esteemed professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: IES339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He obviously loves what he does, but his climate change unit towards the end of the course was the worst. He tried a new format for the first time this semester and it was absolutely terrible. Tests are reasonable. Readings are important. He makes super awkward and uncomfortable eye contact way too often. Seriously, it's weird.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Turner wasn't the best lecturer I've had, but his classes were still interesting usually. He really loves eye contact so sit in the back unless you want to be stared at for 80% of the class. Tests were straightforward and fair. Slides were posted online. Overall a decently easy and fair course if you put in the work.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Turner is a great professor... he is very knowledgeable and really focuses on key issues in environmental conservation. Great class, great readings, great material. He does make a lot of eye contact, though. Personally, it kept me engaged, but if you don't like it, move to the back.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Tests were incredibly easy, and his lectures were ok. All of the slides go up on line, so you don't even need to go to class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Environmental conservation 339 is extremely easy. I never went to Turner's lectures and did well on the exams. Just fill out his review sheets and study those-basically all of the test questions are formulated from that material.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG537
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class had a good deal of excellent material in it, but the assignments and lecture were dull and unenlightening. A series of papers were assigned that allowed for no creative thought processes. If you did not restate what he had in slides, you would not get credit on the work. Very disappointing course.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEO339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was incredibly boring and vague. If you ask him a question about the material, he will just tell you what is already on the slide or give you an author who explains it. His amount of eye-contact is creepy too. Exams are average.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• 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:

He has different teaching style than professor for 1st half of course, but is still good. Knows his stuff. The content is interesting. Does like his eye contact--move to the back if don't like that. Exams aren't that bad.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very repetitive. Don't sit in the front if you hate eye contact because he'll lock his gaze on you for explaining an entire concept.. creepy

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty useless for a professor. His lectures are a mess and he makes an uncomfortable amount of eye contact. Class was only worth taking due to the lecturer for the first part of the course.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm a related major to the material, but the 2nd half of class was completely useless and lecture was unbelievably boring. The Tambopata activity was juvenile. This was one of the worst professors I've ever had. No ability to engage students & keep information flowing. Would only recommend this class based on the awesome 1st half w/ someone else.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG339
• 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:

Lectures are boring. He usually repeats the same concepts, but gives you both sides of the story. Makes you think a little bit. Exams are easy. Must attend lecture!!