Ray Spear - SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Professor: Ray Spear

Department: Biology

College: SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO119
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I liked biology with spear. He wasn't the most lively guy but what do you expect when they are basically there to read off notes and add a little here and there. You have to definitely study in order to pass.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It was a very challenging class to take. He strictly relied on the textbook for understanding the concepts that are difficult and during lectures, if someone asks a question, he wouldn't explain it in an easy and understandable way. I would say to keep reading, find outside help (tutoring and videos) to pass the class or get what you wanted.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy should get more respect than students give him... Phenomenal teacher and really smart guy. Do the work and you'll get the grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO119
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ray's role in this semester flipped from being harder than O'Donnell to being surprisingly easier in terms of test material. The final was exceptionally easy, and I have never felt so good after leaving a test in general. Read the textbook! You will get nowhere without it. He is very nice.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Spear is a little dry in lecture. He's a decent teacher though. Do the practice exam for the final!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is super easy. His lectures are boring, but if you do the mastering biology assignments, he takes the exact questions and uses them on the test

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy is all over the place. The syllabus says one thing and he does another. He is fairly simpler than O'Donnell (Who teaches the first half of the class). The book will probably help more than his lectures. Also, very boring.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL117
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A decent instructor, except his in-class notes do not cover everything and tend to jump around, and his lecture style is hard to pay attention to. Eager to help students. Personally, I didn't need his lectures and was able to keep up with the class just by reading the book.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL105
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

NOT A BAD GUY, the class demands diligence. This isn't high-school. Best econ course I've taken. I've only been to class a couple times bc I can't learn in-class, but the guys a good teacher just very methodical he needs a reason to be there, I think he's more bored by students than vice versa. Many misspellings in labs.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL105
• 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:

The study guides become progressively less helpful. His review sessions before tests are inconsistent (the first was pretty helpful, the second was useless, and the third literally outlined which sections to reread). He relies too much on the textbook for teaching. Tests are insanely difficult.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• 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:

Dr. Spear is horrible. He doesn't believe in his students and only tries to discourage people from staying in the major. He lies about what is going to be on his exams and doesn't help during his office hours AT ALL. He's boring, his notes are horrible, and his lectures are pointless because he teaches you things you can just read in the textbook.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• 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:

Nice guy, but this is the worst textbook I've ever encountered. It also doesn't help that he skips around chapters, so when reading a later chapter toward the beginning of the year it's hard to understand the concepts, because we never learned things in previous, unread chapters. Class is somewhat confusing and doesn't really go over that much.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL376
• 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:

Its a shame that 300 level bio classes are easier than 100 level bio classes at geneseo. Its backwards. This class isn't much work and you do well gradewise. You learn a little about the environment too! I had no interest in this area before I took the class so lectures were a little dry but spear is a cool guy!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL376
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I have no interest in this subject whatsoever, but this course is designed for seniors who don't care anymore. He'll find ways to make your answers work and give you a 90 on a test if you barely answer things - it's great. SUPER nice guy. Boring lectures, but worth it for the lack of work any real work you have to do.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECLAB1
• 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:

I took spear for intro to bio and thought he was pretty boring, but took him for ecology lab and he was awesome. TAKE HIM FOR LAB!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• 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:

He's a nice professor but can indeed be boring in his lectures. However, that's just the way he speaks imo. He's actually very passionate about biology and knows what he's talking about. Listen to his powerpoints in class if you didn't understand the reading from the textbook. His tests are fair as he gives you enough materials to do well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL204
• 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:

An extremely nice guy and will help you with absolutely anything. Not into ecology, but YOU SHOULD TAKE IT for an easy/fun elective lab. Only 4 labs, each with a report but it is split between you and your partners which really doesn't require an outside of the class meeting, just emails. Not hard to get an A-. Hate R but not used extensively.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• 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:

BORING. Not a hard class if you read the textbook but coming to class is pointless since his powerpoints come right from the textbook company so you don't learn anything new. Asks a few random questions on tests but otherwise tests aren't too bad. Takes forever to put quiz grades on myCourses. A nice professor just very dull.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL119
• 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:

Spear is a very nice guy and is willing to help you with any issues/problems you may have. That said he is EXTREMELY boring-his powerpoints are terrible, prs questions are random, his voice is monotone, quizzes are ridiculously hard, and he will succeed in putting you to sleep 5 min into class. Not the worst prof to get stuck with-read the textbook

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL119
• 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:

Monotone. Excessively boring. Terrible quizes and homework question. Random (PRS) questions. Very boring plant material covered. Nearly useless information unless interesting in being a Biology Professor.