David Ball - California State University Chico, Chico, CA

Professor: David Ball

Department: Chemistry

College: California State University Chico, Chico, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM370
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No topic list, and you're expected to be able to recall all the obscure examples he shows in class. All the points are on tests that nearly everyone does extremely poorly on, then he says that he adjusts grades at the end based on if he could tell you tried. Completely unfair and outdated system to base a person's grade on.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a good professor! He is very knowledgable, and very willing to help his students unlike other professors. He provides study guides, old exams to practice, study hw problems, and he holds study sessions the night before exams. Go to his office hours with specific questions or topics you are struggling, and he breaks it down for you.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed taking Dr. Ball's class, he is very knowledgeable and I think that is where most of the people who take his class get left behind. He is going to talk to you like a chemist he is going to teach you to think like a chemist. I am not a Chem major, but enjoyed watching him teach and enjoyed being taught by him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ball is a very good instructor, but with such a difficult topic he could put more effort into helping students understand the material. Chem majors will likely have an easier time. I struggled a lot and did not pass the class (partly my fault tbh though). For non-chem majors I would recommend a different teacher if you can manage it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ball is extremely knowledgable in his field but completely lacks the ability to teach at a level below his understanding. He skips out on so many important concepts that could be so easily stated and instead gives complex examples. He is very unapproachable and will treat you like you're an idiot for any questions asked in class or office hours.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The most arrogant teacher I have ever had. It was obvious he enjoyed our misery. And, that is no hyperbole. He stands in front of the board so you can't see what he writes and then erases the material before you have a chance to write it down.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 370
• 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:

Dr. Ball is very difficult but knows the subject matter. Go to his office hours!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very clear professor, basically gives you all of the answers that you could ever need on his tests. If you show up to class and know what you're doing you will be fine, super ezpz.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best Ochem teacher ever. If you couldn't pass its because you cant read...and he cant fix that.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teacher. He may be very knowledgable about the subject, but he does not know how to teach. If you have to take O CHEM avoid him at all costs!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM370M
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable but has a hard time communicating knowledge to students. Overall nice guy, a little sarcastic, but friendly. Just don't ask stupid questions, you will get a stupid answer. And intelligent questions get complex way over your head answers. So its kind of an interesting dynamic. Grading is easy compared to others profs!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ball is the kind of instructor that makes a challenging subject as difficult as possible. His exams are very hard. If you need to take him, I suggest that you do many practice problems.....practice with a clock, too, as his exams are very long and you never feel like you have enough time.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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 chemistry professor. Transferred schools and had to retake some of the same chem concepts. Only did well because of how great Ball taught me previously. Best professor I've had so far.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM370
• 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:

Dr Ball is awesome!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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:

This is a tough class, no doubt, but he is there to help. Definitely go to office hours for some one on one time. There is a lot of information to learn and just not quite enough class time, so you need to study and utilize office hours to do well. He sneaks in fun facts and little jokes here and there. Expresses a love for chemistry. Love teachers who show passion for their subject.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he plays favorites with students in his grading, which is probably why some students like him and others think he's terrible. if you take him, you better hope you are one of his special "buddies"

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've had Ball for 3 semesters now and I enjoy his classes. His teaching style is very clear to me, his test are long and hard but he curves your final grade, he is very willing to help his students,and he holds study sessions the night before exams. If you attend lecture and read the texts, you'll do well!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

this guy is the absolute worst

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely helpful teacher. Visit his office even during non office hours, he is always there to help. Must spend a lot of time studying to do well in this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It doesn't matter if he likes you, it only matters that he is a terrible professor!