David Johnston - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: David Johnston

Department: Physics

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Johnston knows a ton about physics, but definitely struggles at teaching it. He spends every single lecture deriving equations instead of explaining concepts. Utilizing your TA in recitation is key to understanding the material. The two tests and exams total 62.5% of the overall grade, so don't blow them off.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

All Phys221 classes are the same so professor choice only matters if you intend to go to lecture (Which I recommend solely because of extra-credit TopHat questions). David will derive formulas on the chalkboard (Which is where most of the lecture goes towards) and then shows pre-worked examples on the projector which wasn't very helpful for me.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Johnston spends a lot of time deriving formulas, which isn't really necessary. He does cool demonstrations and is probably the best of the physics 221 profs, which isn't saying much.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Johnston definitely knows Physics, however he seems to have trouble teaching it. His boring lectures are primarily filled with derivations of equations that are already on our equation sheet. However, Johnston seems like a great guy, and is very passionate about Physics.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Johnston is so sweet and happy. The lectures, while sometimes dry and filled with derivations, can be really helpful in understanding the material. Lecture questions are extra credit so while not "mandatory" attendance is helpful. Go to his office hours if you're stuck on the homework - so much more helpful than the "help" room!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Johnston is a jolly old man. His lectures are fill of "cute" demonstrations and he always laughs at his own dry jokes. Really nice guy, however, VERY difficult class. My favorite lecturer

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Johnston is a well respected faculty member at ISU. Unfortunately, his aptitude for research does not overflow into the classroom. Lectures are full of equations and their derivations, in class Top Hat questions do not prepare you for the homework, and there is just an overall lack of learning application. Wonderful physicist, drab teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Johnston spends most of each lecture deriving equations that are already on the formula sheet (useless), and very little time showing applications. He does few examples and the ones he does are very simple and not comparable to what is on quizzes and homework. His teaching is hard to follow, and extremely boring. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND!!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Johnston spends each lecture meticulously deriving formulas that are already listed on the formula sheets. As a result, the lectures are useless and extremely boring. The only redeeming factor is the opportunity to earn TopHat points, yet the examples he DOES provide are often elementary and don't compare to questions on homework and quizzes.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Johnston is the best prof you can get for 221. His lectures are dry with a lot of formulas and derivations, but there were a lot of clicker points, which count for extra credit. The exams were difficult, and there was a lot of homework. This may sound like a negative response, but the other profs are much worse.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy who cares about his students. However, his lecture slides have a ton of info, and since he has been in physics for a long time, he has trouble explaining it to kids who don't have a background in the subject. I found that reading the lesson before the lecture out of the book really helped me understand the concepts. 7/10 professor.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lecture is helpful but extremely boring. Better to not go to lecture and look at slides online if you already have a pretty good background in physics.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• 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:

One of the best physics professors here. Homework is tough, exams are fair, and overall the class goes very fast. Some lectures were dry but he was easy to understand and learn from if you pay attention.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is definitely the best professor you can have for 221. Homework is super long and challenging at times. With that said, it totally makes up for the tests. The tests are easier than the homework and there aren't any surprises on the tests. Great teacher.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Johnston is overall an excellent teacher. He is also very caring and understanding of his students. After working hard and paying attention in his class all semester, I accidentally missed the final. He graciously allowed me to make it up when I was available. So kudos to him for that. Go to class. Don't miss the final. You should be good.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Johnston is a great teacher. He is so quirky and intelligent it's hard not to enjoy his class. Make sure you go to class and do all of the homework and you'll be fine. And just to contrast to the person that said he does proofs all class, he actually just shows how to intuitively derive the equation and is his way of explaining the concept

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• 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. Johnson is a good professor overall. Class can get very boring sometimes but the tests are fair. Homework is long but if you do all of it then the tests shouldn't be a surprise. The T.A you get can determine how rough this class is going to be. Even with the best T.A though don't think that its going to be a cake walk, after all it 221

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All he does is proofs in EVERY class. You can just follow along on the formula sheet for lectures and yet have no clue what's going on. His teaching of what anything actually MEANT was horrible.I think getting an 'A' in a class isn't a reason to praise a professor (yes he curves the grades). If I graded HIM on his ability to teach I'd give a 'D'.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very Fair exams, had a grasp of both how to personally understand all concepts as well as teaching the concepts. This class with an average professor would have been so much harder! Great Professor!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Went in depth with concepts. Nice guy. Not too hard if you go to class and do the clicker questions.