Michael Abler - University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

Professor: Michael Abler

Department: Biology

College: University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved Abler, this was a tough class. However, he did a great job at trying to explain the material clearly and really tried to help the students as much as possible. So far one of my favorite professors at UWL.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Abler is kind and caring, but his lectures are tough. You will learn a lot of material in a short amount of time, so it is important to go to as many lectures as you can. His Powerpoints are mostly figures, so you have to listen for important points and write them down because what is provided on D2L is not sufficient for studying on your own.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO432
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this class because I thought it'd be interesting, and it was. BUT. It was, by far, the most difficult class I've EVER taken. I'm a senior, and I would not recommend this class to anyone, let alone this teacher. He was somewhat kind, but extremely intimidating and talked really fast. Tests were very difficult. This class takes a LOT of work.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Abler is very knowledgable, however, he very much expects his students to learn a lot of material in a very short amount of time. His tests are tough, and the content is harder. Reading the book and working through the study guides helps. He is accessible outside of class, and is a generally nice individual. Read outside of class!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nice human, terrible lecturer. I would be more interested in watching a banana rot than sit through another lecture.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is designed to weed you out. Be prepared to not finish exams in the allotted 55 minutes. Professor is very intelligent, but that does not make him a good teacher. If you ever wondered what a tenured proffessor acts like then the stereotype is fulfilled in this class. Please avoid , I wish someone would have given me this advice.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO432
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terribly unspecific. Lectures are just slides with no words and tons of extra material, so it's hard to know what he wants you to know, and he won't tell if you ask. No review material, nothing to focus your studying on. The only way to get a good grade in the class is to read the book cover to cover, which goes into way more detail than we need

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's not very merciful when it comes to grades, but he is still a good professor. Make sure to take good notes and pay attention to how the questions are worded in the tests and exams. Sometimes I'd misread them and I'd get the whole thing wrong. Overall I'd say the class was fairly reasonable. It was a tough subject.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good professor for a tough class. He makes you work for it, and the tests sometimes include obscure points (so study hard and pay attention) but he's very clear in lecture.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests are really challenging. You will do most of the learning on your own from the book because it is hard to follow what he is talking about.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really disliked this subject in general. It's hard to take notes b/c you basically have to copy don't everything he says since there are no words on the slides just figures. He grades homework really hard taking off a lot of points for simple mistakes. You need to read the chapters to complete understand the material that he goes through quickly

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was scared to take Abler's class after reading the reviews, but he was one of my favorite profs. Power points are only figures and tables from the book, so note taking is a must. I suggest doing his study guides and suggested problems to do well!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Abler is great! One of my favorite teachers at UWL. A lot of people have written not the greatest reviews but I disagree with them. This is a challenging course but I learned so much and had fun doing it. He is super approachable and really wants you to learn. He teaches not just from PowerPoints but more like a story. I would 100% recommend.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• 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:

very good instructor. exams can be a little tough but if you do his study guide and practice problems you'll be fine. loved this class and look forward to taking a class with him again!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

As a senior (biology major) Dr. Abler was sub par. He shows little enthusiasm for the subject, and mainly lectures from text book figures. He's just not good. It's not too difficult to get a good grade, but If you want to go to class and actually learn something, take a different professor. Majority of learning comes from reading book.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• 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 is a very intelligent professor, he's hard but if you put the work in like you're supposed to in college and you will be fine. I got an AB, and I worked hard for it. It's not meant to be easy and it's a lot of outside learning. I wouldn't mind taking him again. He was very approachable outside of class as well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most arrogant person I have ever met! Not very efficient in his teaching. He lectures as if his students were his fellow genetics nerd colleagues and does not realize students take the class be use they are not experts yet! Very arrogant and makes you feel like the dumbest of all creatures if you ask a question and doesn't give a useful answer.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Genetics actually interested me before I took this class. Abler made everything so confusing and expects students to study for at least 3 hours a night to understand the material. The tests are impossible and lectures are pointless. The only way to pass is to read the book and pay attention in lab.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO306
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Abler has by far been the best teacher I have had at UWL. Very approachable to talk to in office hours, great notes to follow along with in class, and clear cut information for the exams. It's an upper level bio course so it will always require extra time, but i would highly recommend him!

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I was soo excited to take genetics, but was soo disappointed after taking Abler. He teaches to you like you already have a full understanding of the material. You have to read and understand the text in order to follow what he says. Not a bad guy though, just not very good at teaching.