Rolf Mathewes - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Rolf Mathewes

Department: Biology

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BISC300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

-tests are fair, study the book (he asks quest from practise chapter quest) & lots of def / short answer type on midterms -approachable and helpful

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof is a forensic biologist, which is pretty cool, but other than that, you don't need to show up for his lectures. He reads everything off his slides and posts them after class. If you do show up, make sure to bring coffee. Tests are fairly standard, as long as you read textbook and look over slides. Average prof.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• 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:

Smokin' hot prof with his coffees every lecture, yet ironically, speaks with a monotone voice as well. Other than that, he's the norm. Lecture slides can be a bit disorganized and he does not post the notes before class. Make sure you sleep well before class, otherwise his monotone voice may put you to sleep. Js dudes, it happened to me. :(

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mathewes was so nice! As long as you do your readings and go over his powerpoint presentations, the course should not be difficult. Exams are pretty straightforward as well. He's a forensic botanist too--HOW COOL IS THAT?

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Only complain are lecture slides. Material is fairly interesting if you like biology. The lecture slides are all over the place. It is hard to know what you are expected to know. Attending lecture is pointless since he reads the powerpoints word for word, and audio and video recordings of lectures are uploaded.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BISC300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You can REALLY tell he loves what he does. If you're not interested in the course material, it'll suck, but if you are into it, his lectures are FULL of interesting facts and details, which are helpful even if not directly examinable. Course was well-organised and easy to understand. Lots of info, but no trick questions.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were boring, but you can tell he is interested in what he is teaching. Notes did contain useful information for the most part, but reading the textbook is key. Did throw in a lot of non-exam material, which was interesting. Pay attention to examples.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• 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:

He gave a lot of examples in lecture directly out of textbook. You didn't really need to attend lecture as long as you read the textbook material and look over his ppt slides. He was passionate about the subject and answered questions fine. I didn't like a bird assignment we had to complete...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• 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:

You can tell he's really into bio and always gives helpful examples of how what we're learning is applied to the real word. The course itself is kind of scattered which is why people probably think the lectures are scattered .. but honestly I found the material really interesting.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

No need to show up to lectures (pointless and will bore you to death), but be sure to look at the lecture notes because some of the examples used are on the exams.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• 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:

Lecture is useless. He'll talk about extra stuff mostly, that you don't even need to know. Sometimes put stuff on exams that we weren't even assigned to read. Overall, could've done better in course if I had a better prof.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are so pointless and very unprepared. Shows useless transparencies all the time.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very clear and funny at times. Exams are more on lecs than text but still know both very well

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BISC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BEST PROF, if u study his previous finals, u practically know what will be on ur final. really interesting (and i really wasnt interested in the course in the beginning) . notes were very clear.EASY MARKS!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very unorganized professor. The notes are very important for the exam, but they're very hard to understand, becuase of his mess. HE IS REALLY BOARING, Many ppl fall sleep in his class. You must love Biology to like him, otherwise, good luck! :( BAD

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

notes r cleari found his exam is easy tho the matching is quite hardu can never find a better science proff and he has interesting slides hahah

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

his notes are kind of all over the place but his exams are fair. he makes the course interesting. overall i really liked this course. study his notes forget the text.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I found him to be a very good prof. Presents very good lecture notes and he is very clear in his expectations for exams. Made the material interesting.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

his notes are pretty bad, the course itself is boring, just memorize everything and you'll be fine

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BISC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. Good for a first year course. I liked that he brought a quick discussion of how Christiany and Biology are not mutually exclusive... recommended