Ken Gayley - University of Iowa

Professor: Ken Gayley

Department: TBD

College: University of Iowa

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1611
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the worst physics professors. What he taught wasn't even physics. He does not believe in formulas (besides FMA). It was a strange way of teaching a physics course. Discussion was also very pointless.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1511
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm a straight A student and this was the hardest class I've taken in college . All the lectures are on the chalkboard and are unorganized/ hard to follow. Exams are NOTHING like the homework or textbook problems and are very confusing. He didn't post final exam scores or answer key at the end of the semester, which shows how much he didn't care.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1611
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are absolutely useless as he goes off on tangents a lot. The tests are nothing like the homework or the practice exams. There is no use of numbers on the tests and you will be struggling to understand your reason for living because of him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTR1070
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Solid pick, just show up to class and enjoy the ride

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTR1070
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: STARS050
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very entertaining lectures.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTRONOMY29050
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the smartest lecturer of all time

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR1070
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There are 3 tests based only on lecture, and one of them is dropped. Homework is in the online textbook and doesn't relate/reflect test material, with 2 lowest scores dropped out of 7. Very good lecturer, although his voice is very soothing and it's easy to fall asleep. Responds to emails, but office hours are a no.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ASTR1070
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Gayley is such a guy. He has a very soothing voice that can put you to sleep. If you're knowledgeable about astronomy, then you will get a good grade as the class is filled with dummies. The tests are made to be difficult. One test score is dropped, so if you don't do well on one exam, don't sweat it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTR1070
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Seems like a really good lecturer (although I had admittedly low standards for lecturers being a comp sci student). He tests over what he covers in lecture (at least in the summer class I took), just expanded a little bit but if you engage and think about the topics you will be good.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTR1080
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Gives you three tests throughout the semester plus a final exam, which is accumulative. Not straight forward during lecture, exams are very tough and very few questions on the test are from the book. He makes you think. Expect poor grades on exams with a curve in your favor. If you are looking for an easy science, look elsewhere.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 29119
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant, but terrible at communicating the information to the students.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: STARS050
• 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:

Advised to print out lecture notes from his website and take notes on those, but they never correlate to what he's actually talking about. Said details weren't necessary for test, but that was all was tested. Never responds to emails and talks in circles.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS030
• 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:

The class was not what was expected. I felt the professor was pretentious. I didn't like his attitude.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: STARSAAA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Such a good guy! Cares if students learn or not.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very good teacher, makes you think conceptually instead of specifically, really interesting stuff.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Do not buy the book. Just listen in class, or read the notes off of his website. The curves on the test are ridiculously in your favor. Sit back, have fun, and watch things bubble and explode. A definite must if you need an easy science with lab as a non-major.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOLSY52
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a good professor, and he really tries to get you to think. ALthough the tests are hard and his lectures can be hard to understand sometimes, he's always willing to help when you have questions. He's a ver nice guy and you can tell he's very passionate about what he does and getting you to learn the material

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: STARS050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Stars and Galaxies... The lectures are fun but the tests are impossible. The good thing is if you get a 50% on the test you'll still pass the test with at least a C or a B. Still worth taking for an easy 3 credits.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: STARS029
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Excellent teacher. Projects voice loudly throughout the lecture room. Supplies lecture notes online for students who missed days or take bad notes. Supplies test formats to prepare students for tests. Goes over test answers. Uses In-class experiments/models to help class understand concepts. Always pauses and asks if there are any questions.