Harold Geller - George Mason University

Professor: Harold Geller

Department: Astronomy

College: George Mason University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Geller is very knowledgeable about Astronomy. His lectures are long & boring but it will prepare you for his tests. Go to class, participate(10% of the grade) & write his iclicker questions. His exams are made of iclicker questions. There are 4 multiple choice exam(90% of the grade). He curves the final grade. Easiest choice for non lab science

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ASTR101
• 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:

Dr. Geller is very passionate about ASTR. This is an easy A class. His lectures are boring but be sure to attend them because he gives iclicker questions and the tests are literally made of iclicker questions. Dont waste your time studying the ppt slides. Just study the iclicker. Watch out for tests dates cause he does not send reminders.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

There are 4 tests each worth 22.5% and participation worth 10% based on Iclicker questions during lectures. He is extremely boring and horribly rude. Beware of test days as he is extremely moody. His only redeeming factor is that his tests have a study guide that he goes over the class before. Study the study guide and you'll do decently.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTR113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Geller will you teach facts about everything around you. This class isn't just about the stars are planets its also about realizing your place in an ever expanding universe filled with many mysteries. He is not like your traditional blackboard BS teacher just collecting a check. Geller has a passion and he is giving it out through knowledge. 5/5

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Geller is an extremely experienced astronomy and physics professor. He has authored and co-authored several books, and is definitely an expert in the fields he teaches. The exam questions are the iClicker questions, so come to class, copy down or take pictures of the iClicker questions, study them before exams, and you'll do fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HNRS353
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Show up to class and half-pay attention and you'll do great. He's an interesting professor and usually opened up class with 15 minutes of his twitter feed (sounds lame, but was actually kinda fun and it killed time). Cares about the students and science. Pretty easy A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All lectures with iclicker questions for 10% of grade and some extra credit points. Most of grade comes from 3 tests and final, he provides study guides with questions that are on the test verbatim so just fill those out and you'll do fine. Never even opened the textbook so don't bother. Showing up helps but PPTs are online too.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easy Class. Show up to class to do the Iclicker questions since that is 10% of your grade. You can find all the answers on the various quizlets posted online. Study those same quizlets for the 4 exams he has. Cake class; he curves a ton at the end!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I did not like taking this professor. I attended almost every class and participated in the iclickers, but it really was not interesting for me. People interested in astronomy or science might like it more. You dont really need the textbook. If you do the work youll be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A sweetheart, hes super smart and pretty much the only professor who is able to dumb it down for gen ed students taking a science class who arent necessarily STEM skilled. Attendance is key (though all PowerPoints are online) because of the iClicker questions being the only grades you can earn aside from the 3 tests and final.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For being a 100 level class, this was a tough one. Geller is an extremely intelligent guy, but he almost expects you to know about astronomy, even if you don't. There are 3 tests that are 50 questions each, and a final that is 100 questions. Uses iClicker to ask questions as well as a way to take attendance.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No homework, class attendance is pretty much mandatory for your own good as you need to answer questions on your iClicker that count for a grade and a lot of those same exact iClicker questions are on the exam (even though he says they r not at the beginning of the semester, memorizing them is helpful). Boring class and he is unapproachable.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It is just a very lecture heavy class. Come to class every time because you get a participation grade for Iclicker Questions. Graded on 3 tests (50 multiple choice), iclicker participation, and a final (100 multiple choice)! If you complete the study guides/ practice questions you will do well on the tests!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A class you can sort of nod off in as long as you're keeping track of the iClicker questions in class - they appear on the test. If you want to pay attention, great! If you don't, great!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gellers class is pretty straightforward. Come to class, do the iClicker questions to get participation grade, study them for the exam, and youre good.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AST111
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Almost the entire grade is made up of exams with 10% being iclicker participation in class. You have to study a lot for each exam or you will not pass.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HNRS353
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you're interested in astrobiology, definitely take this class. Dr. Geller is very knowledgeable about almost everything related to astrobiology - I learned so much. The final is take home, but there is a 6000+ word term paper. Easy class, would recommend

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't miss iclicker questions and seriously study the old exams he puts on his website. Get used to checking his website for grades not blackboard. Unapproachable, but seemingly flexible if extenuating circumstances call for retakes.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The only things graded are three tests and a final, as well as iClicker questions which are for a grade and can be extra credit. Sitting through the class is pretty boring but worth it for the extra credit points.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTR103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Gellar is a kind and genuine person but his lectures are not very intriguing. The textbook is not necessary; answer the iClickers, take photos of them and record the answer (iClickers are both mandatory and extra credit). He uses his own website and doesn't send out emails so remember test days. Study his past tests, iClickers, and Quizlet.