3.1
Quality3.2
Difficulty38%
Would Retake92
Reviews38%
Would Retake
92
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
27
4
12
3
17
2
15
1
21
What Students Say
“Professor Easson is an arrogant man”
PHY121 - 1.0 rating“Still he is "one of the best" at asu”
PHY121 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
12%
Textbook Required
35%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.76 avg changeRatings by Course
121
5.0
(4)PHY598
5.0
(1)PHY523
4.5
(4)PHY111
3.3
(7)PHY121
2.9
(75)Difficulty by Course
PHY1212
5.0
PHY523
3.5
PHY111
3.3
PHY121
3.1
PHY598
3.0
Reviews (92)
He's the new physics professor at ASU. Though his exams are based off of the book, his lectures have no connection to lab or homework. He's better off teaching advanced physics, not beginner physics. He teaches University Physics, the novice physics course for engineers, and not many people get his lectures because his information is too advanced.
So this guy is basically a genius; he just isn't that good to stooping down to our level in PHY 121
He is a great teacher! As long as you have some sort of physics background, his lectures would make perfect sense. It was a great class and easy over all.
He's brilliant and a nice guy. Lectures are clear, but his course needs a framework to tie concepts together. What's worse, every test feels like an ambush with questions much more difficult than those he presents in class. As a result, test scores are very low and he curves heavily. This is nice, but I'd rather be more prepared. He'll improve.
He's a new physics professor at ASU. If you already know some physics, its not so bad. His lectures would be better if they were structed. He does not seem to know how to teach lower level physics. He goes off on tangents about upper level stuff we don't need to know. Since grades are poor on exams, he curves, so a good grade is not impossible.
He's a really smart guy, but has no idea how to teach a lower level physics class. He was new, so he might get better. The tests were impossible compared to the lecture, which was completely disorganized. The homework wasn't that bad considering you could find most of the answers on google if you couldn't figure it out.
Extremely smart guy, as well as extremely helpful. He responds to emails in under an hour and will help you with anything. Tests are quite hard but he curves heavily to make up for it.
Took this guy's GR class. The best course I had at ASU. Professor is interesting and very funny. I wish he would teach more courses.
Easson is a wizard when it comes to physics. This guy definitely knows his stuff. None the less, as many people have stated he often gets a little A.D.D and starts going off about black holes and particle accelerators. There's a lot of material to cover but if you study and read the book as you go you'll pull an A.
Easson is a great guy and a wryly humorous professor. However, you really have to try to keep up. If you have not taken physics before, I suggest another professor. He know his stuff but a lot of the time he seems to have trouble articulating and it seems like he is just writing problems on the board that you have to decipher later. read the book.
Prof. Easson is very bright. He ties real world phenomena to the physics he explains. I think this is great, but some people only want to learn the basics. If you're a good student this class should be fun and a pretty easy A. Office hours are very useful too.
I thought his class was great! He was always prepared for lecture, and it was clear that he knew what he was talking about. He made sure that the class was well prepared for exams so that your notes, the homework, and his review day would set you up for success. Overall, he is a GREAT professor for a hard class like Physics.
He seems afraid to talk to students. His lectures are "reviews" of the chapters. Read the book. Pulled test problems from book, but very vague about what will be on test on review days.
Very vague, lectures felt worthless. READ THE BOOK. Stay oriented in the book so you can follow lectures. Teach yourself first, then use the other resources to supplement your learning.
The subject is tough, but he gives clear, coherent lectures that highlight the core concepts and recovered the physics buried in the math. If physics measures your ability to take a punch, GR is 12 rounds in the ring with a silver-back gorilla. Easson is your corner-ring coach yelling "go get em' champ." Couldn't have done it without him.
Very helpful
Awesome
I would only recommend Easson if you already have a background in physics. For example, if you took AP Physics C and did well, you probably won't have to attend class. You can tell he's very knowledgeable about physics but just isn't a good teacher. Seems to have the easiest exams out of all the physics professors.
Easson is an outstanding theory guy. The topics are built from the ground up. He presents the material in a much more clear way than the textbook. He is enthusiastic and funny. Tough subject but it was worth it.
Awesome. Very helpful
This guy's really cool. He doesn't do clicker points, his tests are never very hard, and his lectures are clear and usually pretty interesting. Made physics easy. His recitations don't require grades, which is amazing because recitation is terrible and few people go if given the chance to avoid it, which I did.
Great professor. He knows how to teach well, and his tests are straightforward and manageable. His frequent demonstrations are entertaining. Added bonus: honors contracts are very easy. You don't even have to meet with him after the initial setup.
Great professor, made physics easy. Try taking him.
The worst out there for PHY121, avoid him for this class. A really tough grader and homeworks take an awful lot of time to do.
makes everything complicated, he seems knowledgeable but yet he can't teach the the work well. He doesn't help during office hours. simple, avoid him!
TOUGH GRADER!!! AVOID HIM!!! AVOID HIM!!! AVOID HIM!!! yes he's knowledgable, but he can't deliver the information!
SIMPLY AVOID HIM!!!!! TOUGH GRADER!!!!!
Best intro professor at ASU!
Avoid. Tough grader + he dosent explain clear enough.
I thought he was good until I sat his exam. Hardest exam ever.
Physics is hard. But this professor really knows how to teach it to you from the ground up. Listen to what he says and you will learn!
Physics is not an easy concept at all. It takes time and dedication to fully understand the concepts. His lectures are extremely in depth. I went to every class and took notes. I got a 100% on the first two tests, 80% on the third (my fault). There is a 4th (still being graded). Show up, pay attention, he is funnyquirky, you will pass easily.
Easson definitely knows his material, but cannot communicate it at all. The majority of the class will be him proving a concept, but never really doing examples of that concept. There are 5 tests overall, and he drops the lowest one. Mastering Physics problems are sparse and easy. You won't learn much from him, but you can get an easy A.
Lectures were spent proving why we get the equations we do, aka they were long, boring, and pointless. I can tell he's very knowledgable and passionate about the subject but struggles in getting this information across to students. Tests were not like the homework and extremely challenging. Was not clear in what he was testing you on.
Easson is a good professor in the sense that he knows what he's talking about. I went to maybe the first three or four lectures of the class then only showed up for the tests. He only gives about 7 really easy homework assignments per semester, and they help with the exams. Lowest exam score was dropped, and the final was a regular exam.
He knows what he is talking but he's not the best teacher. His lectures are boring and he always makes mistakes. I often skipped or left early. He doesn't require attendance for the lectures or the recitations but recitations are a big help.
This was the hardest class I ever took. Dr. Easson really showed us how to approach problem solving and was funny and enlightening. Fabulous class. Be ready to work.
Dr. Easson's General Relativity class's lectures were clear and conveyed what is very fascinating material (esp. cosmology). However the homeworks do not very well match up with the exams so you have to study Carroll's carroll spacetime and geometry textbook and class notes to really do well on the exam.
Best physics prof in ASU. Easy A if you show up.
Loved this guy. Listen up and you will learn the material
Great Professor. As long as you concentrate in class, you should easily get a B.
This class is based on 4 tests and a final. He has free response and multiple choice on the test and drops the lowest score. No study guide for the test, only a list of topics. He goes round and round in lecture and repeats everything multiple times. Doesn't always understand what he's writing on the board. Must master material for tests.
He clearly knows what he's talking about, but he just can't deliver the information. He tends to go off on tangents related to upper-level material, and therefore ends up confusing everyone. We never did any example problems in class, and when I asked if we could do some, he just laughed. Avoid him at all costs, unless you like teaching yourself.
Teaches you how to think to solve problems. Great teacher.
Tough grader. He goes round and round and explains the same thing again and again confusing everyone. Attendance is not compulsory. Doesn't solve any example problems in class. No study guys, only a list of topics to study for. There is no material to look at before taking his tests. Drops the lowest test.
Easson is really good. Listen and go to class which will help you do well on exams. He caught a group of cheaters and I think they must of given him poor scores here. He should have at least a 4.
His lectures can sometimes be repetitive, but he spends a lot of time going over concepts and making sure the you understands. Attendance is not important since he holds test reviews where he goes through everything you need to know. Graded on 5 tests (lowest dropped) and homework assigned every 2-3 weeks. Overall easy class, pretty good professor.
The class is 85% exams, 15% homework. Professor Easson spends all class period deriving formulas but does not do examples or say when to use each formula. You have less than 10 homework assignments for the whole semester. Recitation is not required. If you know physics, take him. If you don't, skip.
Professor Easson is an arrogant man. He only talks about the same equation all lecture, repeatedly going in circles, using no examples. Lectures, homework, recitations, and exams do not relate at all. Use the textbook to teach yourself, Chegg homework because he does does not teach it in lecture. Little homework, 5 exams, lowest exam is dropped.
Dr Easson brings a breath of fresh air to physical sciences. His approach is super clear and he gives material starting from basics so you can follow the logic. The material is tough, but I feel good about putting work into the course.
Doesn't use blackboard, canvas, anything. All you have is the syllabus he sends at the beginning of the semester and the hw website. Doesn't use presentations either so lectures r the only source of info, which are not great. Very repetitive and all-around-the-place lectures that have nothing to do with the hw. Still he is "one of the best" at asu
Solid physics professor. Lectures are easy to follow and thorough although a little slow paced. He has 5 exams for the semester, which seems like a lot, but he drops the lowest score which is really nice. The final is also not comprehensive and can be dropped just like the other unit exams.
He derives the same formulas over and over again all class long but never explains when and how to use them. The first time you'll see an example with actual numbers is in the test and you probably won't know what to do with it. He knows the material but doesn't know how to effectively teach it. Compared to other 121 profs at ASU Tempe he's decent
I agree with every review that has 3 or less in here. Don't take him if physics is important for your major because you won't learn. If you do take him, expect to have to teach yourself everything. If you can, just take this class at a community college because every professor at ASU is pretty much the same for 121
He is not a good professor. He is never clear about what he is explaining and just goes over formulas and how they are connected to more formulas but never does examples to show how they are used. 3 out of the 4 times I have asked him questions after class, he has made me feel dumb for not understanding what he's explaining. Has also laughed at me
His lectures are usually theory based. He uses no examples and doesn't tell us where to use equations. He's not flexible since I asked if he could move my final by an hour since I had a permanent residency appointment, which would determine if I would live in the US or not, and he said no. Hw doesn't reflect the 5 tests of which 1 is dropped.
In this class you were learn countless theory based equations but about 0 actual practical example problems all semester. The homework is useless and urelated most times to the topics. Thought the tests are relatively easy, they are 85% of your grade. I found best to just use Chadreviews to study before the exam, its lectures and examples to help.
He derives formulas the entire lecture, and it's hard to know what you actually need to know. The online homework is barely related to what you learn in lecture. The tests aren't too bad, but if you're not ready for using actual numbers in formulas they'll be hard. Lowest test score is dropped, which is nice, but FYI tests are 85% of the grade.
Easson made class interesting. He knows a lot about what he is teaching and carries a very structured lecture. Everything in lecture expect to be on the tests. So if you study the problems he taught during class you will ace all the tests. Just pay attention during lectures and you will never have to read from the book.
This guy is Thor, thru and thru, commanding speech, tremendous dedication to putting together digestible, thoughtful lectures. Very very pleasant, really keeps your motivation high, keeps energy flowing thru the room. No dumby, gives good challenging doable homework problems. He will coach you. You will be proud he did.
Easson is a terrific, terrific educator. He is very well connected with his class, with a good strong sense of how people learn. Has a cogent, forceful verve that strongly drives this class. Come to class, he is always well-prepared and cares about doing a good job teaching. You will be hard-pressed to come across a better professor at Arizona St.
Professor Easson writes down formulas, derives them and repeats the concepts all the time which can be confusing. The homeworks do not relate to the exams and exams are worth 85% of the course. He struggles at answering student questions during the lectures. I would have taken another professor if I could.
Previously failed physics and found this prof a lot more manageable. Exams are very doable and lowest one is dropped. No final in this class. Can only access his content in lecture. Didnt use canvas or BB, just mastering. Reasonable amount of HW. Just don't skip too much and try to understand the HW to do well. Did many demos.
Easson is super chill, usually has some demonstration to break up lecture. There's a lot of proofs but you dont need to memorize them. He has review days that are the most important days of the course. It can drone on but the class is really easy, especially compared to other profs
Like others stated, Professor Easson is knowledgeable in the material, but is unable to present it in a clear way. He runs thru things so fast without laying a proper foundation of knowledge, which results in students being left so far behind. He laughs when people ask questions, and its a turn off for in class participation. Do not take him.
Damien Easson is great scientist and great professor I have attended his class and his lab in 2019 it was great time, I will remember him forever , I had a chance to take his class before my graduation, I recommend peoples to take his class Professor Easson has many TA(PHD students), it is very good thing Washington
Nice guy, lectures are kinda boring, can be long. Lots of proofs but examples problems are very similar to exams. Notes aren't posted, need to be in class. Follows textbook, but examples are important to see in class to pass exams easily. Slight curves, no EC, no cheatsheet, homework answers can be found online. would take again for PHY classes.
Mans straight up changed the exam date and I got a 0. Thankfully he drops one test, but I was going to use that on my 58 on because his grading policy is wack. Even if you get the right answer, if your work isn't "good enough", you don't get credit. I was only able to bring my grade up because we went online and the tests were just like the hw.
Professor Easson goes over the topics that are given in the exams but the lectures do not translate well at all and recitation will be your best friend in order to understand problems similar to the exam. Also, exams are graded based solely on the correct answer if you take Easson online, you do not get credit for showing your work.
Terrible lecturer, I also remember him being occasionally rude to some students who asked questions in class. I 100% did not learn anything from him and relied on what I learned from AP physics 1 in hs. If you have taken physics before, you can pass. If not, I would find a better professor.
Exams were online & open note but they didn't have any partial credit & the questions were nothing like that were in the hw or lecture. The highest exam score I got was a 66 & I studied for hours in the library for every exam. I now have to retake this course over the summer. Grade is 85% exams & the hw I got a 100% all of them. TA is a godsend.
The tests make up 85% of your grade, he said he would drop your lowest test score, well this is wrong and caused me to almost completely fail the class. He would go on tangents that were completely unrelated. he is very confusing and the lectures are riddled with awkward breaks. Horrible teacher, Horrible course work, nothing is on canvas.
Easson had all of his exams online and non-proctored, so that's why I rated him an easy professor. If it was in person, I wouldn't say the same. He was very uninterested, and he sometimes wrote equations wrong. He does not show great examples in class, and very few at that. He wasn't good at lecturing at all. I would recommend someone else.
Easson teaches core fundamentals in 121 w/ an emphasis on deriving equations. There weren't many practical examples in class that were similar to the Pearson HW. His examples consisted of writing random numbers and final answers after proving equations. Optional recitation but TA is very helpful. Spring 22 had 5 open note online exams worth 85%.
Professor Easson is great. Lots of the bad reviews I see here are probably from students who just don't want to take physics. Demos were particularly awesome. The angular momentum stuff at the end of the course is really cool. Would love to take him for 131.
I have never rated a professor before but He is so bad I cannot help myself. His lectures were absolutely useless to the homework and tests he had that were all done through Pearson. By the end of the year there was very few people even going to his class. I took two years of physics and passed the AP physics and I still struggled, he is the worst.
I took this class over Summer so some things might differ. The tests are comprised of questions reviewed during class. Attend EVERY lecture. Write down every type of practice problem he does and take them to the TA's office hours and have them watch YOU solve the problems. HW's and Recitation are practically useless when preparing for the tests.
I had to take the course twice and it was a real pleasure to take 121 with professor Easson. Man that guy has an amazing way of explaining the material. He isn't as easy as some of the other teachers from what I hear, but you really get to hear the material from the type of physicist that invents this stuff.
I learned absolutely nothing in his class. He just writes random stuff on the board and answers- I couldn't even take notes because nothing he wrote was organized. Learned everything by doing the homeworks and watching videos online. The nice thing was all the tests were online & not proctored, so you dont really haveee to retain anything anyway.
4Midterms1Final;Do not take this class;Very disorganized and often messes up during lectures;barely any examples provided in class;nothing is posted in canvas, everything is "provided" at the lecture;better off learning your own tbh;i took physics previously and passed, but cannot learn with this guy;homeworks are more difficult than lectures;v bad
85% consists of exams. 15% consists of homework. You literally go in-to exams cold turkey. His teaching method is flawed; it's really not worth taking the course with him. No practice questions were given. TA's were cool.
He does not provide any practice problems at the lecture. I had to teach myself all the content, the exams were extremely difficult and the homework does not prepare you for them. Taking this professor is not a good idea, save yourself some crying.
Don't take
Do not recommend! This professor gave homework that was not synchronous with the lecture nor the exam, gave stale and boring lectures, chuckled at some genuine questions from students, and offered zero exam prep material for any of the four exams or for the final.
Dr. Easson made me really enjoy physics. He is an amazing teacher. Physics is hard but just listen to this guy and you will do well in the course. Go to the lectures.
I was rockin' an A (close to A+) before the final. His tests were so easy. I didn't go to class and would get 100/ or close to it on exams. His final came out of NOWHERE! (dropped me) I think it's because I didn't go to class... He was not understanding when I had a medical issue in need of an extension. He does 3/4 best test scores kept. Meh prof.
He is the best physics explainer ever I have seen
Easy tests, terrible to contact outside of class.
I was really hoping Easson would be a good professor but wow was I wrong. Oec
Pretty average as a professor. He explained things clearly, however I did not find him to be very engaging. Assigns a large amount of homework, however that is pretty useful for learning the material. Tests are not very difficult if you do a lot of practice problems beforehand.
Easson can be hit or miss. Lectures are helpful, but homework doesn't always align. Exams are challenging, so definitely use unstuck ai and the free textbook to prep.
Honestly, I have never had a professor this TERRIBLE. I know that physics can be a hard concept but when the professor is literally telling the class that he is going to have to curve the curve that's bad. Every single exam has had a class average below 75%. Students have reached out to the professor and he told us there was nothing he could do.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
12%
Textbook Required
35%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.76 avg changeRatings by Course
121
5.0
(4)PHY598
5.0
(1)PHY523
4.5
(4)PHY111
3.3
(7)PHY121
2.9
(75)Difficulty by Course
PHY1212
5.0
PHY523
3.5
PHY111
3.3
PHY121
3.1
PHY598
3.0