Simon Pennington - Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA

Professor: Simon Pennington

Department: Art History

College: Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ART002B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took his online Art History course. Very mediocre. Not a difficult class, but he's pretty hands off. You read the text book and watch a lot of long, dull, and dated videos. Assignments are due Sunday night for the most part, which is great if you work during the week. Grades are always late. If AH is your passion find a good lecturer instead

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ART002B
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Put in work and effort, there's not a big margin for missing assignments. I did well on writing assignments but flopped at remembering to do discussion posts and some 16 point assignments, building up to me losing out on 80 points. Don't take him if you know youre not at your best academic being.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ART01
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've taken at Foothill. He gives clear grading criteria, lectures were fun and he's a very intelligent guy. He cares about his students a lot and tells you what you need to study on for the tests! Take his class and you'll love it!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ART1
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are very interesting and he makes art history very relevant. He is really nice and approachable outside of class. Not a lot of reading and tests are easy but, you have to show up to be eligible for extra credit.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ART001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took Art 001 Online and it was an overall do-able class. There are weekly class discussions worth 6 points; 3 points for posting a response to prompt and 3 more to respond to a student. There's a total of 11 class discussions & you have do all 11 of to be able to do the EC. Overall, there's weekly discussions, museum paper, midterm, final.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ART1
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are interesting and engaging. Tests and assignments are easy if you keep up with the reading. Interesting material and overall a fun class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ART2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's just the best art teacher I have ever had! Clear as it is possible to be, very knowledgeable, he always gives inspiring lectures and his lab projects are entertaining too.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ART002B
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The material itself is not overly difficult. Its the AMOUNT of homework assigned. At least 2, 1 hour videos , 2 discussion posts, 1 'Short' essay, and vocabulary questions per WEEK. There is one 5 page paper due. One midterm and 1 final (each include 5-6 SHORT ESSAYS). He always responds to emails in a few days. Grading takes him a long time.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ART001
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What a frustrating class. I am a straight A student, and I consistently receive B and C grades from this professor. I am not an Art student, but I'm doing the best I know how and it's not good enough. If he disagrees with my interpretation and it's not in line with his thoughts, i'm dinged for it. I do not recommend taking him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: F001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

What I really like about Professor Pennington is that he provides audio feedback to his online students. I feel like I'm learning a lot as well, since his lectures are clear and not too long. What I don't like is that it takes a long time for him to grade assignments. He's constantly saying he will have them to us tomorrow, but they never come. (

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ART01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I felt for being a GE class, Mr. Pennington grades way too tough. I am a good student and have gotten A's or high B's. But this class is a week from being over and i have a C-. Also some of the comments he makes when grading your stuff can come across as rude or arrogant. I would not take a class by him again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ASIANART
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a nice teacher and takes the time to give you feedback on assignments. I found his class very difficult. If you struggle with writing, I would recommend finding another teacher. Each week you have to write mini essays and the midtermfinal is essay based. You also have to write a "short paper" which is 4 to 5 pages long.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ART2F
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very helpful teacher if you take the time to email him. I am very disappointed in the way he spaces out the reading assignments (and they're necessary to do to get an A). They get progressively longer as the term goes on. Last week is three chapters of reading (more than 100 pages) as well as three movies and three modules.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: F001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Simon is a Amazing teacher. Go to every class and write down what he has on the whiteboard and listen carefully to what he says and write down when he talked about what he has up on the board. He is super helpful and funny. He will help you with your museum paper so you could get a better grade. Exams are basically what he talks about in class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ART2B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

It is a very easy and very interesting class!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ART2B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took art 2B online for winter 2015. My friend who had taken it previously said it was really hard. I didn't find it really hard but it did require some work and a lot of effort. The online class is all essay format with textbook use and assigned videos required. He wants "thoughtful" responses so make sure the paragraphs are detailed.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: F001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pannington is a hilarious man and his lectures are never boring. He makes the students watch a movie in the class and discuss the art that he shows and whoever wants can participate. I really enjoyed his class and his humor. One can get an A somewhat easily by listening the class, but reading is required too. I recommend Pennington.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ART2F
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Simon is just great! Funny, knowledgeable and willing to help. The textbook is the most boring though, thankfully it is not necessary-necessary if you make notes on lectures and go through the review sheets Simon sends every week.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ART1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Simon is the MAN! I didn't take any notes, just came and listened to him speak every class. 1 point away from an A+. He is super flexible and really wants to help you. And he has a British accent, so its entertaining just listening for a few weeks.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ARTHISTORY2A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A True Legend. I am not an art student. I am a science major. I have never took an art class before in almost 5 years. He was my first foothill professor. He revived my passion for art. He is my inspiration for striving for success. People who are rating him poorly took the online class. DO NOT TAKE ONLINE CLASSES AT FOOTHILL. Take it in person.