2.9
Quality3.1
Difficulty30%
Would Retake87
Reviews30%
Would Retake
87
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
14
4
21
3
16
2
23
1
13
What Students Say
“His class is awesome and his tests are really easy”
PHYS123 - 5.0 rating“I loved him as a teacher”
PHYS123 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
65%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.25 avg changeRatings by Course
PHYS121
5.0
(1)PSYSS1
5.0
(1)PHYCS220
5.0
(1)PHSCS471
5.0
(1)UNIV101
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHY220
4.0
PSA
4.0
PHYS123220
4.0
PHSCS123
3.6
PHYSICS220
3.5
Reviews (87)
Great guy! Great teacher! Helps you learn lots. Funny & kind.
Absolutely worthless teaching in this course. He doesn't make the tests, or even the class notes.
No Comments
For most quizzes he lets you discuss the answer before you dial it in. He's easier than Campbell, not as easy as Rees. Definitely the most entertaining of the lot. An austere man, he doesn't like to be bothered too much with your problems.
He's kind of scatter-brained.
I only had him for a three day class, but he's very helpful, interesting, and lenient on grades. Seems like a real great guy!
Very difficult to understand, had to attend lectures from a different prof. A scatter-brain.
The class was incredibly easy with many points based on homework (which I did everyday in the lab). The final exam was tough but fair. David is a little off the wall and a bit disorganized but he cares.
Well, he never managed to get my name right, even when reading it off the class roll. He did manage to read the book to the class effectively EVERY STINKIN' DAY in lecture.
not a bad class. Dr. Allred is very approachable and won't treat you like trash. Tests are tough (especially the final), but the grading scale is very favorable. Lectures are sometimes pointless, but can be interesting.
Dr. Allred is a genius and he knows this material very well. Although he knows the material very well, at times his explanations are hard to understand. I spent the first month of class trying to understand his lectures, but as I became more familiar with the topic, his lectures became very helpful.
Did not take responsibility for his own mistakes on the test, but instead graded you on what he "meant", not what he wrote. Glosses over important details expecting the students to already know it. He has taught so long that he has forgotten what it is like not to know the material, and assumes a lot.
Don't be mistaken, this is a physics core class and is the same no matter who the instructor is. I liked Dr. Allred because he made lectures interesting and he worked through lots of HW and test problems in class. Very approachable and fun to work with.
most physicist are a little wacky and DR. A is no excpetion. he is very knoweldable about thing other than physics which i like. lecture were interesting and fun. he does lots of demos. test were hard, but fair. grading was fair also. homework is same for all 106 classes-short and easy but woth 25% in his class. accomedatin when homework went bad.
Doesnt teach, just watch movies...waste of TIME and MONEY
Tests were sometimes unclear, because of the wording.
Scatter-brained, but entertaining. Homework and daily quizzes raise the grades, but the exams and final are tough. Overall, an easy course except for the tests. He's not the best at explaining things, but lectures are amusing.
Prof. Allred is a good teacher. He makes physics interesting and for the most part explains things pretty well. His tests are pretty straightforward; the questions are all pretty similar to the homework problems. I would recommend him for sure. If you have any problems he is very willing to help out and easy to work with.
does a lot of mistakes in exams and grading. not fair grading but easy to get grade though if you are enthusiastic enough to do your homeworks with the TAs who for most of the time suck
Dr Allred is very entertaining and has fun lectures. However, he doesn't actually teach much of the material, so you'll be teaching yourself from the book or you'll become best friends with the TAs. When he does teach, he explains concepts fairly good so that everyone understands. His tests start easy, but get progressively harder through the year.
Poorly written tests. Lectures are a waste of time.
Dr. Allred is the man! His class is awesome and his tests are really easy. Have the TA's become your good friends and it is a piece of cake. HOLLAA!
Dr. Allred is a very amusing professor who keeps class interesting. We go over the scientific concepts in class, but we don't go over a whole lot of math. The homework is all the mathematical application of the concepts, so sometimes it takes a while to connect the math and the concepts. Overall a good course and a good prof.
Dr Allred was great. Lectures were interesting, not boring like other physics classes I've had. He was very fair with grades, was always willing to work with you. Does not give a lot of busy work. Great professor.
Mad scientist to the core. Very helpful, teaches clearly the concepts and keeps you interested. Does not waste time proving everything mathematically but showing you why things are the way they are.
Allred is definitely a physics teacher; however, I found his class to be entertaining. He teaches more useful information than past physics teachers I've had. Tests weren't too difficult with the exception of the final. Homework, labs, quizzes count for a large part of the grade so its not too hard to get an A. Would recommend this teacher.
Dr. Allred is hilarious, which keeps class entertaining. He also genuinely cares about students. He is, however, extremely unorganized. Don't go to his office...you might throw up. He has the potential to be an excellent teacher, but his negative traits get in the way. Tests are pretty hard, but homework and quizzes aren't bad.
Dr. Allred is hilarious and fun. Passed out 300 copies of the syllabus by throwing them across the room, sings "God Rest Ye Merry Physicists." Very kind to students, almost to a fault. Highly recommend him. Caveat: he's very disorganized and spends too much time on 'class business' i.e. trying to get the clickers and tech stuff to work.
This teacher is really enthusiastic about Physical Science, but he doesn't explain things well at all. He does a lot of experiments that he doesn't connect to what we are learning, and going to class confused me. I would read the chapter, understand, and then go to class and be utterly confused by him. He is really really nice though.
He's a great teacher, and he's funny and he'll keep your attention. Just make sure you go to class to take the iclicker quizes, and you don't really need to go to lab if you understand the material. I hate physical science, but I loved this class.
I will admit, he seems like he cares and tries hard, yet you will hate this class. He wastes unbelievable amounts of class time trying to be funny and doesn't know how to work his own labs and examples. When he tries to clarify things, you wind up more confused than when you started. IF YOU HAVE ANY CHOICE, DO NOT TAKE FROM HIM!
Dr. Allred might be considered your modern day mad-scientist. You'll see. He's great, but it's true, he is rather unorganized, in fact it's miraculous he doesn't mess things up more often. His office is legendary...Homework is moderate difficulty, the tests are tricky if you don't go to his review lecture.
Prof Allred is nice and a pretty funny guy but his class is the LEAST organized I've every been to. The tests were very poorly written. If you try to ask him a question to clarify it's VERY confusing, and he wastes tons of class time going over unnecessary things. It's pretty much a teach-it-to-yourself class.
Dr. Allred is way funny. He responds to emails very quickly. The class isn't too hard. If you read the chapters in the book the tests are pretty easy. Overall the class is easy if you do the reading (which is very resonable). The online hw and grading system is great! I would definately take another class from Dr. Allred.
He gives the lectures on the assumption that you did the required reading, so if you didn't, you're lost. On the other hand, if you did, it is a very enjoyable class. You will learn a lot, and it all comes together at the end. I took it on the block, but it wasn't too bad. He gives plenty of second chances.
I can't say I learned anything remotely helpful from this class. You HAVE to do the readings, because he will not teach you much. He is very interested with the "object lessons" of the course (ex: blowing things up, the monkey gun demo, blowing up more things etc...) He did do review questions with the iclicker, but they weren't helpful.
Allred is very entertaining and a nice guy. However, I didn't find his lectures very helpful. I learned the material from the TA Lab and reading the book. The main reason I went to class was because we had in class quizzes.
Professor would not explain difficult concepts or any concepts at all. He just rambles about random stuff that doesn't apply and plays with toys. Take this class from someone else if you can.
He's OK I suppose.
He was a good professor overall. You have to go to class everyday for iclicker quizes. Lectures aren't to helpful. I learned straight from the book and TA reviews. Professor is funny and interesting to listen but sometimes get boring Overal good professor
He is an entertaining professor. The lectures weren't too helpful, but he was always willing to answer questions in his office. The material was difficult, and I think he did a fair job of teaching it.
He's the best prof for 123 as far as I can tell. He made the class much easier than expected.
I loved him as a teacher. He is willing to explain difficult concepts. Physics has weird stuff, and I think he does a very good job conceptualizing things so you can do more than just plug things in a formula.
Impossible class, made harder by his scatter brained teaching and unclear explanations. if you have to take 220, don't take it from him
Dr. Allred is awesome. He cares so much about the success of students and goes completely out of his way to help students and make sure they understand. The material is difficult, but he tries really hard to explain and help students understand. Exams and the homeworks are monsters, but TA and Dr. Allred are a lot of help. Allred is the man!
This professor had his ups and downs. I could honestly say that the TA's taught me more than i ever tried to learn IN class. He was funny at times, and other times half the class was asleep. It can be a rewarding class if you push yourself to study on your own and know that you are basically your own teacher.. kinda stinks.
Allred is really entertaining and tries to make the class interesting, but sometimes he doesn't do too well of a job of it. My best advice would be to read ALL of the textbook BEFORE you go to class; otherwise you get completely lost and have no idea what he's talking about. Also, the TA's are super helpful, but you need to go to the lab ALWAYS
This was such a fun class! Professor Allred made the material so much fun to learn! Read the material before class and then ask questions in class. Professor Allred is very helpful and kind. The TAs are fantastic and the grading is fair.
For a generals course, I'm very impressed with how entertaining Dr. Allred made the class. The tests are moderately difficult, but if you attend class and read the textbook, you should be fine.
Funny guy. Taught the material well and had an incredible way of remembering anyone who says anything in class-- even when there's 200 people. Tough class, but satisfying and interesting.
Wow. Never before have I had a more scatter-brained professor. The only reason I came to class was for the i-cliker quiz. I think only once or twice did he cover the material on the homework before it was due. Prepare to learn everything from the book and TA's.
I liked Dr. Allred a lot, but I felt like I didn't learn anything in lecture. He goes through his powerpoints very quickly and you can't get a lot of notes down. I mostly just went for the iClicker quizzes. However, Physical Science is pretty much the same from every teacher. You really depend on the TAs. Tests are difficult no matter what.
Dr. Allred is a horrible professor. He is extremely unorganized and there is no correlation between the homework, lectures, and tests. He is not helpful outside of class and when you do ask him questions you leave more confused than before. I don't know how he has lasted as a professor this long.
I only went to class for iclicker quiz, then after that it was too confusing to follow. Prof. Allred is nice and funny but it's just like listening to the textbook being read out loud in class. I basically learned everything in the TA labs right before the test. You have several pgs of reading in the book, and warmups online before class
Professor Allred was a genuinely nice guy... but not the best professor. He was more like a grandfather figure. If you struggle with science, he's probably not your best choice. I read the entire textbook and I like science, so I was able to pass the class just fine.
He doesn't explain the material well and always goes on random tangents while he teaches. Attendance is mandatory and to get anything out of his lectures you HAVE TO read.
Professor Allred is the cutest old man, but he is not a great teacher. He is scatterbrained and often goes off topic, telling us things that will not be on the test. For someone that is very interested in physical science, the things he talks about could be interesting, but if your'e just looking for a good grade, find someone else.
If you're intelligent, you'll appreciate how great this guy's sense of humor is. I can't say he's an effective lecturer, but he is an effective teacher. The class is set up so you'll learn a lot, and the tests really aren't THAT bad. A little easier than expected for physics 220. Not too hard to get an A, easy to get an A- or B+
He is very, very disorganized and can be frustrating to deal with. He will attempt to help you if you ask for it, but you may get more confused. It is unclear how the things he talks about in lecture will be applied in the homework or on the test. His tests are often confusing and vague, with many errors.
I don't understand. I just. I cannot even. Great guy, always says things about the gospel although it doesn't usually make any sense. If you like being confused then go for it. Surprisingly not too hard to get a decent grade for some reason. But seriously this guy makes no sense. Only take it if you must.
He's a wacky guy who will help you a ton if you ask. He's very knowledgeable and flexible on gradingassignment criteria as long as you have his cooperation and interest.
Loved the material, hated the class. If you're good at reading physics books and teaching yourself concepts then you'll be able to complete the HW. As for tests, they are as disorganized, frustrating, confusing and random as his lectures, and teaching style. Recommendation if you HAVE to take the course..... Wait it out, till another comes along.
Dr. Allred truly cares about his students. I agree, however, that his tests are not very correlated to his lectures mostly because they aren't originally his tests/notes. His exams/sample exams have yet to come out without mistakes, such as lacking the correct answer as an option. I don't recommend the class because he is confusing and scattered.
You get a notebook at the beginning of the semester which you can use on exams and actually bring into the testing center. Yet the tests are still really hard. This class was much more difficult than PHS 121 with Rees simply because the tests are so hard.
He's a nice guy, rather wacky, but he's so scatterbrained it's often hard to follow what he's talking about. He also seems to be unsure of himself. He'll ask rhetorical questions and say he doesn't know the answer a lot.
Honestly, if iclickers weren't a part of the class, I never would have gone. I'm finally writing a review because I remembered how infuriating the class sometimes was. If you're good at math and self studying, easy A, if you're normal good luck.
I'd say one of the worst professors I have had. I get good grades and did in this class as well but it was no thanks to professor Allred. He is disorganized and often lectures about topics that have no real importance. He doesn't tie concepts together well. I wouldn't go to class if it were't for iclickers. Don't take him if you can avoid it
I had Allred for 123 & 220. He is utterly brilliant but struggles to explain concepts to people of normal intelligence. He really does want you to succeed, though. For 220 his practice tests were very similar to his actual tests making the class pretty reasonable despite the difficulty of the subject.
Professor Allred is an excellent teacher, but frequently you won't understand the full meaning of what he teaches until you really practice the material. The before class readings are essential to your understanding of course material and you must attend class or you will fail. The tests are very based on the same concepts as the practice exams.
Dr. Allred is really funny and is genuinely interested in your success and making the course interesting for you. He's also really funny and used a lot of videos and demonstrations to make lectures fun.
Lots of work for this class. Not too bad if you have enough time to keep up with reading, lecture, study guide, labs, and homework, but it takes a large time commitment to succeed. Lectures are very bad and difficult to follow. Exams every other week. Dr. Allred did not help my understanding of the material much at all, ask a TA instead.
I really enjoyed this class. It took a lot of time, but the class objectives were clear. What helped me the most was skimming the pre-class readings and quizzes, working out the homework, and then doing the practice exams. I got above a 90% on every exam because I studied the practice exams. Also, Dr. Allred is really helpful.
If you put in your time, this class is definitely doable. I had Dr. Allred for 123 and 220, and he was great for both. He's super helpful and wants to see you succeed. Tests are very fair (which is rare in the physics department tbh). It's hard subject matter, but Dr Allred will work with you if you're willing to try.
overall disorganized and scrambled in class. study guides contain little to no information and dont guide your studying very well. tests are more in depth than homework or classwork every was. i dont think physics is hard in general, but professor allred manages to make entry-level physics worse than both ochem semesters and biochem combined
The homework is a large portion of the grade, and the tests are not very difficult. If you are willing to work, you will do just fine. Dr. Allred is happy to answer questions for you. He is incredibly intelligent.
The homework took a long time, which is to be expected, and the tests were very straight forward and fair. If you do the work and the test reviews, you will do just fine.
Labs where very simple. Lectures where simple. Homework was challenging. Tests were the most difficult. He has a theory that students should learn while they're taking tests which is great for people passionate about Physics like himself, but for most it just becomes confusing when we're tested things we never went over. Use TAs, not teacher.
He degrades students publicly and privately. For example, before a test I wanted to meet with him to go over some concepts. He belligerently asked if I had a study group, and after I had responded that I didn't he begrudgingly agreed to help me. The next day in class he said that he was offering extra credit to those who had study groups.
He does not explain concepts very well or do many examples. Mostly felt like we were on our own for the homework. I just lived in the TA lab and the TAs taught me everything so it was definitely doable just not thanks to Doctor Allred.
Dr Allred is very intelligent and very nice. However, his lectures were incredibly chaotic and disorganized. He didn't answer questions very often or very well. His tests and homework are very difficult. The lectures were basically pointless yet there were required in class quizzes. Be ready to learn on your own.
Dr Allred is fun to have as a professor. The tests can hit you pretty hard, so get the material down as soon as possible. He is good at asking for questions, and usually does a good enough job answering them. There is a lab every few weeks. TAs are super helpful! Study with friends (make some in class if you can)
I basically learned nothing in the lectures despite really trying. They were disorganized and when he would write on the board his writing was so hard to read that it was almost not worth trying. The homework was really hard and the tests equally so. The internet taught me all of the content. He was really a nice guy but I'd rather learn something.
Dr. Allred is a great person, but not a good professor. Repeatedly throughout our class, he skipped slides because he didn't want to talk about them, skipped example questions, assumed we knew stuff that we were supposed to learn that day, and skipped through the majority of lectures. Ignores students' questions or got annoyed with them for asking.
Everything that Dr. Allred does is confusing. He turned in every one of our tests late to the testing center, had more typos on those tests than I thought possible, lectured us with the most confusing and unintelligible slides possible, and just in general jumped around from confused to more confused. Take this class with anyone else if possible.
Lectures contributed nothing. The textbook and TAs taught me everything I managed to learn. It ended up being too time consuming and I dropped the class. Let us use the chapter summaries booklet with the equations on exams and provided a practice exam before each one, so I gave a point for that. Be ready to teach yourself. Live in the TA lab.
He is a very sweet guy and really tries his best. He was not supposed to teach the class this semester and just got thrown into it. That being said, I did not attend the lectures most of the semester because they just made me more confused. It was sufficient to learn from the textbook. He is very intelligent, he just has trouble teaching it.
He was a great person and knows physics super well, but because he knows it so well, sometimes it's hard to understand as someone who is learning for the first time. He makes his own tests and lets you use a booklet of chapter summaries and formulas, but the tests are widely varying in difficulty. I either got an A or a C on every test.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
65%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.25 avg changeRatings by Course
PHYS121
5.0
(1)PSYSS1
5.0
(1)PHYCS220
5.0
(1)PHSCS471
5.0
(1)UNIV101
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHY220
4.0
PSA
4.0
PHYS123220
4.0
PHSCS123
3.6
PHYSICS220
3.5