Tom Isern - North Dakota State University

Professor: Tom Isern

Department: History

College: North Dakota State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST431
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

there is quite a bit of homework and reading but if you do the work you won't have any trouble passing. You get to use your notes for quizzes and there are no tests. it's not bad at all.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class for fun, but it was one of the most boring classes I have ever taken. He mainly talks about his own experiences. He also rants that he's a conservative and "America is turning into a godless country". Waste of time.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST390
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring, but nice guy!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is the laziest professor I have ever had. Don't expect him to remember your name, or even to get your assignments graded in a timely manner. You have to keep tabs of your own participation points and he conducts grading and points over Facebook. Dr. Isern is, however, a great lecturer and tells wonderful stories.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 431
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Students have to grade their own work and he has a Teaching assistant that does the rest of his job. All he does is put up a powerpoint and talk about the places he has been to on the Great Plains. He may truly love the plains but his lectures are boring and seem to only focus on the white men of the plains. Students shouldnt have to do his job.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I have never liked History, and I absolutely adore this class. Prof. Isern's lectures are clear, interesting, and unbiased. I feel like I'm listening to a long, interesting story for credit. I would absolutely take a class of his again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

...keeps students on toes...clear on what is expected of them...uses song to set historical placing...guest speakers and vintage films to keep class fresh...suggests cultural events and sites for deeper understanding of sense of place...offers Service Learning where actual historical work is done...easy-going nature makes difficult concepts clear..

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Probably one of my favorite classes in my college career. Highly recommend prof Isern. Great guy!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Contract-based grading system w/ no tests. You need to post A LOT of random assignments to the blog. CLASS IS BORING and a waste of time. Focus is on folklore; not history. I honestly haven't learned anything useful in this class. The blog is clumsy and difficult to navigate. You have to track your own attendance and grades. Don't choose Isern.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! No tests only short in class quizzes that are open notes! I would recommend this class for anyone who needs to finish a humanities elective!!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor is a good teacher in that he knows a lot of information about the topic and is willing to share what he knows. I really enjoyed the class. There are no tests or exams but there are required readings and required postings on a blog. If you keep up with the work you'll have no problem. Great teacher and great guy!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This teacher is boring and the course would be easy for middle school. To much random work and no real learning.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST103
• 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: N/A

Comment:

I learned a lot in this class. Dr. Isern has a way of having the student learn a lot without causing much stress.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Interesting lectures, class is not stressful though. Learned a lot in this class

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

It's a super easy class if you show up, take notes, and do the reading stuff. There are a lot of little things you have to do too but if you stay on track its an easy A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very cool, just show up for class and do online participation and you are good for an A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, knows what he's talking about and very helpful. His passion for teaching shows in his lectures.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't listen to those who complain, this guy is pretty cool. I didn't have much interest in history, but he teaches it from a different prospective. Some lectures are a little boring, but stick with it, participate and you will like it!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST103
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Great teacher,Highly suggested, Great communicator wonderful ethics.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was really looking forward to this class before it started. When I found out it was all about participation and posting crap on the internet I thought it was a complet joke. He doesn't know how to teach history in a fun, not boring way. Lectures are good but through some other activities in. BORING BORING BORING