Barron Arenson - Mesa Community College

Professor: Barron Arenson

Department: TBD

College: Mesa Community College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very dull lecturer, does not inspire students at all. His method of teaching consists of handing you already completed problems so you get no hands on experience in class. Plan on learning from the textbook. Also, He requires you to stay an hour later than class ends on test days, so don't plan on taking any classes an hour after his...

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I received an A in his class. I had to work way more than I should have for it. His notes and lectures are not helpful at all. I had to teach myself everything. He is very picky about exams and left me feeling cheated. If you can manage to teach yourself the homework perfectly you'll do fine. But it is not easy, and is time consuming.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHY112
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hands down the WORST teacher I've ever had. That includes at MCC and the University I attended. To go into detail would take much too long, but to cut to the chase I could easily have learned more and made a better use of my time purely studying a physics book or youtube lessons. Lectures are a waste of time, AVOID HIM IF POSSIBLE. You'll thank me.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable about physics, but not the greatest teacher of physics. Fails to understand his audiences' level of understanding, and races through the problems so fast that you can hardly write them down before he's onto the next. The problems on the test are not extremely difficult, but solving them exactly the way he wants is very difficult.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are way ahead of when the tests are and gives pre worked problems on handouts for almost all lectures. He goes fast so its difficult if you do not already have an understanding of the concept. 5 point homework quizzes every week, you have to teach yourself. His lab is good, Its pretty easy, very direct but he isn't always in the room.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had 3 A's this semester including a perfect 100% in Calculus, but still got a D in his class. Extremely difficult teaching style!! Does not quiz nor test on what he is covering in lecture. Instead he lectures about three chapters ahead and quizzes on stuff from the past. He is old school. Smart , but not the greatest physics prof. Beware4.0ers

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHY112
• 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:

Antiquated teaching style. Doesn't know how or chooses not to use computers or ppt, hands out mass amounts of handouts that have been Xeroxed over and over from the begging of his teaching career. If you want a teacher that teaches don't take his class. Tests are incredibly hard and nothing like hw problems or text. Get a tutor early, teach urself

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHY112
• 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:

Antiquated teaching style. Doesn't know how or chooses not to use computers or ppt, hands out mass amounts of handouts that have been Xeroxed over and over from the begging of his teaching career. If you want a teach that teaches don't take his class. Tests are incredibly hard and nothing like hw problems or text. Get a tutor early, teach urself

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Arenson is a terrible teacher, however he does love physics and is a nice person. when you ask questions he answers in unclear ways. He does not teach in the order of his handout and only vaguely touches key concepts. 65% is a B so that's saying something about the material he teaches. He makes his tests much harder than they should be. Overall bad

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• 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:

Overall Arenson is a good professor. He is very helpful if you bother to ask questions and he is a fair grader. The only problem I had with his class is that it is harder than it should be. The exams were super long and you have to consistently keep up with HW (tutoring center helped a lot). Basically you'll do well if you put the effort.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

pro: provides plenty of time for exams;cons:talks only vaguely about the concepts, mainly goes over the procedures of specific problems. virtually no class discussion, Tests, generally cover the chapters but expect stuff from PRO-ceeding chapters. I've taken the hardest classes offered,got A's; Ochem calc. Not in this class, Learn from the book

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• 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:

He really loves talking and thinking about Physics. He is also very approachable and willing to discuss any problems with you. Lecture is hit or miss. He goes over the material, but has many pre-done problems on hand outs that he goes too quickly through. Book reading needed. Many test problems are from homework, few surprises. Generous curve 50+=C

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• 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:

Dr. Arenson is great at explaining the very difficult concepts in this course. If you have any natural curiosity for physics, you will enjoy his class. Grades are based on lab reports, weekly quizzes (taken directly from text), and exams. You can drop your lowest exam grade. He also has a very generous grade scale. Loved this class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He does not teach in the order that his syllabus says. Thus doing the HW on the days it's assigned is mostly impossible unless you can learn from physics from a book. When you have to have a grading system that 56% of all points possible is still an C you probably aren't teaching very well. Be ready to teach yourself everything.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He talks and talks but it is not very helpful. You are basically expected to learn everything yourself while he quickly covers handout after handout. Plus, he doesn't make any new handouts, he just copies them year after year so the answers are already written and the sheets are messy from notes he adds every semester. Find a different teacher!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHY121
• 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:

Class is extremely difficult but Arenson makes it 10 times worse. It also depends on your learning style. Arenson talks, you listen. No interaction at all. Exams are 2-3 hours long and final is a whooping 4 hours! class is only 40 mins on MWF so exams are ridiculous!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very sweet man and very helpful; however, I had a hard time with his teaching style and found the class difficult. I had no prior experience with Physics and HATED trig- students that did have some exp. seemed to do well but I would rec. an easily Proff if Physics isn't your cup of tea to begin with.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

1st off, physics is tough so be ready to work. Arenson is a nice guy,semi fair grader and genuinely loves physics but when 75% of your students are failing every test maybe thats a clue that students are lost. Really the only people that succeed in his class are the engineering majors that have taken calc. I ended up with a C.. Barely! Need s stron

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Useless. I've taken some of the hardest classes at MCC (Calc, organic chemistry) and I could not pass this class. He passes out countless worksheets, talks about physics but does not TEACH the physics needed. If I had the time to teach myself what was needed out of the class, I would pass. But I expect a teacher to teach. He is a fair grader though

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There are pros and cons with Arenson. He is a fair grader and well prepared for lecture. He DOES NOT get the class involved in his teaching and his tests are not representative of the homework assigned. I got an A through God's help and the physics tutor center