3.6
Quality3.7
Difficulty68%
Would Retake94
Reviews68%
Would Retake
94
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
42
4
23
3
9
2
9
1
11
What Students Say
“Passion, knowledge and humor fills his lectures with entertainment”
85179 - 5.0 rating“He also gives really good extra credit and lots of opportunity to make up any bad grades”
OCEAN10 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
83%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.17 avg changeRatings by Course
81520
5.0
(1)85179
5.0
(1)CAPINNGEO
5.0
(1)GEOL20
5.0
(3)OCEAN1
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
OCEAN
5.0
GEO
5.0
GEOLGEOL
5.0
ESTENES
5.0
GEOLOGY20
5.0
Reviews (94)
A good guy, a good teacher, he knows his stuff, sometimes hard and sometimes a little dull,
This was a really hard and involved class, especially with the lab, but I learned a lot and Dave is funny and informative.
Great Guy, Funny, Enthusiastic, AwesomeClass, Study Hard! Exams are tough! You will learn a lot if you work hard.
Hated him! He is all over the map during lecture. You can never tell what he is talking about, what is important or what relates to what! Scatter brain! He made the subject so wretched to me. I never learned anything from lecture, I learned everything I needed to from lab (with a different teacher). Avoid him like the plague!!!
The teacher is a nice guy and he's truly interested in what he teaches, but he makes the class so hard that I lost all interest in learning about oceanography. He makes us memorize a bunch of useless formulas, and we're so busy focusing on stuff like that, that we don't really get to learn the interesting stuff.
The material he tests on is way tooo hard. He goes into such depth that he really puts you off on the subject. Cool guy but way too hard on his students. A lot of memorization to do for this class. Lab is with another teacher most of the time, who dont know what they are doing.
Not cool. Hard class. Not fun.
No Comments
CA geology was so much fun. The fieldtrips were especially enjoyable. Yosemite was awesome, as were all the local trips and the Pinnacles trip. He is a pretty tough teacher, but if you listen, take notes and study you will do ok. He is very helpful, funny and enthusiastic. I would definitely take even more of his classes!
More busywork than I would like to do. The test can be somewhat difficult. My suggestion: Go to class. Everything makes so much more sense with his lectures.
I wish I cared more about the subject. His class seems like an oceanography course for those who are definitely going to work in the field. He does very little to give you a reason WHY you are learning the things he is covering. Take good notes, and study hard.
The best teacher i ever had. hands down. knows his stuff and is passionate about it. never ridicules and is a great fun guy. He doesnt enjoy teaching his most popular class, oceanography, as much so he shows less enthusiasm. take geology instead.
Not cool.
Good teacher, lot's of passion for the subject matter!!!! A little scattered in lectures, hard to take notes and absord him at same time. Offers almost to much infromation. My suggestion, read the material over directly after lecture, while fresh. Then put it together. Creates a good base. Give him a try, he's not for everyone, but will help you out if lost!!! He encourages it.
I thought he was great but I also love the subject. Dave can be scattered at times in lecture so you have to keep up with the reading. NOT a class for slacking he expects everyone to put in their all.
His love of geology is contagious! Lively and engaging lectures. At times it was a bit too much info to grasp at once. Wish the class weren't all lecture and there was more time in the class for reviewing concepts and more discussion of topics. He was really HELPFUL to students and encouraging if you're not doing well!
He is so cool take this class over summer and it is easy. just talk with him and he will make accomidationd if you are having a hard time. it is worth taking this class
Dave is eccentric and gets caught up in tangents. A LOT. Taking notes is really hard with him because you can never tell whats important or not. He is really psyched about what he does, but its definetely not contagious in a lecture environment. I took his summer geo 20 class, the kinesthetic stuff is waaay better.
Dave... What to say about Dave... Great guy, but I hated the class. He's very scattered, but despite that he has a lot to offer. Very nice. Very helpful. Very entertaining. If you like geology take any of his classes. They all tie together. If you don't care about rocks don't take any of his classes. He's not a bad teacher, just hard to follow.
Dave is a nice guy, he is very enthusiastic about his job, but unfortunately this is about all thats good about his class. He goes off on tangents, which often involve concepts far above the scope of a lower division geology class. Unless you're a "geology person" then I would definitely stay away from this class, or you'll definitely regret it.
Dont take his class unless you want to major in Geology! He gives you so much intense information every class that is too abstract and unrelated to the real material that its impossible to know what youre actually supposed to be learning. The tests are insanely difficult over half my class dropped. Hes a good guy just not as good of an instructor.
don't take this class! find another science class to take! seriously. his class was so hard, and I worked my ass off only to get a B. Not only are his lectures scattered and Incomprehensible, he REFUSES to answer ANY questions in class! He is flat out rude sometimes. He thinks he is GOD. Don't take this unless you're majoring in geology.
Please, unless you intend on taking Geology. Don't take this class. The tests are so difficult. I never studied so hard for a class in my life.
Dave is a great guy. I loved my Ocean 10 class, but it was very challenging. I had to work really hard (and was surprised) to get an A. I highly recomend his Ocean 10 class. Don't take it if you arn't interested, but if you are you definately should! I was really inspired about marineBio after the class and am now working at the seymour center
I love this class. Dave is the greatest teacher, the class was so fun. everybody got along together on the camping trip, best class and best teacher.!!!!!
He's a great teacher. He loves his subject and really wants everyone to do well. Very understanding and personable guy. He really wants everyone to enjoy the class and get something out of it. really nice guy.
If you aren't at school to learn then don't take his class. He is super psyced on his subject and wants everyone else to get something out of the class he teaches. He really wants everyone to do well and is very personable. He will help you out and is easy to approach.
Dave is the best teacher. he gets really into what he is teaching and makes sure everyone understands. the only people who dont like the class are the idiots who think college is high school and are too imature to actualy take his class serious. Dave 'rocks' definitely take his class if you are interested in learning.
i dont see how anyone could not be interested when he does his lectures. he is so passionate. very nice. i really liked this class..
great, very interesting. not much work for es10..i cant speak for geology..but hes so passionate..it makes me realize even more that my major is definetly the right one.
Dave is an energetic geology professor with the ability to connect to students of all ages. Fun class, and fun discussions. Recommend to all.
Dave is a rare professor. He really cares about his students & wants everyone to succeed. He is very enthusiastic, which helps the low interest leveled people to get into the subject. The class periods go by so fast because he keeps you tuned in & excited. It is so good to have a teacher who is so happy to be there. He's stoked to help people out.
Dave is avery smart guy to bad he cannot communicate this with others. He does not answer questions and thinks he is the smartest person on the planet. Do not take this class. the worst teacher ever.
Really fun teacher. Lectures can be a little hard to follow, but just take notes and you'll be ok. Shows some really awesome surf videos from SC. Lots of opportunity for extra credit and definitely do the beach clean up!
What a great teacher!
I learned a lot, but only from lab. Lecture was pointless and he rambled. The tests expected us to be absolute experts in oceanography and know minute details that dont matter in the big scheme of things. Was very frustrating, But do the extra credit, offers way to much, and you will get an easy A or B.
His lectures are very disorganized and it's very hard to take notes. Because of this the tests are very hard. Fortunately he does offer lots of extra credit so if you do well in lab you can get a good grade. He's nice but not the best teacher.
this class taught me how to study and take notes. so many people are involved with this class and if you take advantage of the help that hat is being offered you will ace the class. oceanography never seemed like a class i would take but i learned a lot of interesting things that apply to the world. Great teacher. Loved the class.
I LOVE Dave! He is one of my favorite teachers in the world! He is hilarious without trying to be and loves the ocean. It is not an easy class but I hate science and I absolutely loved this class. Test are very hard, but go in for help and he will give you all the info you need. He REALLY wants his students to do well. MUST take this class!
Dave is probably the worst teacher I've had. ever. He is scattered and easily distracted, yet hates to answer questions in lecture. He spends half the period showing useless pictures and babbling about random stuff. It's almost easier to study without hearing him lecture.
I took environmental science with him and had a friend who took geology with him. We both agree that his exams are ridiculous. I worked really hard for my A, doing all the extra credit, hours of studying. He writes vague test questions and tests you on unimportant things. His lectures were interesting, but his tests are ridiculous.
Dave is an extraordinary instructor who will go above and beyond to help you understand any concepts you didn't get in class. Utilize his office hours, show up for class, write everything down from the whiteboard and use that as your study guide. He is smart, funny, and the best instructor I have ever had. Not an easy A but great class!
probably my favorite teacher ever and my least favorite class. i wasnt intrested in the material but dave did everything he could to make sure i passed. great teacher.
Grade based mostly on 4 tests, and attendance. Yosemite was rad but a crazy hike. Tests are super hard but no homework. Dave loves this class but is a bit scattered. He wants you to learn though and is passionate about geo. Gave me P/NP option, but let me take the B after I got the grade back from my final. Cool guy, hard class!
Nice guy, very passionate about teaching. Not as laid back as most instructors, sure hates it when you are late to class! I had a hard time with his test questions, not sure if it was him or me.
Very passionate. Interesting lectures. Hard tests. To succeed you must be willing to dedicate yourself to learning and researching extra information on your own time, including office hours and study groups. Dave does not post lecture notes online so the only way to obtain the info that'll be on the tests is to attend lecture. Lecture is mandatory.
Great teacher, very passionate. You must be willing to work hard and study to do well in his classes, but he is very clear about what he wants you to remember, so pay attention and go to the lectures! Lots of extra credit opportunities, so make sure you participate -- it could raise your class score by an entire letter grade.
Extremely clear teacher, if you take notes and listen to lecture, class will be a walk in the park, tests are somewhat difficult though. Don't miss ANY classes. You will regret it.
Take good lecture notes! Show up to your labs every week because they can help clear up information. Dave is very passionate and funny. Sometimes is all over the place. Second half of the semester is more interesting than the first. Worth taking the course however.
totally unorganized. doesnt have the lecture notes up (which he says you should print before class and take notes with)until 5 minutes before class starts. incomprehensable study guides, 100+ study questions when combined with other two teachers who dont communicate with eachother. hated the class. would never recommend to another student. EVER!
I took this class thinking it would be an easy A, but the lecture and the lab together are very hard. He expects his studentes to be as passionate about the subject as he is and he expects them to spend a large amount of time studying for his class. Dave himself is a great guy, very funny and easy going but this class is unorganized and not helpful
Great teacher, very dedicated and enthusiastic! I recommend Dave highly.
Dave is an awesome person but if your taking his class be prepared to work hard. No homework and cool trips but the tests are hard, take really good notes in the lectures and be prepared to use them all on the exams. He is a bit scattered but his passion for geology is contagious.
Took his oceanography class online hybrid class. The material and class itself was pretty difficult so be prepared to work hard. However, Dave is a really nice guy and cares about his students. Therefore, if you show to him that you put in the effort, he will go out of his way to make sure you pass.
I really like Dave as a person. He is passionate and loves his topic, so you will enjoy his talks. However, his test questions are extremely hard, even if you study. His powepoints are useless for study purposes and his study guides are hard. The textbook is useless. This class has two other teachers and guest speakers, so you can be successful.
Best class I have taken in my entire life. Oceanography is amazing! Lots of material, but SO INTERESTING and worth it! Must take!!!!! I'm even smiling as I look back on the class. If you like the ocean and being in the company of another ocean-lover, Dave is perfect. His enthusiasm is totally contagious. I blush whenever I run into him on campus.
Very helpful Professor. His passion about Geology is contagious. This should be a 4 or 5 unit course with the workload but worth every moment. Just take his class when you have a light course load and you will love it. He's great too.
Great instructor who loves his job. You'll learn a lot but you will also work for it
Dave is an awesome guy but his class is quite difficult. A LOT of material covered in lecture. Hard to stay awake during lecture, but he TRIES to spice things up. ALOT of E.C. and they want to see people succeed but you must also want it. Didnt use the book more than 5 times and got a B, but i did all E.C. and at least showed up to class.
Schwartz is an amazing guy and professor. He is charming and interesting, and his passion for ocean science and teaching is evident. If you attend his office hours, study and show up to class you'll do fine. It's only difficult when you miss class and don't pay attention. I highly recommend this class. Out of class work is fun and overall A+
This was one of the most simple to pass and jaw droppingly easy classes I have ever taken at Cabrillo. Don't bother buying the overly expensive custom textbook, you will never use it. They post all the lectures online so you barely have to attend either. Easy A for non-science majors looking for general ed
Dave makes the lectures fun and interesting. He moves through the material really fast, so take lots of notes (use the outlines on his website) and record the lectures if you aren't a good note taker. Show up to class and labs, study your notes, and work with a study group to get a good grade. Dave will go out of his way to help you out-just ask.
Dave is one cool cucumber, he almost seems like some fake Hollywood film scientist, but he's the real deal. GEOL 10 was not an easy class, but he makes it very enjoyable. His lectures can be difficult to follow at times because he does not plan them out, but it also leads to him being animated to speak about whatever topic he's working on.
He definitely is passionate about what she teaches, but he ends up talking and talking and never finishes his lectures. He gives out study questions for the tests, but they never match whats actually on the test. He doesn't emphasize whats important and what's not. He basically only helps those who major in ES. Avoid him if possible.
Dave is a great teacher, & a kind person who will take the time to help ALL of his students. In addition to office hours, his lab room is open for extra help & time to study materials. Dave's passion for Earth Science is contagious. Many liked his courses so much that they changed their majors to Earth Sci. He offers awesome learning experiences!
Dave's a chiller. He is so passionate about geology, in my opinion, that it got in the way of teaching; many of his thoughts were scattered. The tests too were scattered. This made it difficult to learn the material. However, the class was still interesting and I managed to get an A. Yosemite camping at the end of the semester made it worth it!
Passion, knowledge and humor fills his lectures with entertainment. Challenging concepts are made easily understandable by his unique way of describing formations and metamorphic facies "think of a roast beef" This course is not easy but is FUN He is the most available Professor on campus, classroom is always open, filled with TA's old and new
Inspirational, passionate, knowledgable about ocean geology and topography. Lectures are packed with information, read the text book before hand, office hours are a better place for questions and he is readily available before and after his classes. There is an abundant amount of TA's who adore Dave and the subject, this helps!
Dave is passionate about geology, and it really comes through during his lectures. His tests can be tough, but if you pay attention during his lectures you'll have everything you need to succeed in his class. Highly recommended if you want to learn about earth science from an enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructor.
If you're looking to an easy A do not take California Geology with Dave. If you are a science major, love geology, or are simply interested in learning a lot and challenging yourself then Dave is the professor you should take. I learned more from him than any science professor in the past. He is passionate and fair.
Dave was great, but if youre looking to take oceanography as an easier version of a physical science, look somewhere else. This class was TOUGH. Mainly online, we had to read lectures and then answer a question from him on the discussion board most of the time, so participation was important. Final project requires going to beaches and making a map
Dave is easy to get along with. His tests can be difficult so 1) show up to class... on time! 2) utilize the student assistants 3) utilize the study guides and practice practice practice your mineral and rock identification The class is great, the atmosphere is good and you will learn a lot. His enthusiasm for geology is contagious!
Conveys a passion for science and science education. He can be a little hard to relate with or connect to at first, but after demonstrating a commitment to learning and the subject, Dave really opens up. His courses have changed the way I see the planet and are a must for science students of any discipline!
Dave makes study resources readily available: including himself, study guides, and lab specimens. He'll help motivated students succeed; ask him if you don't understand something. He doesn't test on things he hasn't taught about (no reading required); if you take/study lecture notes, use the study guides, and attend lab you'll do well in his class.
This class has a very helpful, supportive, and professional environment. Dave is an amazing person and charismatic professor. His enthusiasm and passion is inspiring. This class is very in depth so it was very challenging for me as a communications major. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. Favorite parts were the labs, camping in Yosemite, and Dave's smile!
Dave is so enthusiastic about Geology it actually makes you want to learn. He can be fast paced during lectures, but if you pay attention, don't miss class, and study for tests, you will pass with an A!
He is an incredibly nice guy and wonderful person to talk to. If I wasn't trying to learn anything, I'd say I enjoyed the class. The problem is, he rambles so much about irrelevant stuff that it becomes impossible to know what the class material is and what is just him being excited about rocks, making learning said material near impossible.
Awesome teacher, really wants students to succeed. Extremely passionate about his subjects, hard classes if it's not your major or interests. Took es-10, had to work my butt off for a good grade! Go to classes, they'll help you out more if you do. Relies only on tests, DO THE EXTRA CREDIT. Book is not worth buying, go to the library to skim it
Dave is enthusiastic about his job and having a teacher who really loves his subject is an amazing way to truly learn the material and get excited about science. The lectures can be a bit sporadic but as long as you are involved and focused the information is there.
He is an awesome teacher! He makes his lectures interesting and Ocenaography is really fun. He helped me realize the problems in the ocean and I will forever participate in ocean cleanups! He also gives really good extra credit and lots of opportunity to make up any bad grades! HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Rambling lectures, written tests that don't reflect the suggested study guidelines, rock/mineral quizzes of up to 30-35 specimens while only having 10-12 to actually study. Geology majors in class are doing poorly and considering changing majors. Very difficult "intro" science class. Do your GPA a favor and stay away.
Best teacher ever! Fun, inspirational, enthusiastic just had 3 midterms and a finale. i didnt need the book. Just show up, study the power points and study question hes gives and youll pass. He also gives 20 extra credit points for his beach cleanup that he does every year. I totally recommend him!
Dave is an outstanding speaker, with so much energy and passion about all the material hes talking about. Hes extremely smiley and is always open for a conversation after class, such a great guy. Im signed up to take his oceanography class this upcoming semester and am super excited to learn more from him.
My greatest tip for those who decide to take his geology class is to review/teach yourself before and after classes(always). Lectures are very fast paced, and he tends to spiral somewhat off topic from the core learning objective. Time spent studying the book and information in the lab manual should be more than the actual class time. Stress Out!
Taking his with christa&this was the biggest mistake. The ONLY points in your grade book are 4 exams& only 1 extra credit opportunity& the final is worth even more. Christa stays on topic w her lecture notes, but Dave rambles on too much. His lecture notes are never consistent&the test has opposite stuff that you study for. Dont take this class.
He is super into what he is talking about is seems like such a nice guy, but he is not clear about what information is important. Studying for tests is confusing. His lecture presentations do not match his study guides. The only thing that counts towards your grade are the exams. I wish I would have dropped this class and taken something else.
All lectures in his ES-10 class. Really hard to follow when he's lecturing and the only grades in the books were for tests, which made the class very difficult for those who struggle with testing. His test questions consist of specific numbers and dates. He's a pretty nice person but not a very good professor. Take this class if you test well.
Dave is an awesome teacher and professor! He's spent years in the field of Oceanography, and provides knowledge and experience that you just can't get from words in a textbook. You'll have to study hard for tests and be sure to attend every lecture and lab, but it's worth it. Our oceans are so important, everyone should take this course!
Dave is so passionate about what he does, I lived this class. The lecture material is very important and if you take good notes that textbook is hardly needed, I love the topic so I thoroughly enjoy the class but even my friend who dislikes science learned a lot and appreciated Daves class
Dave's truly passionate about what he does and that shines through in his teaching. His class was VERY lecture heavy. The class is entirely note based, so pay attention! He always reiterates salient information, despite going off on tangents. He's super funny too. If lectures aren't your thing, then his style might not suit you.
Hes a really nice guy but his lectures are very hard to follow. He often goes off on tangents such that students lose focus during class. His lecture slides are mostly comprised of images and often have no written explanation of their meanings, making them challenging to decipher outside of lecture.
He is teaching what he lives and loves. You really need to study and understand the subjects to do well in his class. He is teaching you how they would teach you in a 4 year college. He will give you all the information for the test. What you do with it is up to you. This WILL reflect on the tests.
Dave is an amazing professor, I have taken multiple classes because his passion for his work is infectious and his teaching style makes you want to do better. Those who rate him poorly are students who do not like putting in the effort and are looking for an easy A. If you take his class and put in the work you will have fun and will not regret it!
Dave is smart, humble, passionate, and caring. What more could you want? Sadly for students; he is retiring soon; he will be missed. If you have a chance to take one of his classes before he starts his well deserved retirement; jump on it!!!
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
83%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.17 avg changeRatings by Course
81520
5.0
(1)85179
5.0
(1)CAPINNGEO
5.0
(1)GEOL20
5.0
(3)OCEAN1
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
OCEAN
5.0
GEO
5.0
GEOLGEOL
5.0
ESTENES
5.0
GEOLOGY20
5.0