Paul Farnham - College of the Redwoods

Professor: Paul Farnham

Department: TBD

College: College of the Redwoods

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yes, the class is difficult (90% drop rate). There are 3 exams and a final (half MC and half short answer). Think very conceptually on exams as they ask questions relating to concepts. Read all chapters and focus on the parts that relate to lectures; do the chapter homework. DO all assignments. Overall curve is >80A, 70-79B, 60-69C. Good luck.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took CHEM100 with Paul online, so I can't say much about him. His curt responses to my messages didn't make me feel comfortable reaching out to him for help, and it seemed to me he graded unnecessarily tough. However, the material was laid out well and I feel prepared for CHEM1A, so mission accomplished. He just didn't feel very available.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Farnham is one of the worst Professors I've had at CR. He does not explain things clearly, he tests on material that is not chemistry related and this class did not prepare me at all for Chem 1a. Really wish I had some knowledge on the subject before moving forward in chemistry, but if you take Farnham you will not feel prepared for Chem 1a.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Paul is hard, but he really knows his stuff. He's designed a really interesting and cool curriculum doing a lot of stuff that you would never get to do at another Junior College. Make superconductors? check. Some O-chem & distillations, Check. Great analytical chem. Very interesting, learned an awful lot. But expect to work and do a lot of math.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

By far the worst chemisty experience I've had. Lectures are confusing and go off topic, often using the entire lecture time going off on a tangent. Lab manuel was a copy-paste disaster with hand written notes. The labs didnt always work and we did O-Chem labs that left us confused. Dont think because I got a D that I didnt try, I did very much try.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I think a lot of students think that since chem 100 is an entry level class that they won't have to put much time into studying, which is a good way to fall behind. He likes math, it's in every assignment so be ready plus the final is no joke study for that too.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• Grade Received: P
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't try asking him a question, he is condescending in his responses online, wont answer all your questions you ask him and chooses to only answer a few of the questions you ask via the sakai messages. Expects you to be Merlin the Mind Reader. Grades your problems and gives takes points off w/out saying why. I can not recommend him to anyone.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• 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:

Chem 100 is a challenging class for science entry students; however, Paul makes the subject clear and palatable. Poor grades are not a reflection of Paul, they are a reflection of a student who does not put in the expected 8 hours out-of-class work. The tests and book are great prep for Chem 1A. it also weeds out those not able for science majors.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Completely confusing when he writes his tests/gives assignments. Finally went to a chem tutor through the school cause I was failing, and the chem tutor didn't even understand why he did things the way he does. If you aren't a chem genius get tutoring RIGHT AWAY, don't wait until a month in. He's a nice guy, I just can't stand his teaching.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor is incomprehensible. he tests on subjects BEFORE he lectures on them. His tests are from any portion of the book you were supposed to read not what he lectures. Cant find him out of class. Refuses to answer questions instead refers to the pages in the book you should read. A horrible man and professor. avoid like the plague.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• 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:

Gives practical examples of how chemistry can be applied. Paul knows his stuff and is an effective teacher. It's a tough subject, but if you go to class and takes notes, read the text, do the homework, and study you should do ok.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• 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:

not helpful at all

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• 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:

Good class, cool stories, labs ran late, hard to get a hold of Paul outside of class. Knows what he's doing. READ THE BOOK. Tests often have something on it we didn't really cover, or that we should have known from the book, or are conceptual and test on us if we actually know whats going on. Hard but fun. Did not like the tests.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Paul makes chemistry exciting

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM100
• 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:

I feel like Paul had a hard time "dumbing" himself down for my chem 100 class. He moved quickly, and most of the time expected us to teach the book to ourselves and then maybe go over some questions the next day. Very different from the usual class pattern I'm used to. His grading system is...undefined. (there was no syllabus).

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CEHM2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paul is great professor, grading bit ambiguous. Exams are not from test bank, tests overall understanding of book/lectures. DO ALL CH.EXERCISES IN BOOK!! Assigns homework probs, but ch.exercises more helpful. Farnham has oodles of knowledge and great local envir.resource. Looks bit like Robert Redford kin.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1AB
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Paul is a great guy. I just read that someone thinks he will not accommodate a disabled student. That is not true. Paul bent over backwards to accommodate me with my disability. Even let my wife come to class and take my notes. He was very helpfull in every respect. His lectures were great. His test are impossible. I changed my major after!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

What a horrible professor. Seriously. This guy's terrible.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Paul has been teaching for forty years. If you don't get I doubt the problem is his teaching ability. Paul is cool.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great class!!! The lectures are very clear and the demonstrations are very interesting and fun. chem is hard but yu can learn alot if you study.