John Pleasants - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: John Pleasants

Department: Biology

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do your self a favor and do not take BIO 101 with Pleasants. Honestly don't take any classes with him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO173
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The information from the class was not difficult, but the way that the professor taught the class made this course an absolute nightmare for me. The tests were extremely difficult because he would not test on key subjects, but rather cherry-pick very specific information off his slides.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

f this class. do NOT take bio 101 online with pleasants. tests are impossible and theres no extra credit.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I HATE THIS PROFESSOR. NEVER TAKE BIO 101 WITH HIM. Worst decision I have ever made was to take his course. TERRIBLE teacher.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE HIS COURSES. He is a terrible teacher. I am literally failing his course. There are WAY better bio teachers than him. He is so old so he just does not care anymore. Hardest class I have taken at ISU so far.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this class because it was basically my only option to achieve full credits at the last minute. It was the hardest class I have taken. Do not think that it will be an easy A. The grading scale is nice but it is extremely difficult.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL173
• 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:

Since Environmental Biology was an online class, you should be an independently motivated student to do well, but it's really not hard to get an A. He provides audio of online lectures that go along with lecture outlines that he provides. Just keep up with the lectures and jot extra notes on the outline. Don't forget the occasional assignments.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Test's are kind of a shot in the dark. Never really know what to expect. Lots of lectures.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL173
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were long, and it was difficult to study for tests. It was unclear what information was going to be on the tests, and no study guides were available.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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:

Honestly there are a lot of reviews saying this was difficult and it wasn't. You literally just need to watch the lectures and you're golden.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOLOGY101XV
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I study pretty hard for the WEEKLY exams for this class, but still find myself not passing them. This class is very difficult and incredibly fast-paced. If you are unable to handle a LOT of information in a VERY LITTLE amount of time, do NOT take this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I put in a reasonable level of effort for this class. I watched all of the lectures, took my own notes, and reviewed before taking any tests. The tests are very unpredictable and unreasonably wide in scope. You will have to make connections between concepts that are not evident in the material. Tests are a complete shot in the dark. Good luck.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101XW
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class is half semester and you better be on top. Idk how he does the test but they are hard. Make sure you have time if you wanna take this class

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101XW
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First weeks are easy. Then it kicks and theres a test every week, the final test had two hours of lecture that I wrote out 8 pages of notes. His study guides are bullet points, and for test 7 it was 22 pages long undetailed in bullets, this is my 2nd time and I have failed both times. He held one review session and covered 50% of the chapter. AVOID

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101XW
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ok the only reason I took this class is because I needed a class to get up to 13 credits cause I dropped a class half way through the semester and it's the worst thing I've ever done. He's a good professor don't get me wrong his lectures are interesting most of the time but his tests are extremely difficult even if you go in prepared to take it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It's a shame the tests are such shots in the dark because I really like Pleasants and his lecture style. I felt like I learned a lot and actually enjoyed listening to the lectures and felt prepared going into about every single one of the 8 exams and the final.. hardly ever to even manage a B. Learned a lot, but probably shouldn't have taken online

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was a nightmare. If you suck at biology or anything science related like I do, I would recommend you taking the in class section instead of the online section. He didn't make time to meet with you and when you contact him for help he basically just said figure it out. The tests are extremely difficult and that's what most of the grade is

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Unless you have extensive bio background, do NOT take the online section with Pleasants. The lectures are honestly good and he makes them fairly interesting but the 8 exams which are worth about 85% of the grade are extremely tough and unpredictable. I have a 3.7 in ChemE so I consider myself a decent student.. but this class will have you guessing

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Regret taking this class. The lectures are very very boring and tests are hardly ever over what you've learned.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Bio 211 online and it was difficult because I did not put in time. ONLY TAKE IT ONLINE IF YOU DON'T PROCRASTINATE! His test are based on the lectures, but if you do not listen to all the lectures you will not do well. Take time to actually listen to all the lectures throughout the week before the test. Test are usually given every 2 weeks.