Brian Kipp - Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

Professor: Brian Kipp

Department: Science

College: Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kipp's class was definitely a flipped classroom. Lots of outside work and then he covered the material in class to make sure everyone was on the same page. I was only called on once all year, not bad. Having the learning objectives done is important to hear what he adds on but then you use it on the test! I learned his exams after C+, then all A's.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed Brian's class although it was tough; we were expected to teach the material to ourselves beforehand so we could go more in depth in class. I didn't find the tests too difficult. We got to use handwritten notes. As long as you understand the main concepts of the chapter, you can do pretty well on the tests. Overall would recommend!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes, there is a lot of reading and note-taking, but it is worth it because you can use the notes on the exams. Going to class is also important but really helpful. For a hard class like anatomy, the way he sets up class is super nice. I would recommend for both 250 and 251.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• 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:

Honestly, I NEVER went to class and I got an A on every exam. You get to use your notes on the exam so just take good notes and you will totally be fine. He says he puts a "frowny face" next to your name if you are chosen to present and you aren't there but it didn't affect my grade. I finished with a 97 %, I didn't learn anything but an easy A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Students teach the class with the objectives from the book. He doesn't do much other than make sure you're there to present your objective and input grades. You basically teach yourself everything. You get to use notes on the exam so make sure they're extra good because exams are often difficult. 4 exams, 1 final, and connect homework for each chp

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BMS310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gives learning objectives for students to take notes on based on the book, which is HUGE and EXPENSIVE. The text is incredibly dense, making it hard to take notes before hand without writing down every single thing. Some test questions are broad, while others are incredibly specific things not discussed in class. Hint: he uses the book's test bank

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you want to do all your learning outside of class, this is the prof for you! If you want to do a min of 3 hours of homework for every lecture, take Kipp! Seriously you have to work for your grade in this class. Lectures are students presenting information, so pretty pointless. 1 positive is you get to use your notes on exams, but they're hard.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kipp lets you use notes on exams, but it isn't as helpful as you'd think. He provides learning objectives for each chapter and says that is the material you will be tested on, but tests include lots of info that is not in objectives or covered in class. Tests are very difficult and there aren't many other grades to make up for that.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brian is an amazing professor. The students teach about half the class, you are expected to have read ahead and able to present on topics, however in doing this you get to use your notes on the exams. That sounds awesome but his exams are no joke, I found myself getting worse grades than other classes regardless of my notes. Awesome guy though!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You take your own notes and then he picks certain people to present their notes. Its easy extra points, doesn't bring your grade down if you don't go (it's only for an extra boost at the end of the semester). You can use notes on exams and homework on Connect is easy points too. He's very sweet and understanding, just come to class and try.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BMS250
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Before every lecture you need to have your notes done and you randomly get called up to present part of your notes. It's very casual but his teaching style makes you feel like you're teaching yourself all of the info. My lecture was always so behind which made lab very hard because we were always learning separate topics.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is a class that is led completely by students, Dr. Kipp will add in information to what the student has to say on the topic but wont do much other than that. Also the learning objectives that you have to complete for this class will take more time than you think.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BMS250
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There was a lot of work to be done outside of class, but the amount of time it added up to with lecture made you learn the material. Notes that you wrote were allowed on tests too which is amazing because they can be difficult. Though a bit intimidating at first, Dr. Kipp is a great professor that is very understanding and I'll miss having him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's hard to talk about Kipp because he doesn't really teach you, it's a flipped classroom. You do all the learning objectives outside of the class and then each lecture he randomly selects people to present the objectives to the class. You get to use handwritten notes on the exams, but I found that they don't really help you much at all.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great prof overall. Gives lots of practical examples of concepts and explains things well. Is also very approachable and down to earth in office hours. You spend a ton of time outside of class writing out learning objectives from the textbook (about 4-8hrs/week) but you get to use those notes on the exams. Come to class prepared!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In this class, you read the book and answer questions outside of class (very timely) and in class he randomly calls peoples' names to present them each day for semi-credit. I found that notes on the exam did not help. The exams covered advanced concepts. I prefer a more traditional style lecture. Very helpful in office hours.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kipp would assign objectives to do outside of class, then call students up to present about them (aka he doesn't lecture and you teach yourself). You can use notes on exams, but sometimes they don't help and he tests over material you don't cover. Also he didn't print out enough final exams so half the class had to wait 20 mins for their exam

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You get to use notes for each exam you take but you have to have your notes prepared for the class and he randomly chooses names to present. Attendance is not mandatory but if your name is called for that day, he puts a "sad face" next to your name which means he will not help your grade if you are a border line A or B. I recommend him 100%

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you prefer teaching yourself the material for a class that is actually necessary to your major.... take this professor! I would pick someone else, personally. Lectures are important to go to, yet you find yourself wondering why you even go. Test questions are sometimes worded unfairly. He took forever in responding to my emails. Pass.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BMS251
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kipp is not a good option for this class. I have never spent so much time out of class time on one class. You have to read the book and take your own notes, and then he picks random names to present your notes to the class. So basically he doesn't do much. Tests are open-note, but so specific even if you copy the book in your notes.