Peter Beckett - Laurentian University of Sudbury, Sudbury, ON

Professor: Peter Beckett

Department: Biology

College: Laurentian University of Sudbury, Sudbury, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Would take it again in a heartbeat! Lots of assignments and tests, but he teaches you everything you need to know, provides lots of detail and is super easy to talk to, and understanding about moving test dates, etc. Lectures posted online and a lot easier to follow compared to the textbook. Would highly recommend if doing a thesis in sciences!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The entire course was basically memorizing equations, and knowing which to use when. It was easy enough to follow along with the slideshows at home, so I didn't really see a point of going to class, especially as he can go kind of quick. The main complaint is that the marking scheme he gave his TAs was unfair.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lots of time consuming assignments. Not difficult just tedious. Teaches you the material on the assignment the day before it's due, many nights I only got 3 hours of sleep just to finish one of this assignments

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy and helpful to talk to 1 on 1. BUT he uses the 3 hour lab section for more lectures so it's basically a full year course crammed into one semester. Also will respond to your emails with the most vague and unhelpful replies that will leave you feeling more confused. Makes lots of jokes about how this course is killing us with all the work

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1000EL10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Mature and no nonsense professor. We should respect his knowledge and compassion about his field, everyone ages! Predictable testexam. Pay special intention to the indicators, you would do well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 3056
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Speak up in class. He REALLY likes participation!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOLMANY
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Beckett is a wonderful instructor. People give him very negative markings because they do not apply themselves in his classes. This is the sole reason he may come off as mean, or snappy. He is very funny and is easily approachable if the question relates to his field of study. He loves lichens and moss (heads up) and is an awesome guy.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOLMANY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good for any class except experimental methods, but willing to answer questions. Had him for restoration, wetland and non-vascular plants as well and very knowledgeable for those 3. Big on field work so we had many field trips, with only extreme weather deterring him. Only got presentation grades back but fair for other assignments.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His notes tend to be quite unorganized at times. Also many people complain about how he's unclear regarding which tests to use when, but that is the whole point of the class. That being said it's really helpful if you make your own summary charts of his notes to keep things organized. It's not impossible to do well in this class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Easy with lots of practice

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3336
• 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:

Love the man... hes so knowledgeable.. although he is a bit eccentric, it just adds to his charm. Truly though, his work in the field of reclamation and restoration biology is unmatched. He is more than fair and will go out of his way to make sure you succeed... all you need to do is talk to him!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Kind of boring and difficult to get into. Took weeks if not months to get anything back.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have had Dr. Beckett in two of his main stream courses, experimental methods and restoration ecology. In restoration he was horrible didn't show up for class last minute mandatory field trips unpleasent e-mails, gave us the exam 4 weeks late and we had to complete it during christmas. He is angry unpleasent, unorganized and overall a verypoorprof

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a good teacher, can't understand his british/swedish accent. Very forgetful, getting old, you can find him in the 3rd floor of the computer science building. Class was funny, his appearance is funny, not a good dresser, presentation and appearance its a big fail. WILL NOT TAKE ANY MORE COURSES WITH HIM! IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE BIOL 3327 STUDY HARD!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3056
• 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:

and to the person who said he has real experience and to listen closely: i would love to listen to beckett, except he speaks a language reminiscent of hebrew. even if you manage to hear words and study those words, you still won't have a clue how you're doing because he doesn't think it necessary to give out grades before the exam. just ridiculous.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3056
• 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:

To anyone who is considering enrolling in classes that the wonderful Dr. Beckett teaches, I have advice: take $500.00 cash (tuition fee for one course), use some of the cash to pay for origami lessons, then fold the remaining money into a small crane, then set the crane on fire and lick the ashes. You've officially had more fun than Beckett provide

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOLMANY
• 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:

I have had this prof for many classes, pretty much most of the classes that he teaches. he is best in non vascular, and worst in experimental. you rarely get anything back or marks before the drop date, lucky to get things back before exams even. he should be limited to teaching non-vascular plants. there are much better stat profs at laurentian.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3056
• 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:

Dr. Beckett has actual experience in the reall world and the students should listen closely to what he says. He should write a book for this class. It was one of the most interesting classes I have ever taken. His tests are based on the whole picture - so study hard. He is difficult to get a hold of but is always helpful. You may not get tests back

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3056
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The absolute worst instructor I have ever had the misfortune of encountering (grade school included). Incoherent, inaccessible, unorganized and not helpful in the least. No marks or feedback returned before the FINAL exam! If you'd enjoy watching your tuition fees contribute to a mockery of education then take Beckett's classes. Absolutely terrible

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3376
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He likes to help students but its almost impossible to find him using email/phone/ anything. If you need to find him, look around at all public computer labs. Also, his restoration class is complete waste of time/money, which is too bad since it has the potential to be great.