David Gerdes - University of Michigan

Professor: David Gerdes

Department: TBD

College: University of Michigan

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Gerdes is outstanding and really cares about the students. The lectures and great and he is happy to help outside of class. I just didn't like how the class is set up, having 6 quizes instead of midterms. I think a normal midterms schedule is much better for students to be able to prepare for.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gerdes is a real treat. I've had days where I didn't goto any class except this simply because of how enjoyable lectures can be! He gives great feedback and wants to make sure we, his students, get an A in the class. Also, he posts pictures of his cute dogs xD

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While Professor Gerdes is great person, he is not that great at explaining concepts. When Dr. Winn took over our section for two weeks I understood the material much more. Definitely choose Dr. Winn over Prof. Gerdes. That's not to say I didn't like Gerdes. He was much funnier and engaging than Winn, but does that really help you get the A?

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The best physics and math proffesor I have ever had. Explains concepts clear and the quizes are not hat hard. Easy B class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Gerdes did a phenomenal job while teaching my class. I never skipped any of his 9 am lectures because they taught me so much. Unfortunately, he broke his leg 2/3 into the semester and Prof. Winn taught us. (Winn was pretty good as well, but I liked Gerdes better). Watch the prelectures, they're extra credit and the pictures they use help.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• 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:

Gerdes is an amazing professor. I had him at 9am and he was amazing enough for me to get up. While I had him in his research he discovered a dwarf planet, so one of the lectures he taught us about that which was cool. For the last third of the semester that I had him, he broke his ankle, so Professor Winn taught my class, and Gerdes was way better.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Gerdes is really funny in lectures and helpful during office hours. He made physics 240 easy to understand. There are lots of iclicker questions in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Excellent teacher that really cares about the students. Gives 6 quizzes instead of midterms, worth 10% of grade each (lowest score is dropped). If you pay attention in lecture and do the hw you'll do fine

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Really funny and really knows what he is doing. Very engaging class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gerdes is actually quite funny at times which makes lecture more enjoyable. He certainly knows his stuff and is always clear and makes sure he covers all material that students are tested on. Personally I never went to his OHs but he seems like he would be helpful! I enjoyed him as a prof; he respects students well and really enjoy teaching.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHY240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gerdes is a good professor. Really helpful powerpoint slides. Be prepared to use your iclicker a lot.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was as dope as two rapers. He had lots of cool demos and it was a fun class. He also gives quizzes instead of midterms. Great class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Physics is all about understanding the concepts. If you do that, everything is doable. His guidelines and expectations are crystal clear and iclicker questions are thought provoking. Extremely helpful and intelligent.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Gerdes is actually a great lecturer. Physics 240 is going to be hard, no matter who you take it with. If you do all the work, you should have no problem getting at least a C grade. All the work they give you make it hard to fail, but it is also very hard to get an A grade. The help room is helpful if you find the right people to help you.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gerdes made 9 am lectures worth going to. He is entertaining and good at teaching the material. The quizzes are tough (averages usually in the 60s) but dropping one helps a lot. Winn and Gerdes make the class really difficult to fail as long as all the homeworks, preflights and lectures are completed.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gerdes is a great professor who is willing to help if you put forth the required effort. Workload is very appropriate for the number of credits. Quizzes may be tough, but dropping one allows you to bomb one without penalty. Overall, manageable class and the class grade distribution this year has reached an all time high in over 10 years.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gerdes is a great lecturer and want students to succeed as long as they aren't just being lazy. People have been getting higher grades recently after the midterms were replaced with quizzes. 9am 4 days a week sucks, but you gotta be there for the iclicker questions. Be prepared to work for your grade, but the class isn't as scary as advertised.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you're a non-EECS engineering major like me (I'm doing NAVARCH) and need to take PHYSICS 240 as a pre-requisite, Gerdes is not bad. You will hate the material, since it becomes too specific for anyone who isn't an EECS major, but Gerdes will keep it interesting enough to get you to go to class half the time (all the time if it's not at 9:00 AM).

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A lot of people say try to get Winn, but Gerdes is just as great. He teaches the material well and is helpful in office hours. The rumors that this class is hard is true, but if you work hard it is doable. They do give a number of C's each semester, but I find that enough people in the class really don't care and are fine with getting those grades.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was pleasantly surprised with this physics class after the horribleness that was physics 140. Great lectures overall structure of this course. Learned a heck of a lot about physics. Didn't even know how magnets worked. Just do the online assignments (take like 20 mins max) and go to class and you're good to go