Mike Medler - Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Professor: Mike Medler

Department: Geography

College: Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENVS429
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pyrogeography is Medler's baby and it really shows in his enthusiasm for the class. The entire class is working towards a comprehensive fire-related group project and it's really only as difficult and complicated as you make it. Get a good group from a variety of disciplines and put a minimal amount of work in and you'll get a solid grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENVS422
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Medler is an awesome guy and a gem of the Geography/ENVS department, the new version of 422 on the other hand, not so much. This class would be very valuable if you have a dataset that is relevant and important to you. You have the ability to work with it throughout the whole quarter, particularly with the project that composes the second half.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed Medler's lectures, even though at times he would go off on long tangents. He is very knowledgable, fair and accessable for help outside of class. It is easy to do well if you go to class and do the work. I feel like he is extremely reasonable with grading and the work load isn't bad even though you have assignments due every Mon&Fr

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a good teacher, but needs to work on his personality. If you ask him for help outside of class he is rude, so you're better off talking to the TAs. Overall the class is pretty easy, there are short essays due every week. Be careful about the quizzes! You want to show up to class just in case there is a pop quiz.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very caring, weekly assignments, if you choose to show up he's hilarious and fun

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A lot of lecture time is spent on things that aren't super relevant to the actual content, however it is usually very interesting and often great information for a future career in Environmental Studies. Medler is funny and has some good stories. So long as you show up and follow the directions for the short essays you'll do fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 201ENVS
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Michael is a really nice guy, but in my opinion not the best teacher. He defiantly has a lot of knowledge and is a smart guy but lectures can get boring and he tends to go off topic a lot. He is a fair grader, and the TA does more of the grading. He is great at explaining things in office hours but often rushes of things in lecture.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You can turn in assignments a week late for one point off, which is nice, and a TA grades most of the work so it's not hard to get an A. Clarity was often lacking, however. Gave up on reading his paper prompts, and would just read the examples he provided so I'd know what to do. You get a lot of freedom to write about your field of interest though.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 201ENVS
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Has every quality I enjoy in a professor. He's there to help you and is very passionate about what he does. 10/10 would take again.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Medler was an awesome professor. He has so much knowledge,I highly recommend him. Easy homework every week and no tests. Sometimes, he gives really amazing lectures that venture out further than environmental studies, which is refreshing. Most of the time though, they are pretty long and could be summed up in much shorter of a time. no textbook

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class lectures are boring, and there's only really 10-20 mins total of actual note taking worthwhile each day. No textbook :) HW: basically your whole grade, a discussion & a short essay always on news articles each week. TA's guaranteed, they are helpful. 2 short in class quizzes total, not bad at all if you study! kinda boring class, but easy A.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great class, easy but I learned a lot. His lectures are hilarious.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

talk to anybody who has taken the class in person. this class is lame. boring rambling lectures. a bunch of gobblyguk that makes no sense. he is impatient if you go during office hours. ignore the good ratings, they are suspicious because it's not what anybody who took the class really thinks. i learned nothing. easy A however!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher and amazing class. He does a great job integrating real world scenarios into each lector that are fascinating. I learned so much. He is also hilarious! Definitely would recommend this class to anyone.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ESTUV201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I actually really liked Medler's class and found it interesting and useful.i feel that these negative reviews really do not reflect the experience I had.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 201ENVS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Medler did very poorly teaching. Nothing was clear to students when explained and when asking for further help we were referred to use google. Maybe if he taught the class or did anything i and others would have learned. This class is really self taught, with little help or explanation to students from Medler. It should just be an online course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is very easy. It's just the basics of data to give a foundation for the field. I'm now a envs major. This class is what you make it. You could easily not go and be fine, but you can get something out of it if you want to. Medler is very accommodating. his grading is 8 weekly assignments that make up 80% and 20% final. RECOMMEND!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENVS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I went into this class totally excited about envs;however, Medler changed my mind on the topic. He is an easy grader and is a pushover. He is awful at explaining things, luckily the test are easy enough to get by if you have some idea of what he is talking about. He just rambles on, so I spent more than half the class on pinterest and still passed.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: EGEO450
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Medler is a tool. He doesn't even know how to use GIS. If you need help he just sends the TAs. Stefan is the only person qualified to teach GIS. He thinks he's funny, but he's really just corney.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: EGEO350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Medler doesn't make any effort to teach... totally useless... avoid