Slackers should avoid Flanagin, but can obviously use this site to vent after they don't do well in his class! His class is tough, but he's an amazing teacher and very helpful and concerned about his students. If you want to learn, then he's for you. I

best class, best prof i've had -- hard class, but he made me *want* to learn...very engaging and organized

He is EXTREMELY hard and insane test creator. He covers an impossible amount of info. in one day. If you have to take it, do so in the summer... there is no essays and class is more personalized.

Cocky Professor, but I enjoyed the class. Hard to get an A, but I did it.

great class, great prof, very knowledgeable, EXTREMELY nice and helpful - these other whiners are slackers; go to class, do the work, learn something

lectures are straightforward, well-organized. do the readings, go to class and you will do well.

Lectures tended to be very interesting. your grade is a midterm and final, so if you're looking for grade boosters try lieberman or potter for busywork. A.F.'s tests were hard--you have to read to get an A. i crammed for the midterm the night before (reading and all), and got an A-. studied 2 weeks beforehand for the final, and got a C. gLuck!

4 years since graduating, I'm fully appreciating his classes. Very relevant, very applicable, and right on the money. Great professor, and the only one whose lectures I still think about. Very helpful and caring too. Worth the work.

Flanagin ROCKS! Great lectures...funny, entertaining, interesting, relevant. Knows his stuff, works you hard, but worth it. Recommend highly, but slackers beware!

He is a great lecturer and uses powerpoint, which makes it easy to take notes. Howerver, his tests are extremely hard!!! You must do all the reading and go to EVERY lecture to do even decent.

Both 116 and 118 were great classes. Yes, he is a tough professor, but that's just because he's an expert in his field which is always a good thing. Lectures were easy to take notes on because he uses powerpoint and gives excellent examples. If you study well for the tests, they are not that hard. Apply yourself and it's possible to get an A.

I studied everyday for this class, did all of the reading and made tons of study guides and still got a C (my first c in college). Flanagin is willing to help you during his office hours, but his tests are extremely hard and participation is not easily attained unless you speak during every class. He's a great guy but a really tough prof.

I love him! Best teacher I have had at UCSB. He loves what he does and he makes every class interesting. His test can be hard, but at least you actually learn something from them. Don't be afraid. Take one of his classes. I am in Comm 116 right now and I love this class too.

Exams are pretty challenging and rigorous and lectures are extremely detailed and contain tons of info, so its important to study consistently and prepare for the tests. Interesting class and prof is personable in class, but has is intimidating to talk to. His classes are definitely a lot of work and not for slackers.

great lecturer. hard tests. do the reading. the class was very applicable to real life, and he really made the subject matter come to life.

Such a smart professor. Best class I've had at UCSB. A LOT of notes and tests are really hard, but his classes are so interesting. Take him before you graduate. Do all the reading and go to class...it's worth it.

Lectures are always interesting, sometimes fascinating (not kidding!); he brings together a lot of material in ways that are challenging and fun. Great lecturer, gets students involved also. Tests are challenging but fair. Take a class from him before you graduate. Best prof I've had at UCSB.

Awesome class, interesting, he knows his stuff. Tests are hard but he doesn't try to trick you. Just take good notes and do the readings, which are really interesting. Seriously, I wish I could take this again just to go to his lectures.

Take the 3-week class! Its not easy, but its soooo interesting. Tests are hard but fair. It's a challenge but its worth it to sit there for 3 hours and actually be entertained.

Great teacher

Flanagin is a cool guy. He encourages discussion and asks if you understand the topics. Also uses relevant examples. Only a midterm and a final. Mostly multiple choice and some fill in the blank. GO to class! Make sure you understand the main point of each reading and memorize its author for the tests.

Hard but interesting class. If you are not a good test taker, don't take this class. 1 midterm, small paper and final. thats it!

Just finished Comm 116 & 118 back to back in Summer session "D" 3 week classes. It's a great way to do it, but you must attend every class, take great extensive notes, study in groups, volunteer, and by all means do the reading before the class day. All the people here spouting arrogance about the professor is off sides. He is a foremost expert

I wasn't all that interested in this class before I took it, but I actually loved going and learned a ton. I still think about things from lecture all the time, and although he teaches a lot of theory, it was really relevant too. He is the best teacher I've had at UCSB and lecture was actually fun and enjoyable even though class was hard.

Extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, makes lectures interesting. Took during summer- 3 week intense course, grade is made up of 50% mid-term & 50% final. Tests are not easy, but that is because they are multiple choice that actually make you think! Much better than essay questions. Keep up with and do all reading, you are tested on everything!

Professor Flanagin is one of the most interesting and knowledgeable professors I have had at UCSB. The material is genuinely interesting and he has an interesting take on some controversial topics, peer-to-peer file sharing. There is a lot of reading, but it's interesting as well. I love this class and leave every lecture excited about something.

This class is fairly easy. If you are good at memorization, this class will be a breeze. Just know everything, and know the basic arguments of every reading. He is very sweet, even though a little awkward. 50% midterm, 50% final. Just learn everything!

Difficult class, but worth the work. He's a great prof -- knowledgeable, funny, interesting. Taught me a new way to see the Internet and the world. His last lecture is unlike anything I've every had in a class before -- amazing and inspiring. Even if you're not in the class, you should experience it (though you won't fully understand it).

LOVE Professor Flanagin. The class is extremely interesting. Every lecture you learn something new and intriguing. The reading is a bit dense. Overall it is amazing class and every Comm major should take it!

Flanagin knows what's up! Knowledgeable, experienced, articulate, he's a great professor. Only potential problem is he is soft spoken. Stay present in lecture, listen to his "story" of the day. Awesome class that covers a lot about the internet and it's communicative capabilities. Take it and enjoy it!

Very fun professor who has lots of stories - you learn very interesting stuff in this class and he's got jokes, too. However, take him seriously when he says his tests are "challenging, but fair." Study diligently and don't take the readings as a joke - he asks a number of questions from them. Overall really cool guy who makes you enjoy his class.

I studied pretty hard for his class yet I did poorly on both his midterm and final - I ended up with a C in the class. It really doesn't make sense to me and I'm bummed because I enjoyed Flanigan's class. He's a great teacher who makes class worth going to, but I don't know what happened with his tests. Guess I didn't study hard enough as I thought

The class was very interesting, sometimes even fascinating, even though it was not a topic that was that interesting to me before I took the class. Flanagin is an extremely knowledgeable person, whose experience and research expertise made the class come alive. Tests are challenging but not tricky -- pay attention, do the work and you'll be fine!

Great class, great prof, genuinely interesting material. His lecture style is engaging and pretty funny and entertaining sometimes. There's a lot of reading, but it's relevant. Very knowledgable, yet approachable.

Andrew Flanagin was a wonderful teacher. He is brilliant and a very interesting person who gives lots of personal examples that are both fascinating and help understand the material. The reading are absolutely necessary to get an A on tests, as 15-20% are specific questions on the readings. The readings can be very dry though :/ Overall, take it!

Professor Flanagin is very funny, passionate, and knowledgeable. His class is well organized and very clear. Reading and lectures are necessary to pass but tests are straight-forward! He is a really great teacher. Uses personal examples as well as funny contemporary examples to help! Great teacher!

Awesome, fun, passionate teacher. He is super smart and great at explaining unfamiliar concepts in lecture. Lecture and readings are necessary to pass tests!!! Keeps things relatable and contemporary. Great teacher :)

I took two of Flanagin’s classes (116 & 118). I agree with comments about his classes being challenging, his expertise, and the way he engages students. He’s actually inspiring…really. What I don’t get is the comments about him being intimidating/condescending. He was always very respectful, kind, and went out of his way to help students.

Within the first few days of lecture it becomes obvious that he is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject. His classes are a little hard, but not ridiculous if you attend lecture, do the readings, and go to office hours. He is funny and has plenty of stories to make the class interesting. Overall, a pretty good professor.

This class is challenging, but super interesting. Attendance is mandatory since he doesn't post lecture slides online, and you must pay attention in class because much of the info is said but not on the powerpoints. He assigns a lot of reading but it is not necessary. 50% midterm and 50% final. With some work, it is easy to get an A!

Midterm and final determine your grade. Lectures may seem long but they're clearly structured so it's easy to study them. Doesn't put lectures online and the readings are long. Nice guy who's knowledgeable in the field and makes it relevant to everyday life.

If you're thinking of taking 118, consider if you really need the course material. It follows the development of technology and humanity. It is very retrospective and broad. There are more specific classes out there. However, Flanagin is inspirational in his teaching style - not so much the subject. Minimal reading, go to class. Get an A.

Tbh the class isn't that bad but only midterm & final so if you mess up on 1.... I took the midterm w/o knowing it was midterm day, so I did minimal studying, never read & ended up with a B! Paying attention in class and taking good notes is key. Read if you want an A.

Went to every single lecture, paid attention, took good notes, and studied my ass off. Ended up with a C in the class. He doesn't post lectures online, and tests ask for random specific points from lecture. I didn't find the readings particularly helpful. This class was interesting but a million times harder than it needed to be.

His classes are very insightful, and he is very inspirational. Looked forward to his classes. Tough tests though! I am usually an A student and got by with Bs in his classes. Wish there was more than just a midterm and final, puts a lot of pressure on those weeks. But thats okay, cuz he's a fox! wish he had more classes.

Great lectures, interesting stuff. I wasn't even that interested in the topic at first, but he drew me in and made it come to life. Impressive; even made me see theory as practical for the first time. Awesome prof who cares about what he's doing and it shows.

He's extremely intelligent, and he knows it. You have to go to every single lecture and listen to what he's saying - if you just copy down the slide, you won't get anything out of it. One midterm, one final, each 50%. Study throughout the quarter. He says readings are mandatory to get an A, but they're really only 2-4 questions per test.

Honestly not that bad. Not the kind of class that you can skip out on and get an A in, but he's anything but unfair. I skimmed the readings and took decent notes. Got a solid A in the class with a pretty average amount of studying. He doesn't clutter lectures with unnecessary information, which is great but you also can't zone out.

Took 118 with him awhile back and I still think about the material, which distinguishes this class from almost all others right off the bat... He's super-organized, smart, and funny. He takes his time to explain things and makes sure everyone is on the same page with him. Accessible outside of class, genuine, and kind. Good prof and good person

Tough grader who expects a lot (tests are challenging but fair), but he gives a lot too. Genuine and caring, and he really works to help you especially if you put in the effort. His lectures are super organized and he can be really funny in class too. He's inspirational. Enjoyed going to class. Really.

If you're like me and are bored with comm cause you think every comm class is exactly the same, TAKE THIS CLASS. Its SO interested and Flanagin is such an awesome wise nymph. If you go to class, pay attention (which you will because its the most unique class I've ever taken), and skim the readings, you'll get an A. I loved this class.

Flanagin is a great professor and I feel lucky to have been taught by such an intelligent individual. You must show up and take good notes. He grades tough, doesn't really round, and grade is only midterm and final. Tons of content. Challenging but definitely enriching overall class.

Flanagin is one of the best comm professors! He is obviously very intelligent and can therefore delve deeper into topics that make comm interesting again. I think he could have connected ideas/make the point of ideas clearer during the first half of the class, but nonetheless the content was interesting. He is always available and very helpful TAKE

Interesting class about all things Internet, from technical to social to legal to historical, etc. Lots of material, relevant stuff, theoretical perspectives; difficult but fair tests. Best lectures ever, very interesting and engaging. Very willing to help students and genuine, smart guy. Take if you can.

f you want to do good you have to show up, pay attention, and take notes on everything he says. The class is easy if you take good notes. He is very smart and has such a vast knowledge of everything. Gives really good examples to help you understand things further. Also very willing to help !! take this class if you can its really interesting

By far the best professor Ive had at UCSB. Most reviews on here say his class is extremely hard, however if you attend all of the lectures he gives you all of the information you need to know for the test. His tests are fair if you go to the lectures. I retained most of my knowledge from the class and have been able to apply it other comm classes.

Flanagin is a MUST TAKE! He is one of the most intelligent professors I have ever encountered and is also pretty funny. The lectures are incredibly interesting but they are also packed with tons of content. He doesn't post lectures slides and he moves fast, so don't skip class and take good notes. Well worth it though.

One midterm and one final weighted equal. He Is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject which makes the lectures interesting even though there is a lot to remember. Do the readings and take good notes on what he says and you will do great but you must put in the work.

His class is challenging and will require lots of studying and reading, but Flaganagin is also super helpful and actively wants to help you if you ask for it. Though challenging, I feel like i learned so much in his class, and felt his classes were more interesting and challenging (in a good way) compared to other comm classes.

Took during the pandemic also. Great class, great professor, worked hard to acommodate students; office hours after every single class. Tests were challenging but fair and so is he -- many did poorly on exam 1 so he curved it *hugely* in our favor; what else do you want? Whiners gonna complain, prob the same as on the GroupMe; study and do well.

Lots of content that I will think and talk about for years. extremely helpful if you put in even minimal effort, always available, lightning fast email responses. Answered questions with utmost patience and ALWAYS felt like he had our backs. Really tried to help out. I had no tech problems, so maybe it was not his end; shouldn't blame him for that

Flanagin is kind of intense and has very specific instructions/pet peeves. He's also inflexible about deadlines or making accommodations. If you get over those things he's super smart, clear, and his lectures are easy to follow and interesting (the readings not so much, but still do them because you'll be tested on them!).

Awesome class, learned so much. Lots of material, fair tests, ALWAYS helpful and available to students. Really dedicated to students and has clear expectations. Engaging lectures, even via zoom during covid; really cares about learning and if you do too this class is for you. Best prof and course I ever had at UCSB.

During covid students demanded being spoon-fed all the lectures, notes, etc. Flanagin, though, had solid reasons for giving live lectures, assignments, etc., which he explained carefully; still, many hated this and felt somehow offended. I rolled with it and saw the light in the end -- learned SO MUCH MORE in this class than usual! Great class.

Loved his classes, even though they are packed with info and ideas. He lectured "live" during Covid, and made this very clear before the class began -- these were the only classes where I learned anything during the pandemic as a result. He works hard to be sure you understand; great content, very helpful, cares a lot if you care too.

He rocks. Lots of useful content, makes you think, very helpful and cares about students. Not a fluff course, not a fluff guy; you get what you put into it, and he puts a lot into it for students.

This class was challenging but fair. Unlike other Communication classes, I actually had to use my brain and put in the work. If you don't you will be unhappy. The material is great, the prof is super helpful, smart, and funny, and the class is engaging. This is what you pay for. I wish there were more like him and this class.

I took this class more than a decade ago, so I'm a little different than others here. This is the ONLY class from my undergrad experience that I still think about. The content was relevant then, moreso now, and I still think back on how Prof F presented complex ideas and research to make them understandable. Take this class.

This class is only composed of 2 exams and points for attendance. There are pre-readings before class and it'll show up in exams. In order to do well in this class, you will need to make sure that you attend all lectures since there are no notes posted. There are a lot of memorization for the exam. His pet peeve is no cell phones in class.

Professor Flanagin is such an amazing teacher. The content in this course is incredibly relevant and important information. Your grade is not handed to you, this class requires you to dedicate time to attend lectures, skim readings, and study before exams. However, Prof Flanagin grades very fairly and exams are created to help students succeed.

Great lectures, great interaction, cares a lot about students and will go FAR out of his way to help (he gave the final in person literally hours after having surgery, just in case students had Qs during exam). If you're a slacker, though, and don't try, his classes will eat you up and you will be angry and sad and prob blame him.

Not easy classes and super packed with information, but really interesting stuff and presented clearly and in detail. Amazing at answering Qs on the fly and making things relevant. Always available for students and helpful. If you do the work and study hard you will be ok, but don't expect him to gift it to you like other profs. SO worth the work.

I absolutely loved prof Flanagan and his teaching style! He really cares about the material he is teaching and and takes into account what his students want to learn. For both the midterm and final he let our class decide what we wanted the format to be! Any negative comments are ppl that are blaming him for their lack of effort, hes a great prof.

Prof. Flanagin expects a lot of you and, if you do your part (pay attention, study, think), you'll get a lot back. Slackers beware, though; if you want an easy A there are lots of others in the dept to give it to you. If you want engaging lectures, an incredibly knowledgeable and personable prof, and great feedback, he's your guy.

Difficult class but so worth it. Lectures loaded with info and super clear explanations; gives great examples & engages students completely. Challenging but fair exams--you'll get the grade you earn. If you're looking to slide by, he's not your guy, but if you actually want to LEARN something take this class! Inspiring, unbelievably helpful.

I really don't understand the low ratings of professor Flanagin! He's amazing and makes lectures so interesting. The content he teaches is very relevant and important to know. He's very funny, smart and knows what he's talking about. Definitely take a class from him if you have the chance! His test is totally fair if you attend all the lectures.

This course was so interesting and the content is so relevant to everyday life. Learned things I never thought I would in the Comm major and I'm glad I took this course. There is only one midterm, a final, and attendance being counted toward your grade so study A LOT.

Really well organized lectures and class website. DO THE READINGS. Tests are challenging but fair, he'll let you pick the format and curves scores in students' favor. He'll basically tell you how to get an A, just do the work.

I really enjoyed both of Professor Flanagin's classes. I found his lectures to be very interesting and relevant. He is just generally a good guy who cares for his students and is passionate about his job. The only grades are the midterm and final which are both multiple choice and straight forward. One of my favorite professors.

You have to do the work (go to lecture, take good lecture AND reading notes) but the tests are straightforward if you study. Flanagin is tough, but funny and keeps lectures interesting. He's a stereotypical scary college prof, don't let your phone go off in class and such, but you can tell its a bit of a front too. I really liked this class!

I read the reviews before taking this class and was worried it would be too hard. I did the work and it was fine. I LOVED the class, which is full of interesting content. He's an amazing lecturer who knows his stuff and cares about learning. If you don't do well, it's probably on you. He presents interesting and relevant stuff really clearly.

Great class, the exams are more difficult compared to other COMM classes but taking good notes will help a lot. It is not an easy class, but all content are backed by research and i really appreciate his effort put into the course.

Professor Flanagin is a great professor and his lectures are very interesting. I took the class during a 3-week session which is why I would say it is a challenging course. It was fast-paced and only graded on midterm and final. My biggest recommendation is to attend all lectures and study the readings/notes until you mastered the material.

Honestly one of my favorite comm professors. No assignments which is great. Tests were difficult but doable if you study a little. readings are straightforward and supplement lectures very well. Not sure why people dont like his attitude, hes a really cool guy and always has an interesting, random story that relates to lecture.

The lectures were super informative and he clearly knows what he's talking about. Likes to interact with the class, so it kept people interested.

Do the work and you'll be fine. The content was relevant and interesting. Covers all aspects of the internet, from history, to social media, to legal issues, to technical things (not overly in depth), to misinformation, etc. Always gives up-to-date info based on empirical research. GREAT lecturer and very engaging...

Lots of information, tests challenging but fair, lectures were very interesting. Don't take if you're a slacker, but otherwise you'll love it and him.

I don't get all the whiners on here. If the scores on tests were poor -- which was rarely the case -- he curves (big time) in our favor to make the grades better. I learned more in this class than all my other Comm classes put together. Funny guy, great lectures, explains things really well. Very helpful if you just approach him and ask.

People dislike Flanagin, but I have learned more career-applicable information from his two classes than I have in my entire UCSB experience. All you have to do is attend class, pay attention (which isn't hard because he is super interesting), and study your notes for like a day. Such a good professor, everyone is dramatic over difficulty.

Lots of interesting content and great lectures...you get your money's worth for sure. You can't just wing the exams, be sure to actually study and pay attention in class. Very helpful if you go to the office hours but be sure to take good notes.

Flanagin is a very tough professor but he is very educated on the topics he talks about. There is a strict no phone policy, attendance is basically mandatory, there is 2 midterms and a final that are multiple choice for the most part but are very specific. Overall its a hard class, but very interesting and you will not be bored.

honestly one of the best professors i've had. as long as you're willing to come to class regularly, tests are quite easy. no homework besides readings, which usually aren't even tested. very engaging lecturer and curves the class quite generously. slides not posted though, so it's tough to miss class.

Best classes I ever had at UCSB. Knowledgeable prof who has your best interests in mind. Engaging lectures full of relevant information. Covers current theory and research and teaches you how to digest research for yourself. Honestly, he was inspiring.

Flanagin's lectures are packed with information, which he presents in an engaging and accessible manner. I learned more in his courses than in most of my other classes combined. He expects a lot, but also will help you do your best. Show up, do the work, learn a lot. Simple.

If you don't do the work you will regret it, but...what a relief to have a professor with high expectations AND the ability to teach fascinating content in a clear, patient, and insightful manner. If you want to get your money's worth, take his classes. If you want to glide by there are plenty of other profs in the department who will oblige.

So interesting. Each lecture is its own "story," and yet the entire class ties together over time. Great lecturer, better than any prof I've had in the dept or outside of it. Highly recommend you take his class before you graduate.