Robb Gillespie - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Professor: Robb Gillespie

Department: Science

College: Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOS1000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Robb is a great professor and really knows his material, but is SO MONOTONE. Boring lectures, everyone on phone every class. can find every homework assignment and online exam on quizlet. Does clicker questions every single class, more than 2 sometimes 4 a class. Don't recommend if you need a science requirement.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Robb is great, this class is not. This is a gen ed, but it's the hardest class I've ever taken at Western. Good thing I took it online because if I would have taken it in class I more than likely would have failed.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOS1000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It's an entry level class that borders advanced level material. I asked the teacher how to have a basic understanding of what he was talking about in class and he recommended 3+ hours of extra work before class even started which is ridiculous. The average score for almost every round of iclicker questions was D.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOS1000
• 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:

Very monotone and quiet, makes the lecture drag on. Participation is graded by random multiple choice clicker questions throughout the lecture. You have to buy the book to access the online homework but never actually use it for anything. Online exam questions are not relevant to lectures or book so expect to be using google a lot.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Robb is a nice guy, pretty interesting on his own, but his class is very boring. The midterm is hard and has little to do with what is covered in class. The book NEVER matches up with the lecture. He also does clicker questions that are often impossible to know the answer to because he doesn't cover the material before asking them. Overall, eh.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEO3220
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm taking his class online. The expectations of the class can be easily compared with that of a 4 credit class. When it's simply a 3 credit gen ed, you can imagine the surprise and frustration that accompanies the attempt to keep up! Now, if you have an extreme interest in ocean systems and all the time in the world, this may be for you!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took ocean systems and was initially excited for the class but it turned out to be very boring. He doesn't mind if you don't pay attention and he's a cute little older guy, but its hard to pay attention. The quizzes and exams are easy but the midterm is hard! I tried to follow along in the book, his lectures didnt really match up with them.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO3220
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

There's iClicker questions that you NEED to attend class for. Lectures are really boring but Robb doesn't care if you're on your laptop or your phone. There are 5 online quizzes that you can find most of the answers online or in the book. The midterm was hard. You can get exempt from the final if you get A's on all of the online quizzes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• 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:

Honestly, the man puts me to sleep for most of his lectures. The homework and online quizzes are pretty easy and straight forward. Pay attention to wording of the clicker questions because they can be a little tricky at times. I took this class with a friend and every time I fell asleep, she woke me up (which was often). So take this with a friend

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220220
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He knows his stuff but lectures are long and his iclicker questions can be difficult. All homework is online and you get three chances at it, making it extremely easy to ace hw assignments. The online and in-class tests can be tough, make sure you take good notes or your in trouble. He seems like a nice guy though.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• 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:

GO TO CLASS! You have iClicker questions everyday. The tests are all online, except for the midterm/final, which are 100 questions each. You have 1 homework per week and that's online also. It's not exactly a blow off class, but it's not too hard either.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOS4320
• 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 had Dr. Gillespie last spring semester, he is a really nice professor,and tries to explain things clearly. He doesn't use the text very often. Tests are easy and straight forward if you go to class and pay attention. The papers are not too difficult either. The field trip for this class is fun, you get to go into caves.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOS1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is horrible! It is just a GenEd and he makes is soooo difficult. The only thing you're able to grasp is the Lab, that is the only that's going to get you through this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• 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:

Good teacher, not so good class. He seems really interested in the subject though. Attendance was a joke, look up the clicker quiz answers before class and just do other work during lecture. Focus on the multiple choice questions and just study those, don't bother with anything else. Way too much information to really be able to remember it all.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• 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 is adorable and a really nice guy but you can't hear a word he's saying. Even if you try and take notes the questions are nothing like you will see on homework but you get 3 chances to do hws online. Its really just pooling and memorizing the answers. I had 934 pages of mult choice questions 2 study 4 final and not one was on the final.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEO3220
• 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:

Lectures are SO boring but you have to go for the iClicker. Online tests aren't bad, but the mid term and final are HARD bc there is a crazy amount of material to cover. Stay up on it weekly, don't wait to cram for the mid term and final... like I did.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He makes every part of ocean systems the most boring thing EVER. He goes on and on about absolutely nothing. I wouldn't recommend him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was pretty easy. You have to go to class just to get the clicker points. 5 online exams where you can use your book but they are still hard to get 100% on. Midterm and final are easy - he just reuses exam questions and clicker questions word for word.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1500
• 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:

Very enthusiastic while teaching. Make sure to go to class because of iclicker points which are 20% of your total grade (10% for attendance and 10% for correct answer. Class consists of 3 exams with a final. Lowest test score is dropped, and all final exam questions are form past exams. Labs are very easy and consist of usually watching movies.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOS3220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guys has found a way to make a very interesting subject the most boring thing to listen to. The exams are half t/f (lame) and there is so much info in the class that its really hard to remember it all. People think this is a blow off class but think again.