George Spiegelman - University of British Columbia

Professor: George Spiegelman

Department: TBD

College: University of British Columbia

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• 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:

A great prof. Very fair, the online quiz answer are given to you after you tried it once, so you can re-do it for a perferct marks. Make sure you do the pre-reading prior to the lectures, so you dont get lost with what he is talking about. This happens alot, people dont do well on exam as they try to learn everythin just before the test. Easy class

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard work will get you nowhere with this prof. You will only do well if you have already taken 2nd year BIOL or you already have a clear understanding of the material. Doing peerwise questions, detailed explanations of the learning objectives, and weeks of studying will get you nothing. It's like he enjoys you being in over your head all the time.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After doing really poorly on the first midterm I asked Professor Spiegelman what I could do to study better, he told me to go through the learning objectives and try more peerwise questions - I studied for weeks in advance using his advice and did even worse on the second. There is no winning with this man.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He makes you feel like you're in over your head, and then he keeps you there.You spend so much time doing obscure activities as his way of "getting you to think" and work with the material, but you will have no idea what you're supposed to have learned. I did really poorly in this class regardless of how hard I tried, and I had +90% in other BIOs.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Since he teaches with powerpoint the notes go by very fast therefore not possible pass base solely on written notes in class. Make sure to do the prereadings because this course is not easy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Best prof for what I felt was the hardest course I've ever taken! Would sometimes contradict himself in lectures, and went really fast; keep up with the readings and think CRITICALLY if you want to do well, or at least pass the course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• 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:

Very nice and charismatic. Explains things well, and stimulates interest in whatever topic he presents.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Enthusiastic and tried to make things more interesting. Many considered him the best compared to the other BIOL 112 profs, but let's just say the standard was pretty low. Was not a bad lecturer, but the course itself was terribly designed (and he was the one who designed it). Exam questions are similar to clicker questions in format.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is enthusiastic about the course

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• 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:

This class is difficult, but he does approach it in an effective way if you put the effort that is needed for the course. goes through the slides fast, assuming you did the pre reading. wants you to use most of class time to apply that material in the activities and ask questions about the course content. Stresses the L.O.s A LOT! Hint,hint.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best 1st year prof you'll ever find.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He would be one of the only two teachers that I would tell you to avoid in first year. He went way too fast. Although I did ok in this class but that's only because I sacrificed physics.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

Don't get behind on the readings or you will be completely lost. His clicker questions are really helpful but the assignments we did in class were sometimes hard (but you got marked on participation). I was dreading this course and thought it would ruin my summer but I actually enjoyed it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not as bad as people suggest. I think most people have problems with the course, not him. His multiple choice require thinking sometimes, and can be tricky if you read them over too quickly. I found most of the questions relatively obvious after I understood what the question was asking

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lecture is fun and helpful with lots of clicker questions that are definatly help you on exams!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

Spiegelman is a GREAT professor. As long as you keep up with the course, it isn't difficult to understand. He's very accommodating, and his exam questions are strictly based on the material provided. He's big on in class activities, which if you're prepared for are very helpful. There is no trick to the course. Just pre-read for every lecture :)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

For those leaving bad comments, you have yet to grasp the concept of a university level course. Spiegelman is a genius, to say the least. He has his B.Ed, so the problem isn't his teaching. To understand his lectures you have to do pre-class readings - which is to be expected. As long as you're prepared, he's really accommodating and a great prof.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I dont think hes a good prof. he seemed really arrogant. His lecture notes are useless.. he just schemes over them without taking the time for thourough explanation. His exams are RIDICULOUSLY hard, it has nothing to do with what his notes or the readings say. but I think all bio 112 profs are like this, since bio112 is supposed to be torture.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• 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:

DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE IF YOU DONT HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!!!! After the second midterm, I was already planning my suicide scheme. This course is the hardest course I have ever taken in my entire life!!!! Completely discourages you to take any bio courses in the future. He is fine, but if the course is this difficult, it wont matter how good your prof is!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

BIOL112 is a hard first year course because of the amount of material. People may find that Spiegelman goes too fast in lectures, but he assumes that you have read all the required readings. If you go to every class and do your readings, it is a lot easier to follow in class and you get a lot more out of Spiegelman. Work hard and it will pay off!!