Paul Belasky - Ohlone College, Fremont, CA

Professor: Paul Belasky

Department: Geography

College: Ohlone College, Fremont, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paul was the best teacher. He was so nice and his lectures were awesome. I learn by storytelling and I loved his stories. Awesome guy.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO103
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He missed first two weeks of the class, first thing he did when he comes back is to give us a midterm with 80 questions. gives inaccurate study guides that's total misleading you from the really questions. My advise is don't take the class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO103
• 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:

Great lecturer. Doesn't use textbook much, gives handouts of material and most of information on quizzes is from lecture. Class is very difficult but he answers any questions you may have. Still isnt good at working out and showing word and number problems. You really can't miss a single day of this class if you want to pass.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the brightest professors ever! If you do the work and want to learn getting an A is not a problem. Awesome opportunity to learn about our planet! So fun I wish I had time to take it again...

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very informative teacher, clearly passionate about the subject! However, the class itself is SO difficult. The class now has about 15 people max. Labs are extremely difficult. Prepare to read - the tests all come from the book - the lectures are just to cover the labs. Grading scale is whack - but class is worth it!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him as a hybrid class. Lecture was on line and you have to attend lab by another professor. The lecture was difficult for me and fellow students agree that taking the class in person would most likely get a better grade. I got an A in lecture and a D in Lab. Final grade is a C.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The most interesting class I have probably ever taken in my life! He knows everything about the world and it's amazing. It does help to have some geographic literacy from the beginning, but the map exercises that he gives out every few weeks are super helpful for the learning process. He's also always willing to help and answer students' questions.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are pretty interesting but he is easily sidetracked. Tests and quizzes are extremely hard and HE DOESN'T GIVE OUT REVIEWS before tests and finals. So you are basically on your own to study for them. If you read the textbook from cover to cover and maybe you will get a A, but most likely you will end up with a B.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I waited until the last day of class to write this review. DO NOT take this class. You take it and you're going to regret listening to this review. Quizzes and Tests are seriously so hard. You can try your hardest and you still probably still will fall short. This class will only damage your GPA. I have no advice for you, just don't.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOL103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Belasky clearly knows his stuff, his lectures are enjoyable & he's definitely a good guy. But it's time he ups his game. I wish he gets organised, dials back the tangents, and doesn't waste class time on little stuff. I agree with the other student that "a lot of the material on exams isn't even in his lectures". He could be SOOOO much better.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOL103
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really specific grader, even with notes on quizzes DIRECTLY from lecture, he won't give full points. His grading criteria is not clear. He does know what he is talking about though, just isn't good at explaining it, and goes off on lots of tangents. He talks about Russia A LOT (that's where he's from).

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Belasky is a great professor. His lectures are interesting, but a lot of the material that you find on exams isn't covered in his lectures. You will have to read A LOT if you want at least a B. This is the hardest class I have taken at Ohlone since my 2 years here.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOL103
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Okay... this class was so unexpected. The lectures are amazing, filled with information that is intriguing. I seriously loved learning the origin and evolution of life. BUT TESTS AND QUIZZES ARE RIDICULOUSLY HARD. IT IS UNCALLED FOR. He even understands the class is taken for credit. It's as if you're majoring in this section..... DON'T. TAKE. IT.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are really well written and interesting, but his quizzes and tests are beyond DIFFICULT. On quizzes, he allows you to use your notes, so take good ones. His study guides for exams are not very well organized. So read, read, read! He one time wrote on the back of my quiz, "this is awful." --- so rude and uncalled for.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

there was a field trip to Monterey and first of all it was raining, and he was making us wait an hour, then finally sends an email saying that the field trip has been cancelled.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Left the entire class in the pouring rain for an hour waiting for him to arrive for a field trip, he never showed up. His emails are sent out at most one day before class, he reuses his emailsassignments from previous years, so numerous revisions were made. Very little teacher contact, late responses, and his answers to the midterm were not correc

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable prof. Want to learn about the world? Take him. Read the book but MOST IMPORTANTLY Take notes Take notes and Take notes. Ask questions because he's very thorough. Talks for days but very interesting. Study maps super important. Maps + notes + reading A+

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Geog of the world. Very interesting class. Extremely knowledgeable prof. Take good notes. Tests are maps based on in-class and homework exercises and multiple choice. Study the maps and your notes the most and you will do really well. Reading the book is helpful but skimming it with really good class notes is fine too. I recommend him. Soo smart.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOG10401
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A great professor with a broad knowledge in history, culture, and modern events. I really enjoyed this class and learned a lot of world geography and culture.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Belasky was habitually late, sacrificed our learning time to go on off-topic tangents, and blamed the class for his mistakes, making it hard to respect as a professor. His labs were confusing and disorganized and he rarely gave us the resources needed to complete our work without being prompted. Really disappointed with my experience in his class.