Donald Potts - University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Professor: Donald Potts

Department: Biology

College: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOE163
• 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:

Potts can be a bit dry and monotone, and the accent can be a bit tough to get though, but he definitely likes what he is teaching about and is happy to go in depth as requested by students. He is a great prof for office hours if you have any interest in even a small aspect of the course material.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOE107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Regardless of his monotone, boring lectures with long boring slides I still attended regularly.It was the most disorganized class I have EVER taken.The midterm was poorly graded and to those who cared about the results got their test regraded usually gaining 15-20 points back. Final grades were due tuesday, and yet still no grades by saturday.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

horribly disorganized class. material is interesting, but lectures were boring because he stood in one corner and rambled a lot of the time (i fell asleep a lot). was very unclear about his expectations for tests and essay. did not seem to care very much. midterm was awful but final was better due to criticism from the midterm.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO163
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The discussion is considered a lab with it's own final, used the books a lot, lots of homework and quizzes till the end, forgets to give breaks and goes over, not a hard subject but can be unclear for what he wants, just read a book and you will learn the same stuff. He posts lectures and is helpful during office hours

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOE163
• 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:

Avoid taking his class, you are paying too much money for this quality of education.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOE20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

terrible. lectures and slides incomprehensible. cant absorb much for the test. cant even grade, had to regrade b/c of his mistakes, we got ungraded midterms when we got our midterms back. doesnt show any care for the students learning, doesnt do much to help out or even show he cares.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• 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:

Probably the worst prof I've ever had. His Lectures are useless. His test was hard, you have to pick the most correct answer pretty much. Should stick to trying to get dino DNA for Jurassic Park, he seriously looks like the professor guy from Jurassic Park. His hand gestures are distracting and useless.He mumbles A LOT!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a very good professor. Uses the same notes he has been using every year (research prof). You'd think he'd get better every year? Nope. Boring. Test was tough.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a brilliant guy, BUT in lecture he crams easily a 2 quarter class over half a quarter time. his lectures are long and tedious, not to even mention the notes he projects...highest midterm grade 38/50 just looking at class data sheet OVER 65% FAILURE RATE...good luck

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Potts was very boring and longwinded. His lectures were posted online which was nice. Midterm was very short but detailed. Not a big fan.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL20C
• 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:

Professor Potts was sometimes boring, especially early in the morning, but he always used good examples, knew what he was talking about, and apparently was very helpful in office hours. If you're not a total slacker and are willing to read and study, you can do well in the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• 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:

so boring! i can't stress that enough. he also uses a buttload of notes and it's just too much. appreciate the fact that he only teaches half the class if you're taking him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy cannot lecture. He talks about things that aren't even remotely going to be on the test. His voice is monotonous and puts everyone to sleep. On a one to one basis he's a very intelligent guy, but a very bad professor. To do well on the final you MUST study the practice final he gives out, very nitpicky specific details.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO158
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

it has been 2 months. we still have no received our grades.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL158
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nice and pleasant to listen to, but very long-winded; no class breaks; really expects alot for the midterm; 10 page final paper; lectures are unplanned and class feels more like a seminar; difficult class for anyone who hasn't taken oceanography before

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO158
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

the most longwinded human being on the planet. he has no form or function to his lectures. he took an interesting subject and managed to make it intolerable.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were so boring and dry that I fell asleep everyday and so I ended up not going and teaching myself everything. His tests are really specific and look for stupid little details.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very boring lectures and easy to fall asleep. Tone of voice very monotone and makes an interesting subject into a dull and boring lecture. A midterm and a final and a couple assignment along with section attendance/participation. Exams were very difficult and graders were picky about answers (wants detail answers). Take with Pogson/Doak instead.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very boring and easy to fall asleep during. The tests are hard and focus on things that are not in the book. Sections and reading help a lot in the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO20C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Potts is really educated on his subject. I can understand where people are coming from when they say he is dry, but I mean, come on... ecology isn't exactly as exhilerating as one would hope ANYWAYS. The powerpoints are definitely lame, but helpful because they are online.