Don Breakwell - Brigham Young University

Professor: Don Breakwell

Department: TBD

College: Brigham Young University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO151
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed the class. Dr. Breakwell is accomodating for the most part. The grading by the end of the Covid-19 Winter 2020 semester was unfair, though. Something went wrong on Canvas, giving me a B+. I would have just taken MMBIO221 instead of this class had I known this. He also has a temper. It doesn't come out much, but it's there.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Based on past ratings, he seems to change every semester. But even though you're graded on a few things, the tests were really easy. He's got practice quizzes and cheat sheets as good resources for studying for the tests. He goes way more in depth in class than he tests on, which is nice. Only a couple of assingments. He's a cool guy.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Breakwell is great, but I didn't like Microbial Ecology with him. He was a lot better for MMBIO 151/221. All we did in MMBIO 363 was read tons of research articles about different elements of ecology and the readings were LONG and pointless. The tests were open book/note, but poorly written (questions were odd). I don't recommend this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures can be pretty boring and he gives way way more info than what is on the test usually. Sometimes he takes test questions straight from the slides though, so that can be useful. His class is ok.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Breakwell is clear in his expectations because its all in his powerpoints and cheat sheets. I missed a lot of class for interviews this semester, but I should reasonably end up with at least a B. Lots of points throughout course, so its nice if you bomb something. Lecture is fine, and helpful, but I got by by missing at least 1/3.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• 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:

Dr. Breakwell is awesome, this is a very interesting class!! It can be harder for students who have never taken a previous biology or chemistry course. There aren't any homework assignments, but there are learning objectives for each class which highlights what you need to know for all the exams. An A is very doable in this course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Definitely a fair course. The final is quite a bit of work as you have to review a ton of old quizzes, but Breakwell gives you everything you need to succeed, and he's hilarious to boot.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Breakwell is a hilarious professor. I really enjoyed his lectures and he has a cool accent as an added bonus. Make sure to go to lectures - he wont post practice case reports on Canvas, and those are important in preparing for tests. Get the extra credit done early in the semester - youll need it. Tests are weighted pretty heavily.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is a very easy class. Most of the semester I showed up for the last 20 minutes of class and I had an A going into the final. The tests and material are very basic. However the final was a lot harder than the tests.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Breakwell has been changing how he teaches the class, and from what I he told us about his past classes, it's so much better now. As long as you give effort, do what he says and show up to class, you'll do great. Super nice and understanding, and wants to make learning the material a good experience.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Breakwell is incredible! His lectures can sometimes be a little monotone, but his passion and willingness to work with you more than make up for it! He truly wants you to succeed in his class and has fun things built into his lectures to keep you attentive. Such a great person and teacher! Would definitely take from him again!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I actually really liked Dr. Breakwell. I didn't think he was the best lecturer, but I thought his class was totally doable. Make sure to really study the study guides that he hands out during class. Three out of the four exams were pretty much word for word the study guide. Memorize the study guides and you'll get an A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are boring and there is too much material that he goes through very quickly. The tests are very specific as well but at least the online parts are open book.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is an engaging teacher but his tests are pretty scattered and inconsistent in regards to balancing material (i.e. he will focus more on a random part of the unit and neglect the others) Should have had a Biology prerec

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most of the lectures are him talking about random things you won't ever need to know. The tests are not consistent as you never know which random topic in the unit he will decide to make the entire focus of the exam. This class isn't structured in a way that lets the student succeed as there isn't any homework and tests are worth 75% of your grade.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's insane how MUCH useless info you need to MEMORIZE!!!! He drones in lecture and then you're expected to know it all on your own for the test. NOTHING is done to help you learn the material. Open-note online tests were nice, but some questions were about the most obscure details that you can still score poorly. Take this class from someone else.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is the nicest professor and really wants you to be successful and get a good grade. The tests are really tough though. You can do well in the class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Breakwell is a fine professor who knows a lot, but he is not the best professor to listen to. He drones on about nothing in particular and he just reads straight off the slides. He does not like people to pinch for points, so don't argue with him. It's an easy A, just memorize what he tells you to and do the study guides.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were dry and I didn't really get much out of them. I eventually skipped lectures and was still able to get As on exams (open note/book, untimed, online). Easy daily assignments, but they weren't graded until after the semester so I had no idea where I stood. The lab was difficult and students had to figure things out for themselves.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO221
• 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:

Do NOT need the book. Nice guy but not the best lecturer, it felt like he just read his slides and got off topic a lot. Not a big workload at all but studying for tests takes time. TA reviews help. Tests seemed to ask obscure and specific q's sometimes but he was very generous with extra credit or even let us take tests open note a few times.