Neil Blackstone - Northern Illinois University

Professor: Neil Blackstone

Department: TBD

College: Northern Illinois University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very dry. He tries though which is more than some professors. It's an interesting class. I wanted to quit after the first exam since I only got 69% and I studied really hard for it. Turns out the average in the class was so low I received an A! This was the same with all of his exams. The paper is actually interesting to write and I got an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOS317
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Super, SUPER dry, but not a rude guy in any way. Entire class is just lectures - he has a script he wrote up and just reads from it. You don't need to go to class at all, you can just read them directly because he uploads them. USE THEM!! SUPER hard tests, ridiculous IMO, but he curves hugely (I got a 77% and it was an A). Learned a lot though.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOS317
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not a good teacher for a science class! Way to boring, and can barely stay awake in class. Tests are tricky and confusing, and I often have to read the question multiple times in order to even remotely begin to understand what it is asking. If you get an A+ on the rest, it means that you got a 78% or higher on the exam, but most get a 50% or lower

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOS317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love Prof Blackstone. His lectures are reposted word for word on blackboard. Lectures are pretty dry, but he cracks jokes. Grades on a nice curve, and factors your attendance/participation into your final grade. Tests are tricky, but grades arent black and white so it's pretty easy to get a good grade even after bombing a test. TAKE HIM!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 317
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall, I really enjoyed Blackstone's class. The paper is an easy A as long as you follow his guidelines. The tests are tricky, but the entire class is on a curve. He's a really nice guy and always willing out help out if you have any questions on the material. And he's actually pretty hilarious if you pay attention in lecture!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOS317
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

3 Exams and a paper. Final not cumulative. Although the lectures may be boring at times, they do help for the exams. Professor Blackstone is a very smart and interesting instructor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really only necessary to go to class on Fridays when he gives the question of the week (a test question) otherwise all the notes are word for word online and the lectures are very boring. Just study the lectures and mildly read the chapters and you'll pass the exams. Only one paper, very easy.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Most boring teacher I have ever had. He tries to make jokes and do demonstrations but they are just not interesting. Go to class on Friday and get the question of the week because you'll need it for exams. Don't buy the book because you don't hardly use it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lifts lectures right from the textbook, posts all lectures word for word online. Go to class Fridays (he gives out test questions and answers on Fridays) and on demo days. Other than that, don't bother going to class...the lectures are boring as sin. Only grades are 2 tests, a 3 paragraph paper, and the final exam. Not challenging.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOS317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very excellent professor. Lecture is very boring at times, depending on your individual attention span. I hardly went to lecture but his lecture notes cover almost 100% of what he talks about, which is also clarified in the textbook. I bought an earlier edition of the textbook and read the corresponding chapters and I did alright in the course.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOS317
• 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:

One of the most approachable professors I've had while at NIU. Like others have said he knows the material very well and if you attend class he explains everything you need to know for exams if you listen. At points it can get boring, but most classes are like that at some point or another during a semester. One of the best professors I've had!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• 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:

Mr. Blackstone is a very smart guy, but his class is very boring. He tries to make it cooler with the demonstrations, but it's still just really boring. Good things are: no attendance and he's just a cool guy overall. Nice and helpful. Easy class, overall. Just use the online notes, and if you miss any, he'll email you ALL the ones you need!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He knows his material and is up to date on related current events. Can sound boring sometimes and make you fall asleep (even if you r trying to stay awake). Everything you need to know is in his lecture outlines.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Blackstone is not a very exciting teacher, but he knows his material and is very knowledable. His tests are alright as long as you study. I would recommend printing out each of the notes and using the book to study from for exams. Exams are from his notes and follow the paper guidelines and you will get 100 on the paper.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO337
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Honestly the MOST boring prof at this school, the worst class I have taken in my entire college career. It is an insult to NIU as a learning institution. Everyones final complaint is that they didnt learn anything!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class if you have no interest in environmental science at all. He is extremely boring and doesn't make an effort to help you when you ask for help. Lecture notes are very lengthy and is difficult to study from. He will bore the heck out of you!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

hes a cool guy but attendance is mandatory. if you fail its soley on you.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• 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:

As a freshman taking his course, he was understanding and helped me out with materials i wasnt getting. His voice can put you to sleep, but he is one of the most understanding and nicest professors at northern. I would deff suggest him if you have no interest in biology, he takes it easy

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

as long as you read the course notes and studied the reading you were fine. Mr. Blackstone himself was very nice.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOS106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

he has a very boring voice, so it is difficult to stay awake during lectures; however, he is very knowledgeable about biology. his tests are easy and fair. just download the course notes every day of lecture and study those for the exams.