Robert Brooker - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Professor: Robert Brooker

Department: Genetics / Cell Biology & Dev.

College: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brooker had errors on every exam given to us. Fortunately, he was accommodating for such errors. The class material and exams are relatively easy, but the group project is awful. There are no clear expectations and Brooker will not give very helpful feedback such that you can get the most points possible.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This man does NOT know how to run an online course. There were so many errors on the online quizzes and exams. It messed with my head. Overall, the class isn't too difficult as long as you read the book (which he wrote). Also, never thought I'd be doing another LTP - pointless and arbitrary to the course's demands.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I strongly detested taking this class, as I found the class setup EXTREMELY impractical. Most of your grade is based on daily quizzes (no "exams", but Wednesday quizzes feel like a mini exam), as well as group work. My group and I average about 75% on quizzes, and we study hard for those. Transitions between chapters are abrupt, feel lost at times.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tons of horrible group work, a project worth 20% of your grade, he will not give any worthwhile feedback on it the entire semester. Dont expect to get a response to an email for at least a week, and when you do, the response is not helpful and he makes you feel stupid for asking. Takes off points for things that dont make sense. Avoid if you can!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2003
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brooker is one of the best professors I've had so far. He wrote the textbook used in class, so it is clear that he is a leading figure in the field and is respected. He also brings humor to the class, which was a real relief after enduring a month and a half of Mosser teaching. Grading is clear, he cares about his students, and is overall great!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO2003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rob was very easy going and humorous but also very intelligent and holds students to high standards. The class is tough but Rob makes it enjoyable!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO2003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Def one of the kinder and more easy going instructors I've had. His teaching is straight forward and helpful

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took the course online, and read the textbook/lecture slides for every week. The quizzes and problem sets were reasonable. Exams were relatively easy, and purely multiple choice. The group project was a complete mess with unclear expectations. I highly recommend taking the course online rather than in the classroom.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He consistently did not answer questions I had emailed about assignment criteria, preventing me from doing my best work. The group work is awful so get ready to fix other people's garbage writing all semester. The material itself was easy but barely got an A because there was no salvaging our awful group project, despite getting As in every exam.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rob is great and as light hearted as a geneticist can be. I greatly enjoyed his humour and Shakira played at the beginning of class. Grading was pretty straight forward and the textbook was useful for revision for the Wed tests. Material has been taught in every CBS class ever with a bit extra. A lot of work

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GCD3021
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very easy class, put minimal effort in and got an A. Memorize the quizzes because they are the test. Would highly recommend taking the online version and taking him again. Rob is great!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2003
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is an AMAZING professor. Teaches well, makes class fun (he's hilarious), and is always willing to help students who need it (if you ask)! He truly cares about his students and teaches very clearly. I absolutely loved his class and he is a very solid professor. If I have the option to take a class with him in the future, I would definitely do it!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GCD3021
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took the online Genetics course with Brooker. The videos - he basically read the slides, but skipped over some important ones. I'd suggest just reading the book. MEMORIZE THE QUIZZES because the exam is just HW probs plus quiz questions (reworded, sometimes) . The group work SUCKS, if you have a bad group like I did. Heavy curve, 90% A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Brooker! He was one of the amazing professors I've ever had! His grading is genuinely; as long as you participate and learn the materials, you will either get an A or a B. There are a lot of team work: weekly homework and 2 big projects. I didn't use the textbook, but study mainly from his lecture videos. There are no exams!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Personally I did not like Professor Brooker's teaching style. He did not really lecture in class and made you read and listen to lectures over the weekend and then tested you twice on the material each week. However, the second test each week did not give you enough time to study for it and increased in hardness by 200%. Not my favorite professor

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall easy class. Tests are from the learning objectives, weekly quizzes, and homework assignments. This is definitely the better way to go than taking this class in person. Labs at home might be annoying, but I don't think he really spends much time looking at your answers. There's a definite emphasis on genetics, which can be helpful.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GCD3022
• 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:

He is a very nice teacher, & the class is very reasonable. 3 exams (no final), 14 online quizzes, 14 group HW assignments . I initially thought the exams will be very tough since there are 20 (5 pt) multiple choice Q's & 2 (40 pt) Q's. However, Exams HW + Quizzes. Make sure to get the textbook & study the figures and in-chapter Quiz questions!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

More interested in teaching about learning techniques than actually covering course material. He teaches you very little about genetics and instead makes the class all about teamwork and group projects. Grading standards are unclear and your grade will be determined by how good your group is rather than your own work. Avoid if at all possible.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall, the course was tougher than expected, given the reviews saying how easy it was. Only 3 exams (no cumulative final!), 1 GIANT group project (for an online class, yep), and weekly HW/quizzes make up your grade. Tests are tough in that its 40 points/free response and 5 points each multiple choice, so little room for error.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4003
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rob gives you all the tools to succeed in his class. He records online lectures (for his online course) and makes them available for you. Study powerpoints + online lectures make his class a breeze. I found myself studying 2-3 hours for his class per week. Work time for group projects takes up majority of class time and outside (2-4 hours per week)