Ken McDowell - Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

Professor: Ken McDowell

Department: Biology

College: Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good luck if you take Mcdowell. You can tell he know his material, but he does not explain it to where you can understand it. He will answer your questions most of the time but he does get mad. He is a great lab teacher, but not a good lecture teacher. He just rushes through the material. He doesnt care if you pass or fail.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He goes into too much extra detail none of what is on his powerpoints was on his test. It was harder than it shouldve been i took a different professor and passed the same class he teaches with flying colors. Avoid this professor at all cost register for classes early so you dont get stuck with him.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He goes through the slides and does a lot of extra explaining so make sure you jot down literally everything he says because if you just take notes on the slides you wont do well on the tests. Although the book isn't used in class, it helps when studying.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1248
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He explains things very well, and makes things easier to understand than other professors. However, if you miss anything and ask him a question he will be mean and refuse to answer most of the time. Hes pretty grumpy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• 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:

He is awesome for lab. With A&P1 I never passed a lab exam I passed solely off of lecture point. I am doing great on lab exams taking him. He explains things very clearly. I thoroughly enjoy his labs.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a very difficult class material wise. It requires a lot of memorization & studying. Your grade is made up of ONLY tests and attendance is not mandatory, but if you dont go, you probably wont do very well in the class. He has his own slides he teaches from, and I personally only took notes from those. I never used the book.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would NEVER take a class with him again. He doesnt teach at all. He will read off of his power points that are impossible to follow. I have him for lab and lecture.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1147
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took him for lab for A&P. If you do not show up to class you will miss a ton of important information. Requires studying to pass. He was precise on what needed to be learned. I would take him again.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He isnt a good teacher at all. He doesnt explain anything at all, and when you really have a question he doesnt care. I recommend you picking geiman as an instructor!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Print out the slides take notes during class organize them after. I got an A and 105 on my last exam. The way he gave me time to learn it instead of memorizing has helped me so much in Patho

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

doesn't explain clearly, study guides are a waste of time, know all the material because you don't know what is going to be on the test he admittedly "writes different than he talks".... he's awful! I wish I would've dropped him when I could've. I failed my first test, did ok on the others. Because I read the book. DONT TAKE HIM, you will regret it

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I will be honest, I was skeptical of Professor McDowell based on the reviews of him. This class is hard no matter who you take, but you have to be able to put effort in and not expect an easy A. I am glad I passed and paid attention to his lectures because you NEED this information when you get to the part 2 of this course 1242, which I am in now.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I thought that McDowell was a decent professor overall. He went over everything that was on the exams but you have to pay CLOSE attention. Try not to skip any lectures because it'll definitely affect the next exam you take. Slides are online but not very specific. Gives some extra credit which helps. You really have to try hard.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO1147
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him early in the morning and he talks so slow! He is really snarky and overall was kind of a jerk. Doesn't go into detail much about well, anything.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McDowell expects a lot out of you. Class isn't mandatory, he does post the power points online, but if you want a good grade, you need to go. His exams are straight off the power points but in more detail. Studying is crucial. I am an honors student but I had to drop it, if that tells you anything. Good luck. Take someone else if you can.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've had at Sinclair. Re took this class somewhere else and received an "A", but couldn't pass one of McDowells test? He doesn't care if you do not pass, and if you have him for lab then you are pretty much on your own there too. Wouldn't recommend anyone to take him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McDowell does make this class easier will his power points and study guides. Memorize the power point slides for every exam.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is a tough class no matter who the teacher is. I think McDowell only makes it harder because his test are extremely hard, and the tests make up your entire grade. The class average on his exams were between 50-65% range. He seems to enjoy making his test hard to see how many people can pass them! I personally wouldn't recommend this teacher.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1242
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Be ready to work! Dr. McDowell is great at helping you understand the material, but also expects you to put in the work to do well. Read the book with his power points! He is always willing to talk about the material with you if you don't understand something. Self study is imperative in this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO1141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. McDowell is a great teacher! I heard lots from other students about him, but I really liked him. His lectures are great, and he does above and beyond the power point to make sure you understand the material. You do have to be there for lecture, and you do need to study for the test.