Bob Hammersmith - Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Professor: Bob Hammersmith

Department: Science

College: Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are old school. Strictly uses chalkboard & gives lectures off top of head. Definitely doable, however. MUST take notes. Study your notes & you'll do fine. Textbook is useless. Don't forget to do MasteringGenetics. Ppl complain about him but they didn't study the notes. Drops tons of hints about test material. Don't get textbook.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He does not use a powerpoint. He is arrogant and condescending. And he makes a 200 level class much more difficult than it needs to be by putting so many questions on the exams that one barely has enough to complete them. This seems to be an attempt to compensate for the fact that genetics is by nature not as difficult as physics and chemistry.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really good professor. He's very passionate about genetics and he will help you if you ask. It's not an easy class. It's a lot of work. I spent many late nights doing lab reports. Tests are hard but he'll give you credit if you write a lot in the essay questions. Go to class and lab! I could have done better. Work hard and you'll do well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

People complain about him and his class, but its really an easy class. His exams are based solely on his lectures and some lab concepts. Take really good notes (his lecture style takes a while to get used to) and study those notes intensely before exams. He curves every exam 10 points. He gives pop quizzes, but he hints at when they'll be given

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is almost too smart. He knows the material too well and will talk about almost everything biology related so you are never sure what will be on the tests. The tests are 200 points and that's where a majority of the points come from in the class. Go to the review sessions before the test and ask the GA for help with the labs.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved Bob. He was so nice and excited about the material. Lab was really interesting. There's a lab report for each week but average it's only 2 pages. The hardest parts were the tests, but he always sets up review sessions beforehand that are mandatory for getting an A. He works through problems exactly like ones you'll see on the test.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Attending class and lab is a must. His tests are mostly based on all the notes he gives in lab. He does not use powerpoint and writes everything on the chalk board. Be prepared to write a lot of notes. Did not use the book at all, just studied his in class notes. Gives pop quizzes but only counts them as attendances quizzes (easy credit).

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is a lot harder than i was expecting. Though I was told he is the better teacher of the two. Someone i know took the woman 2 other times and FAILED. Its her 3rd time and she is doing better. My first time though isn't going to hot. He is confusing and can be unclear when explaining. if you do take him go to study sessions.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really liked Dr. Hammersmith. Yes, the class is hard, but not nearly as hard as people make it out to be. You need to go to class and make sure that you understand things as you go. Study and go to him for help AS SOON AS you don't understand something. I liked how he wrote notes on the board. He is also very helpful if you go to him for help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows what he's talking about and gets really excited during lectures when he's teaching, but his tests are tough. If you don't go to classlab everyday, you won't pass. His notes are handwritten so be prepared to write. I filled a 3 subject notebook. He's very willing to help& always holds multiple review sessions before a test. Must Study!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Hammersmith is one of the most knowledgeable professors I have ever had. Speaks genetics like English. His tests are very difficult, but as long as you take notes, pay attention in class, ask questions, read the book, study, and do everything else that gives you a good grade, you will be fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yes, this course is very difficult and the tests are very long. People consistently say everyone has to repeat this class. If you actually are willing to put forth effort and go to office hours, this class is doable. If you actually go to office hours, he is very willing to help. He will help if he feels you put forth enough effort.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a terrible teacher. He does not use powerpoint simply writes notes on the boards. He doesn't actually write notes though, just writes a word and rants about it for twenty minutes. Most people I know have to retake it. He doesn't give anyone enough time for test. Literally the worst class I've taken, well, ever.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• 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:

This class is challenging, but if you really listen in class and stay really focused while you take notes, you can grasp the concepts. He is very eager to help answer questions, especially in a one-on-one situation. You can't be lazy in this class and expect to do well, but it's not impossible. If you like genetics, it's a pretty cool class!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's hard. No powerpoints, and exams cover a lot of material. He does expect you to read the book. Many of his exams are based on math also. No one gets done with his exams early. I usually couldn't finish them.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's hard. No powerpoints, and exams cover a lot of material. He does expect you to read the book. Many of his exams are based on math also. No one gets done with his exams early. I usually couldn't finish them.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard! Hard! Hard! He has no notes prepared for class. No powerpoints, nothing. He does take attendance. I do recommend the book since his exams are random. Most people I've spoken to before I took the class had to take it twice so good luck!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• 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:

I love Dr. Hammersmith. Yes, this class is difficult, but it's doable if you really put forth an effort. It's a lot of material, and he doesn't really tell you whats going to be on the exams; which in the end, I appreciated because it forced me to actually learn and not just memorize. He uses a nice curve, and lets you retake exams.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• 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:

Awesome prof. He really knows his stuff. This was one of the best classes I ever took. I wish I could take more classes from him. Just show up to lecture, read the book (not skim), take notes, and ask questions (he'll be more than willing to answer them). He's not scary, just a big teddy bear. If I was older I'd be all over him.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Get out now! He teaches way over your head for an entry level Bio class. He will NEVER give you a study guide for any test, not even the final which is comprehensive. You hardly have time to finish the test in 1 hour & 15 minutes. His study sessions consist of you ask him a question and he will answer it, nothing more nothing less. Horrible class!