2.7
Quality3.3
Difficulty26%
Would Retake235
Reviews26%
Would Retake
235
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
33
4
42
3
67
2
54
1
39
What Students Say
“He is very condescending towards the students”
GEO135 - 1.0 rating“Rambles about crap for 3 weeks”
GEO135 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
73%
Textbook Required
55%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.66 avg changeRatings by Course
IDS121HIS291
5.0
(1)HIS135
4.5
(2)HIST111
4.1
(9)GEO207
4.0
(1)D
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
GEOG135
4.3
FOI
4.0
GEO 135
4.0
HIS135
3.5
HIS136
3.5
Reviews (235)
I had him for FOI. I thought I was going to die.
he's a nice guy and a pretty understanding teacher. he just expects a lot form his students
i had him for foi and he was the most boring teacher ever. all he does is blabber on about nothing related to class. he is also so unclear about grading, i got an a but no clue how.
funny guy, just expects improvement, just do the work and you'll do well. he made a really boring class go by faster
No Comments
boring!!! called him gobbles, he just looked like he should be called that. likes to tell personal stories and swear to make himself feel cool, then, in between thoughts, dahhhhhh
he shows up late to appointments, gobbles for the whole class, talks aout what to put in your papers a week after you turn them in, and best of all, he uses personal experiences for EVERYTHING! he is sooooo boring
I had him for 1960s, and he was by far the worst teacher ever. He talks like he was fighting int he muck in vietnam when in fact he sat in an office. His stories are so boring and no body cares.The only good thing is the papers are graded very easily,My papers were always last minute and crap..still got A's and B's. But his coments were ridiculous
No Comments
He is such a nice guy, and is really understanding and accepting of your schedule as long as you put out an effort. Go to class and you will get an A, not a hard grader either
The guy looks and sounds like MLB Commisioner Bud Selig, but that means nothing. The class is boring but he seems helpful
Gobble Gobble Gobble. Looks like Mr. Rojers with his sport coat. Wears a grandpa hat to class. Swears to make himself feel cool and gives a cheap grin afterwards.
He sounds like winnie the poo. Grades not TOO bad, but the class is soooooooooo boring and he seems to think we are interested in all this history stuff when it is just a gen-ed. Not the worst class ive taken though.
YAWN!
Very Boring...goes off on BORING tangents. Love the way he dresses. Good luck in his class.
He is so boring!!! He never says anything helpful and thinks everyone in the class loves history (even though he knows otherwise)
It's not his fault but the man made this class a living hell. I was entertained by his ramblings that did not regard what we were learning. He has the best wardrobe ever. Anyone who can laugh at a bad situation will gaffaw plenty with this teacher.
No Comments
Most boring teacher ever!!!!
The class is boring and he speaks in monotone. I didnt read either of the books assigned or open the text book once and i still got a b
People are being WAY too harsh on this man. He is SUCH a nice guy, and yes...the lectures are pretty boring, but he pratically gave us one of the test, and he lets you drop your lowest score! He also grades on a curve-- and looks at each individual grade at the end. Nice, boring, FAIR... Get to know him, and let him know your name!
This guy was a BIG dork. He talks about **** all day and i never listened...fell asleep a lot and his notes are HORRIFIC....tests are short answer and essays which suck, and then theres a couple essays. He's an easy grader for the most part but he is very boring.
I did not like him at all! He was such an ass to anyone who asked any questions in the class....i mean their QUESTIONS what is there to argue about? Huge jerk and sooo boring. doesn't grade TOO awful for being such a jerk
I'll be honest..I didnt really like him when class first started and as the semester went on I thought I was going to shoot myself..BUT..he's a REALLY nice guy who knows what he's talking about! Let him get to know you...and LET HIM KNOW IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING...he'll be more than happy to sit down in his office and go over it with you!
Good luck staying awake! This guy rambles on and on about non-important material!! Also, he changes his testing format semester to semester. For my semester we were given a midterm, a comprehensive final, a paper, and a quiz (that he gave on a day when the least amount of people came to class). I did not like him personally.
He is very knowledgeable, but long winded. He gives way more notes than what are included on the test, so studying can be somewhat of a burden
Eh...class was ok, teacher was decent. He is very nice but I find him to be sarcastic and sometimes very blunt. He likes to talk too so sometimes lecture is a bit much. Not as boring as some history classes I have taken in the past. Final is cumulative but it is take home so that cool.
Lectures were somewhat interesting and relatively informative. He was unorganized but a pretty good professor. Tests were easy but lectures were very boring. He didn't really do anything to make the class interesting. I wouldn't avoid him, it was an easy class.
He wasn't a bad guy at all. He really wants everyone to well in his class. He made the final optional and he also let you drop a test grade. A little boring at times, but everything in the lectures is on the tests.
I could have sworn I signed up for a GEO course, but little did I know I would be taking a course in weather -- the man is actually a meterologist and just "happen to pick up some geography' along the way (he said this!) - he talks about hurricanes and storms for atleast the first 20 mins of class. Paper topics are more POL topics than GEO
Average
He was an awesome teacher!! I like to listen to what he had to say! Lectures weren't that boring, I didn't mind going to class. As long as you pay attention in class you will do fine on the tests (they are short answer and essays, but its not too bad).
Tests are medium in difficulty. There are 3 given and you pick 2 to take. The final is take home, and there are 2 5-page papers which are kind of difficult, but the teacher is very passionate about the subject and class is very relaxing. I went to class about half the time and got a high C, low B. If you go more often you could easily get an A.
Very easy class if you study because he basically gives you the questions beforehand as a prac test. Paper is the hardest part essays just make a point and you get an A. Final is optional. CLASS IS BORING very boring but this class was an easy B+ if not A.
I have had Dr. Johnson for 3 semesters (On purpose). He's the BEST Professor I have ever had. Not to mention, I struggled in another class he knew a lot about and helped me with it! He is the most intelligent person I have ever met. Consider yourself extremely blessed if you Take any of his classes: AMDIV, GEO135, Geo211 (sometimes applies)
Easy but tries to appear hard.
This class is very boring. Be prepared to fall asleep. His exams are all messed up and they are very hard. The only good thing about this class is that he curves some of the exams.
Worst teacher I have ever had. bar none.
Be prepared to not hear about what your tested on. He enjoys talking about random things that gernerally don't pertain to the information we're supposed to be learning. He only makes you take 2 out of 3 tests and the final is optional. I bombed both tests but took the take home essay final and got a B. For the minimal work I did, it was great.
He was the worst teacher I ever had, and I had to drop the class cuz it was ridiculous. He expects a lot
He definately expects a lot out of you. You must learn everything in the course as if it were a second language. His tests are very specfic and you very difficult to prepare yourself for. There is one large paper that you must write like an expert in the field. good luck if you're stuck with him.
This is the BEST Professor I have ever had.I have been in all 3 of the classes that he teaches, not to mention he prevented me from failing physics.This professor is fun, interesting, and always there to help students when they needed it, rather for life advice, or school advice, he is always there to listen and help.My life is better because of hi
Class is boring but interesting if you like learning about global issues and current events... lectures can start to get off topic but he definitely knows what he's talking about... go to class and take notes and you won't need the textbook... always take the essay exam and just make a point in your essay and you'll do fine... you'll learn a lot
He is one of the worst teachers I have ever had. He deliberately goes out of his way to make you feel stupid and lesser of a person because you are not a perfectionist on the subject. His tests have NOTHING to do with what he discusses in class and neither do all of his "pop" quizzes".
If you think you're signing up for traditional geography, think otherwise. This class is about weather, climate, politics, history, etc. It sucked really bad and I jumped for joy when I got an A. I expected a C.
I love David! He is silly but really interesting and knows a TON. He's a little snippy if you ask him a question that he thinks is dumb.
VERY DRY. Not the most difficult class in the world, but very boring. Take advantage of the study guides for the tests online- they help ALOT. As long as you turn in solid papers and studey hard for the tests you should easily get a B/A.
will help if you ask. read the material 5 min a day and ask for help with papers and you'll be fine. material has everything to do with the test. i learned a lot from our country that wasn't taught in hs. only thing didn't like was the ta in charge of in class discussions didn't bring more topics. would've helped class more dynamic/easier for some.
I've had Dr.Johnson for two classes now and he can be very dry. But the information is pretty interesting. Go to class because he gives random quizzes (for attendance not answering them). He puts all of his outlines online, but it's good to print those out and take notes on them during class.
very boring. talks in one tone and doesn't use a microphone. slept in class every day. doesn't give study guides. definitely not your typical geography class. He talks about basically everything BUT geography. try to avoid this class if you can. big research paper too.
I really can't say if I liked him or not. Maybe it was because of my early class, but I had trouble retaining the information he lectured about. His tests were difficult but he curves them and many times gives you the answer for 1/3 of them on the study guide. I have gotten all A's since I was born,but this was my only C in my life besides phych.
Text book adn lectures adn tests were not related at all. 2 forms of tests, multi choice or short answers. tests don't really relect lecture or text book much. a few points from attendence. One research paper required.
I have been in 4 of his classes, by choice! I sincerely cannot thank him enough for all of his help. He went above and beyond to help me with my anxiety disorder last year. He is so willing to help, that it is impossible to fail his classes. He even offers extra credit Take his classes when you get the chance they will help your future!
Very Very boring. belittles people who ask questions during class.
I learned more about history in this class than I have my entire life. This professor really has become a mentor for me. He is helpful after class, and has a great understanding personality. As long as you go to class, take notes, and read just a bit, you can ace his tests which if you do the study guide you WILL ACE! This professor is helpful!!!!
BORING! He begins the class by dimming the lights. Then goes on and on talking about pointless information that we do not even need to know for the test. I found it impossible to stay focused on the lecture for more then 5 minutes before drifting off into space. Expects students to come in with more prior knowledge then we have. Avoid if you can
AWESOME teacher! He is very understanding about personal issues and if you go in for help with papers he will help drastically. Go to class because there are random attendance and pop quizzes. HIGHLY recommend him!
has a very monotone voice. an easy class if you read the books early, you'll be fine. the study guides online are very helpful, the first test was word for word what the study guide was. we had attendance on random days so it was better just to show up everyday
This class is the best class Ive ever taken with him! Ive taken 3 of his classes and loved all of em! Take this class to raise your gpa, it isnt hard, but fun! He offers extra credit to watch movies and is always available in office hours. Take time to get to know him and youll see how great of a person he really can be!
I think this guy writes his own comments. I just read several of them and most of those who highly recommend him repeat same idea in different words, and have same writing style. This said, class ok, do study guides, extra credit. The man is insecure, he tries to prove he's smarter than the students. Ignore him, read text, get your grade, get out.
The guy's resume is impressive... Vietnam vet, military intel, meteorologist, etc. Extremely knowledgable. Old school no doubt, tends to give long-winded and rambling lectures. Didn't buy the textbook and still aced the course. If you can stay awake, pay attention and take notes... easy A.
Probably the most boring class possible at ISU. The guy just rambles on about information that isn't even on the tests. The tests are pretty hard. It's nearly impossible to pay attention or even stay awake for more than five minutes. He takes random attendance quizzes that you can easily have a friend fill out if you aren't there.
This guys not too bad. If you have a general idea of what he's talking about it's easy. I like how he says a swear word every once in a while. I know it's college and we're mature enough to handle it, but you don't hear professors swear too often.
class was boring, but most history classes are. he seemed very knowledgeable about the topic..had 2 papers and 4 essay tests. however, you only take 2 of the first 3 and our final was optional..pop quizzes and attendance go towards your grade.
Very cool guy, is willing to help students with any problems. There are 3 tests, and one gets dropped, a few easy quizzes, and 2 papers, very easy grader.
Sweet sweaters. Including his one from Wesleyan. Philisophical question to remain unanswered: toupee real or not? Pretty good class too
Grade was made up of Two tests and a final, plus like 5% of the course was attendance. Good choice if u'd rather not have to do much except take exams. They were somewhat challenging, yet definitely do-able.
The class is tough, but if you study and talk to him then there's no reason for you not to get an A. Tests are difficult to study for... but they aren't necessarily hard. There's 10 short answer and you do 1 essay. You're paying to work in college, so don't be surprised that he makes you work sometimes.
Worst class I have taken while at ISU. He is going to ruin my 4.0 and I wish I was kidding. His lectures are the worst and taking notes is very difficult. His tests are the hardests tests I've taken while at ISU. Taking the essay tests are easier than the multiple choice tests which doesnt make any sense but is true.
Johnson got his degrees in physics...nonetheless, he's a great history professor! He has a story for everything. PRINT OUT THE LECTURE NOTES-that way you don't waste time taking notes on things that he has already written for you. The tests aren't that bad-the papers are hard, but he's an easy grader, so don't sweat it.
There are 3 unit exams, which you are only required to take 2, and 2 papers. The final exam is worth 30% of your grade but it is optional. As for David Johnson, hes an OK professor. He appears to be very well spoken but he doesn't properly record your grades and needs better people skills. If you can find another professor for history, do it!
Easy if you're a good writer and follow the lecture guides. He's an easy grader, but you don't know what will pop up on the tests. Two papers, two tests, one optional final exam. He's not very helpful; he tries, but doesn't quite grasp students' questions and concerns.
Unbelievably boring! Good luck staying awake for this class. Only grades are two test grades and the final. Tests are completely unpredictable, horrible at answering questions/keeping your attention. Only good thing he does is give an option to write a paper instead of taking one test. Get another teacher if you have to take this class.
DB John's class is HARD.....without knowing what is on his tests. He doesnt change his tests from year to year. The average curve out of his 3 tests was 8 pts. Take the tests. Dont do the paper.
This class is super boring! But he is a knowledgeable and nice. VISIT HIS OFFICE. IT HELPS. He like to talk alot but show him you care. 2 test and the final. He give you the option of mc or essay. Gives a curve each test.Can sub 1 test for a paper.DO THE PAPER dont wait til the last min.Fill in the outline he give u during lec. u never use the book
Very boring. Goes on half hour tangents constantly. Difficult to stay awake and get the relevant information out of his rants. But online "lecture guides" will help when studying for tests. Curves tests around 6-8 points. Basically not too challenging, but very boring and not many ways to earn points. Only 2 tests and a final with 10% participation
Brutal. Absolutely brutal. Lectures are long-winded and he asks a lot of questions that no one in the class knows the answer to. He uses transparencies and likes to hear his own voice. Going is necessary since he takes a lot of the test questions from lecture. You can write a paper instead of taking one of the tests. Do it.
Go to class but good luck staying awake; he goes off on half hour tangents and the stuff on the test is completely random. get another professor if you can. There are 2 tests and the final is cumulative and you are given the option of taking an essay version or mult choice. I didn't learn ANYTHING in the class and I went everyday. He ruined my GPA
going to class helped a little but i still found that what he put on the test was not covered. if you have to take his class, which i dont reccommend, do one of the essays instead of one of the tests
WORST teacher ever! do not take this class. he expects way to much out of his students. he goes off on lecture notes on half hour tangents. he is the worst grader. and is unreasonable. to him is is the only person who is correct about anything. DO NOT TAKE JOHNSON! he is also very boring.
can get boring at 8 am, but this class was pretty easy if you took notes and looked over the notes he provides. 2 out of 3 test are taken, if he grades it it counts. optional final (take home essay). papers are hard & books are long! there is no reason to not at least get a B if you do extra credit..which he offers 10% points! :) Attendence = 10%
As long as you do well on the tests (you take 2 of 3 and optional final) and papers (there are two.. answer EVERY component of the prompt thorougly) you'll be okay. I went to class maybe 3/8 of the time and got an A. Be really thorough on tests too.
Lectures are very boring. I strongly recommend taking the essay form of the test as it is hard to not get an A or B on it. The multiple choice test questions are very random and difficult.
His tests aren't terrible but he has you write 2 papers that are killer hard. He puts alot of requirements on them and if they aren't perfect, which is hard cause his topics are so confusing and use highly intellegent words to trick you, he makes you redo them. I absolutely hated this class! take it with someone else if you can!
Not a bad class if you go to class and take notes. Do the optional paper for the second test. Random in class qizzes. The final for my section was optional.
This class is boring &confusing. He assumes everyone has background knowledge in everything he teaches, which most students don't. There were 5 in class quizzes. You can either take an essay test or multiple choice. Essay is WAY easier. You can write a paper instead of taking the second exam. Three days before the final he told us it was optional.
He is a very intelligent professor who is clearly passionate about what he teaches. His tests are difficult but you're allowed to replace your 2nd exam with a paper. DO IT. All in all, I learned a great deal and he was always willing help whenever I needed it. Although the class is challenging, Prof. Johnson is not out to get you.
the lectures can be boring, but if you pay attention he pretty much tells you whats going to be on the test. He is also very generous with curving the test scores. I would recommend this teacher.
He's very knowledgeable but if you don't have a background in what he's teaching it can be a lot of details and information. Recommend doing the paper option for second test, I didn't and I REALLY regretted it. Tests are over a LOT of information and then it's only 50 questions that are mostly random and super specific so are hard.
Get a different teacher!
Easy class if you just go and pay attention. He has all the notes online so I never had to take any. He is slightly dull but enjoys what he does and is very knowledgeable
I totally love history, and was very excited to take this class. Mr. Johnson is a very nice guy, but his class is very difficult in an odd sense. He never really communicates with his students about assignments.Very frustrating class. He loves his subject, and you can tell, but he is awful at keeping everyone's interest and he talks in circles.
Started off not really liking the class at all. After about a month in the class you get used to his teaching style and it becomes easier. DONT take if you won't show up for class or dont like writing papers!
Took history because i have always been loved it. However Professor Johnson is not the professor you want. Test are very difficult and he never explains all of the material.
He is very nice and loves the topic he is teaching. You must go to this class to have a chance of doing well on the tests. TAKING NOTES IS REALLY IMPORTANT to doing well.
Very boring and he hardly ever covers everything that is on the test. Tests are really hard but he puts up a study guide on his website about four days before. You have to write two five page papers that he really does not give any instruction on. I have hardly touched the books. He knows a lot about history but certainly cannot teach it.
Quite possibly one of the most boring speakers ever. He rambles on about things that don't even matter to the topic and it can be very hard to actually listen. He is knowledgeable, but is very dry with his approach.
he is an awful teacher and really really really boring. it is so hard to stay awake in that class. you def need to go to class and take good notes to do well. but get a diff teacher if possible!
Johnson was by far, one of the best professors I have ever had. He was always available in his office for questions, extremely credible, and truly wants his students to do well. I would take him again if I could. I suggest taking the essays for all the exams instead of multiple choice. I learned so much from this class and Professor Johnson!!
He is very knowledgeable and wants everyone to succeed. He gives out 5-6 participation quizzes throughout the semester and it's worth 10% of your grade. I recommend taking the written tests. The test are kind of difficult but he curves every test and final grades.
Knows his stuff. Treats the class like a 300 level class though. Test are a little hard and you have to write two big papers that he grades pretty harshly.
He is a very smart professor, but can be very boring. The tests are very hard. There is 2 tests and an optional final. He tells you 3 days before the semester ends, that the final is optional. You can also write a 10 page paper instead of taking the 2nd test. Overall, this class was OK.
He can be very very boring, but the tests are derived from his lectures. Easy tests if you study and read the book, but hard if you have low attendance and don't read the book. Overall a pretty decent class to fulfill gen-ed requirements.
Really hard course, he is very smart and uses very big words, his lectures are really boring and his essay topics are really confusing
If you ever have to take his GEO135 class, RUN! Absolutely killed my GPA and I attended every lecture. He knows his stuff, but goes off on tangents all the time. Exams are hard, and the pop quizzes have NOTHING to do with the material!! Don't even need the textbook. He's willing to help, but it's too late by then. Waste of money, time, and grade.
He knows his stuff and how to teach, it gets annoying at times because he goes on tangents..alot. Its Read a book and write a report on it, and test that slightly tie into the books, If you are great with time management he is a good professor
Professor Johnson is an extremely knowledgeable individual who does care about his students. His lectures can be quite dull at times, and I did fall asleep plenty, but the tests are not horrible by any means. The class fills the genEd requirement, and didnt require too much effort. Would recommend to others.
horrible.teacher is boring, the tests are really hard, and the material is not interesting. He likes to hear himself talk. People on here previously said the final was optional but it is not anymore. there is an optional 8 page paper for the second exam that i suggest doing. i barely had 8 pages on nuclear future and i got an A. Avoid this teacher
Turns the lights down low and notes are online so it's impossible to pay attention. Optional final was NOT actually optional. Very difficult to focus and pay attention in class and study guides aren't helpful at all. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
I actually enjoyed his class a lot but that may be because I like to learn and he was a very knowledgeable guy who taught new things. However the test were very hard and his study guides didn't help much. He'd go over so much in class and test on some of the minor details. I can't recommend him because of this but I enjoyed going class
I thought this class would be interesting, it was not. I did not pay attention at all and somehow got an 'A' in the class. Show up to class, he gives pop quizes. Take the essay tests, not multiple choice. Don't study because it is always over random things. Do the essay instead of the second test, and try not to snore to loud in class.
EASY CLASS!All you have to do is do is attend class and try your best and TALK TO HIM if your not doing so well in class. Perfect intro level course, I can honestly say this man cares about his students and as long as your trying your best and he knows it too you should be fine. I suggest only essay form papers.
Very easy class and grader. He is very intelligent and has a passion for what he is teaching. If you go to class and pay attention, exams are easy. He is also very willing to help you.
Do not take this class. Horrible teacher. Makes you feel like you are useless and know nothing. He questions your intelligence every day and tells you what you aren't going to learn instead of what you will be learning. Hated going to class every day. The lectures are super boring. He takes attendance and it counts towards your grade.
Throughout the semester you have to read two books and write a paper on each; he is a pretty easy grader. There are 3 tests and a final, you can choose to not take one of the tests at no cost to your grade. If you show up and pay attention in class, tests should be fine. They consist of 10 short answer and an essay question.
If you have self respect, I would suggest another course. We were told out final was just over one chapter and it contained maybe, 30% of the information we studied for. Smartass, awful teacher, highly suggest picking another course.
DO NOT take David Johnson. Although, he is a nice guy and may seem like he knows what he is talking about..his tests are incredibly hard and over random stuff that you have never learned. The final was nearly impossible. SWITCH YOUR TEACHER IF YOU HAVE HIM. I thought I would be fine bc I am a good student but this class was my only C.
This class is the most boring, stupidest class you will ever take. The tests are ridiculous and have at least 15 "none of the above" as answers. I got a C in the class and wish I never took it. AVOID HIM IF POSSIBLE
His class is very very boring and he often gets off topic but he is very clear on what is on the test. He posts all the note outlines online. He also gives you two options for the test, essay or multiple choice- definitely do the essay (short answer, ID's, and mini essay)- he grades a LOT easier on those. He curves a lot too. Not too bad.
By far the worst class I have ever taken. Professor Johnson is nice & extremely knowledgable about the topics but cannot teach them.He posts notes online that he uses during class but ALWAYS strays off topic which makes the information and notes extremely confusing to understand and follow. Tests are very hard and worded terribly. Avoid this class!
The worst teacher I've ever taken. He's nice and puts lecture guides and rough schedule online ahead of time, but forgot to include a major book we were reading. Never mentions papers or what you're reading in class, gets off topic and is very unclear about what he wants. Questions on tests are badly worded as well. DONT TAKE HIM AT ALL COSTS
Johnson is by far the worst professor I have ever taken at ISU. He told my class on the first day that although the class I was taking was a 100 level class he was going to treat it more like a 300 level class. It was the worst and I could not do anything to pass his class. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
He is THE WORST professor I HAVE EVER had He rambles like no other I want to fall asleep every class, but there is no final you attend class every day. The tests are short answer and if you don't go to the review sessions with raquel weber you are screwed. She gives you every answer thats the only reason I got an A. He's not a hard grader on papers
One of the worst professors I have had. He is very knowledgeable but makes the class harder than it needs to be. He gets off topic very easily and rambles on about stuff that is unrelated to the class. He makes it so difficult to pay attention.
He's really helpful. If you are stuck on writing the class paper than you can always goes in for help. His lecture is kind of boring but it is really important for tests and quizzes
This guy is terrible. Worst professor I've ever had by far. If I could put a negative for clarity i would. His lectures are off topic and his tests are impossible. He gives you a study guide but it is useless. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
Very helpful teacher, tests are very hard. recommend going to study sessions T.A. is very helpful. Do the paper I was a terrible writer and got an A. Raised my 75% all the way up to a b
This guy is great. Yeah, his lectures are a bit dull and I did fall asleep a few times, but if you like culture, take this class. You can replace test 2 with a research paper instead and I'm pretty sure everyone got at least an A or B on it. Also, if you do better on the final than your overall grade, the final IS your grade.
Very monotoned and SUPER BORING! The tests are short answer not multiple choice and there is always a essay question.
He is knowledgeable about the topic he teaches, but he goes on tangents but his lectures are so off topic and there's no textbook that you can use. I went in to his office hours and he made it seem like I was completely unknowledgeable about the subject and treated me like I was five. AVOID him if you can!! If you're stuck, GO TO CLASS.
If you go to class there is no reason why you shouldn't get at least a B. Lecture is boring but you get points for attending. Go to the review sessions before tests and you will easily pass. He's actually a really nice guy and passionate about what he teaches.
I have never gotten a C in college. All A's and B's until this class. There was an incredible amount of material per test. Almost all questions are super detailed based. I study 20-30 hours for each test and am on the C-/D+ border. Very tough class. I'd suggest another section.
I have a 3.75 GPA. I am a good student who enjoys class and learning. However this class was exceptionally hard especially for a 100 level course. Had he not allowed our final exam to replace our overall exam score, I would have received a C in the class. No review guides or review sessions for any tests or final. Be prepared to study TONS.
This man is the most condescending person I have ever encountered! He only respects the men, his notes are the least helpful thing you've ever seen, and don't you dare ask him a question. Because if you do, you're clearly inadequate as a person.
Zzzzzzz... Sorry, I was still waking up from his lecture last semester. Do NOT take this one at 8am like I did. Gives extra credit for showing up in bad weather which makes up for him not being clear on the material he will teach (or try to). Final ended up being my final grade since the average was better. He changed grading policies 3 times.
He is a good speaker and clearly very knowledgeable; Personally I thought his lectures were very interesting. Too many students were distracted by electronics to pay attention. Testvery difficult since he asks the most random questions of a huge amount of material covered, however he always curves the tests a lot if the class didn't do so well.
He uses questions from old exams so find a friend who has taken this class and still has the tests! That was the only reason I got an A in the class. Went everyday and got credit for attendance (never paid attention though)!! SUPER easy if you have the old exams!!
Lectures are him rambling on and on and on and on. His voice is so monotone it just drags on. The exams are all multiple choice, and you definitely need to study long for them. Lecture guides are online, however they aren't necessarily helpful study tools. Not a reggienet user.
Hes a rambler. Get ready to sit there, listen, and take notes. You dont know the ins and outs of his notes, youll fail the tests. Bring laptop to class to download his notes and then type off of those. Thats the easiest way possible.
Good ol' dbjohns. At first I was frustrated with his class because of his harsh grading on the papers but he grew on me. Extra credit is offered if you go to the class videos and write a paper about them which can boost your grade a whole letter if you do all of them. Students stare at their phones the entire hour because of his boring lectures.
dbjohns is a good teacher but he is hard to understand. you have to go to EVERY class and you have to write down pretty much everything he says. he doesn't use Reggienet so you never know what your grade is. your best bet is to go talk to him in office hours. make sure to study for test, they are though and determine your whole grade
Rambles on and on. Exams are tough and usually has to curve them because no one seems to get higher than a B. Has attendance quizzes randomly.
Johnson is not a hard teacher but you just have to go to EVERY class. You can miss a few but make sure you sign the attendance sheet because thats what your grade is all about plus the test. All his test are short answer but he gives partial credit is you say something correct. He talks to much and rambles on and on but he gives extra credit
Lectures basically have nothing to do with tests. tests are really easy because every question from study guide is on test. Lectures are tiring. No need to take notes. Really easy to get an A.
Lectures are rather boring but he gives out a study guide for each exam. Should pass with a good grade no matter what.
His lectures are boring if you don't pay attention. Go to class to take attendance quizzes and take notes off of the guides he provides. If you need help ask the TA or dbjohns both are helpful. He changes the policies every semester for finals and tests so read the syllabus. Overall very EASY to do well if you show up. He cares about his students
Johnson is not a hard teacher. He gives you everything you need to pass but you have to actually use it. I had an F because I never went to class and he gave me a B because I went to go talk to him. Just make sure you go at least once a week for the attendance and you will be good.
This class used to be a difficult one, but he has revamped the way things are done. He will give you the questions that are going to be on the test, not the choices, but the questions. If you go to the TA sessions, she will give you the answers - easy A on exams. Also, he will replace your entire grade with your final grade if it benefits you!
He wasn't an awful teacher, but his lectures are pretty boring. He assigns a LOT of papers, that you should do a good amount of research for. Other than that, be sure to print out his lecture guides and take notes on them, then read over them before the test. The class is easy if you show up, take notes, read the books, and do the essays.
His lectures are really boring. Be prepared to read on your own because he doesn't refer to the text much.
I signed up for a class on American Diversity, but it seems like just a regular history course. It's very unclear what he's trying to teach you in his lectures and he rambles off topic a lot. Least favorite class of the semester.
DBJohns isn't too bad of a professor, he just tends to ramble and go off topic a lot. DON'T skip class, everything on tests will be based entirely from his lectures, so you need to take notes. He offers weekly extra credit for attending showings of films and writing small papers on them, they can bring you up more than a whole letter grade, do it.
Not too many tests and they are only about 25 questions long. The only cool thing is that he puts the stems for every question online. THANK GOD, because his lectures are terrible! He could ramble on for hours and hours about irrelevant bs.
You only have three tests but a lot of paper that you will need to do research for. He goes off topic a lot and rambles about random things but overall wasn't too bad of a professor. Use the lecture guides because that's all the test material comes from. The final is optional which was nice.
Dr. Johnson was not my favorite. Definitely not the worst professor I've had, but it's very hard to stay focused during his lectures. One super helpful thing he does is he provides test question stems to help guide studying so USE THEM. You have to work hard in this class to get an A, but it's not impossible.
AVOIDD! He is a very kind person but very hard to listen to. I couldn't stay awake through his classes. He does give you the questions he will ask on the exam before you take it. If you don't go to class and fill out the lecture guides, don't even bother taking this class. He also doesn't use reggienet but does curve grades!
This dude lectures the whole class and gives no help for you except in random spots on his website. Uses casit and not reggienet. Randomly calls on the textbook.
He does not really give you much guidance on what is due when, or what to expect on tests. Tests are handwritten, lots of essays, lectures the whole class, no powerpoint/guidance in class. Attendance taken. Terrible class, would not take again.
Lectures are long and boring, no power points just rambles on and on for 90 minutes. 3 exams and a final. The only good thing is that he gives you the questions on the exam before hand called (Stems). Even though he gives you the questions the exams are still tricky
Professor Johnson is a very knowledgeable professor. His lectures are long but if you pay attention you will pass easily. He is willing to help and I would take him if you have to take HIS 111.
I would have to say that DBJ actually cares about his students. Sure his lectures are long, but he is an interesting guy. He wants everyone to succeed. The tests are tricky, but thankfully he will give you the test questions before hand. Use those to your advantage, and study them. Overall, the content was boring, but he is an awesome guy.
Good prof. Learned a lot.
This is by far the boringest class ever. However DBJ knows his material and is pretty nice. Gives out stems (study guides) nearly identical to tests and assistants have study review sessions. With a study blue account (highly recommended) I studied maybe an hour each test and got a high B without paying attention in class as lectures are too boring
This was a brutal class trying to stay awake for but it is Geography so I didn't expect much else. He is a nice man and basically gives you the exact test questions in a study guide to study for his exams. all the answers can also be found on quizlet. I almost never went to this class and I know I should have gotten a C but he gave me a B anyway
Professor Johnson's class consists entirely of lectures. He frequently went off on unrelated tangents, or did not remember what he had already taught the class. He refused to use Reggienet and instead used a confusing, outdated website. He made lecture guides,but rarely followed them, starting in the middle and skipping over some parts completely.
This is probably the most boring course you will ever take. Be prepared for a lot of pointless rambling. He has guideline notes that basically have everything you need for the test. He also gives the stem questions to the test which is almost exactly the test. Also the answers to these questions are online. Boring but easy A.
DBJ is a super kind man. I took his 8am class, so granted I was tired. For some odd reason even though everyone else was falling asleep, his stories woke me up. He is a very easy grader (so far) and a really good teacher. His lectures are just talking, but if you listen and take notes, you are more than okay for this class. I liked it.
All the answers for the tests can be found online, he gives you STEMS before every exam so if you just type in the questions you can find them easily.
The tests were not hard, easily get B's if you go to lecture every day. However he gave like 5 essays and he does not allow online sources. Makes it very hard.
His lectures can feel very long and boring, but as long as you show up and take good notes the class should be an easy A.
DB Johns is boring, but the class content can be interesting. You know whats on the test before he gives it. Study the stems well and you should get an A.
He is one of the most rude professors I have ever come across. He is very condescending towards the students. He is very dry and monotone when it comes to his delivery of his lectures. He gives pop quizzes for attendance that sometimes all you have to do is write your name. If you want to take a nap in class, this class is a perfect fit for you!
He is very monotone. He gives random pop quizzes. You will suffer through these lectures. They drag on and on and it is hard to tell what he is talking about on the lecture guides. STEMS are your key to success here. He is a very nice guy though.
Professor Johnson is very condescending during class and during his office hours. The class is very lecture heavy, and although we had to purchase a ton of textbooks they were used probably once. He is very knowledgeable, but so rude and extremely boring.
There are random attendance quizzes and you never know when they are. He is very monotone and talks the whole entire lecture. It is such a boring class. There are only tests in the class but they are really easy. Just use the studyguide to review and you can get an A. If you don't use that then you will fail.
All he does is talk during class. Has lecture guides but never follows them. Hard to take notes during class. You have to write a paper before every exam about topics he's never talked about in class.
Johnson is old and monotone so staying awake in his class is tough. He also doesnt use powerpoint or anything, he just talks at you when lecturing so sometimes he is hard to follow. But his tests were super easy, and I think i wrote one of my papers on the wrong time zone and he gave me a 96. Just go to class and review sessions and its an easy A.
Dr. Johnson is an interesting guy, but an old school lecture professor. He has a very "you figure it out" approach to things. He posts lecture guides and holds review sessions. Try not to fall asleep in class, he'll give pop quizes when people don't answer questions or show up. Only plus is that he posts test questions a head of time, google them.
I personally liked his teaching style, but a lot of people don't because he doesn't use PowerPoint or anything. Straight lectures so if you're not into that, I'd recommend someone else. Overall, not too bad. Very nice and interesting guy if you actually talk to him.
His class is lecture heavy. When people do not answer his questions, he has pop quizzes. The pop quizzes are not over stuff from class but often stuff he feels we should already know. He makes students feel stupid for not knowing answers. He makes exam questions that are meant to trick you based on wording. He is often pompous and mean to students.
You take a few exams and he gives you the questions that are literally on the exam before the exam. His lectures are soooooo boring but he gives out pop quizzes so you have to go. All the exam questions can be found on quizlet so do that. If you get an A on the final exam, he'll give you an A in the class and nothing else matters.
Rambles about crap for 3 weeks. Gets study guide night before test (learns nothing for the 3 weeks). Aces test. Random attendance quizzes. Stupid class, don't learn jack anything
In class we do not talk about much but the exams are heavy with questions we do not cover.
Absolutely horrible professor in every way. Incredibly boring and rambling lectures presented with his awful monotone voice makes it impossible to see the point in going or stay awake in the class. Gives random participation quizzes but does release the exam questions the day before it is to be taken. Overall a horrible class and horrible professor
This professor teaches strictly in lecture form with no powerpoint or any sort of visual. He often gives pop quizzes as well so be sure to attend class. He is often condescending and rude to students, especially during his office hours. Try to avoid taking his class.
HIS136 is the History of US from 1865 to present. DBJ lectured about Europe in the 1600s and made it up to WWII. My boyfriend is taking his HIS111 course this semester, which is still a form of United States history, and he is lecturing the same topics he did in my class. He is an easy grader when it comes to papers. Go to TA reviews for tests.
I truly feel like my education is suffering because I had to take this class with dbjohns as a teacher. He is awful, lectures are extremely boring and hard to follow. It's an easy enough class but if you actually want to learn something, do not take the class with this professor.
"DBJ" loves to hear himself talk. In this class you are assigned one big 10 page research paper due at the end of the semester, but he also assigns 2 page papers that are 50% of each test grade. Tests are short answer. Let my class retake the 1st exam due to low scores and didn't change the questions, that's the only good thing I have to say.
this class is very boring and its fun to see how many people decide to show up after the first week of classes are over. i would not reccommend taking this class with david because he lectures and rambles on and on for the full class period and keeps you longer than the scheduled time sometimes. he gives pop quizzes if nobody participates.
Look,take this class. It gets you amali and soc science req. Its insanely boring and he lectures the whole time, but there are 3 25 question mult choice tests all semester and that's it besides the final. He literally releases the questions before the test, and all the answers are on quizlet. Show up,don't pay attention, learn everything day before
The lectures are really boring but as long as you go youre fine. He gives random attendance quizzes so go to class. The tests are easy because the stems are literally the test and you can find the answers online
Does not count points when determining final grade. Two people with average of 86.5% could get completely different letter grades based on how he views you did. Many people say the stems will be found online, but this year he changed them and many people failed tests due to that. I went everyday and read text, but tests were still extremely hard
do not take this class unless you want to write a lot of papers and enjoy taking tests that have nothing to do with the notes.
Had him for both Geo 135 and Hist 136. Have to say he was much better for History than Geography. He gives out the questions for the exams the day before for both classes. History is easy because if you don't do well on the exams, you have papers to boost your grade. If you have any clue how to write a paper, hos class should be easy. Good guy.
Do NOT take him for HIS 136, especially if you just took 135 with another professor. HIS 136 is "US History After 1865". He starts at the Protestant Reformation and will reach the invention of the cotton gin by midterm: still in the 1700s 7 weeks into a 15 week course. He often rambles and will reteach 30 minutes worth of the previous lecture(s).
Grades purely on a few exams and 2 or 3 papers. Most of the exams are multiple choice, with about 20 questions, and even though he will give you the "questions", each answer is so vague that anyone of them can be right. He will expect answers to questions when the class is big enough that he should just lecture. Repeats himself every class.
Johnson is an awful teacher whos lectures are very boring. He isn't good at explaining himself and always goes on long tangents. His TA, Noah is awful and always just sits there and stares at us. There are secret review sessions for test but those don't help. Tests are hard and you think you got an A but in reality you failed. Don't take this class
He's funny and entertaining but his lecture are NOT. He rambles and doesn't use ppts. He throws words that you won't know what to do with. You have NO idea what will be on tests and study everything for 25 questions. If you take it, do the research project option. Also doesn't use ReggieNet, and didn't use any of the books/services he made us get
I cannot say enough bad things about Johnson. He specifically puts very small details on exams, he's said in class before that it makes his day when students miss questions. He is extremely condescending, and does not care one bit about his students. I got a 92 on the first exam, and a 64 on the next. All depends on the trick questions.
His lectures are a huge waste of time and don't prepare you for the exams. Noah, the TA is not helpful either. Held a review session once and then never again because "he has a life too". Exam questions are super specific. Makes them deliberately difficult so students won't get them right. Worst Gen Ed class I've taken at ISU.
the lectures and the test do not go together so you don't know whats going to be on the test. He is not a good teacher and really boring, so it is really hard to stay focused during class. No reggie net. No study guides for tests. Don't know your grade till the end.
Professor Johnson was suppose to teach a class of history from the civil war to current day yet, we spent the first 2 months of the semester learning about pre-civil war history. He says the book would be required but you never use it once. also he's at least 1,000 years old.
I had Johnson for the gen ed Geography. He was okay, but man the class was boring. He is older so he does not do technology so he does not use Reggienet at all. You do not know your grade until the end of the semester. Your grade is determined upon three tests. He hates it when you finish the test within ten minutes .
Honestly this was the worst class in my life and I would highly suggest not taking it. He does not care about your grade or if you are struggling and will never make it clear whats on the test
DBJohns is a nice guy, but he's also arguably the worst professor at ISU. He dims the lights, mumbles about things that makes no sense, and then tests you on content he never went over. Nearly impossible to pay attention. If it weren't for the TA I would have failed the class. If you can avoid it, don't take any classes with him.
He just stood in the front of the class and talked. No presentation or anything. He provides a lecture guide, but he never said which one he was on so I often had like 5 open to figure out. There are random pop quizzes that we never got back our grades on because he doesnt use reggienet. I had to guess what my grade was the whole semester.
David Johnson is well respected and educated man. He know so much about the subject that he wants to teach it all, he even started before 1865 (which is not about this course). The lectures were boring, but I suggest showing up b/c he adds onto the notes online. Tests were simple even though he made it seem so hard. I would take him for an easy A.
Ole Davey Johnson is one of the best profs on campus. Incredibly knowledgeable and all you have to do to pass the course is go to the study sessions that his TA's give, THEY GIVE YOU THE QUESTIONS TO THE TEST AND GO OVER THE ANSWERS WITH YOU. It's not a hard class if you're not a dingus, plain and simple.
We were given a chance to earn 10% extra credit (an entire letter grade). His lectures are a little boring, but he posts the lecture guides online so showing up is optional. He decides with class how tests are done and made the final optional because the paper grades were so good.
Love, love, love! If you go to class, take notes by lecture guides, and do the short andwer option on exams over multiple choice, you will get an A. I am searching to take him next semester! Tied for my favorite prof this semester. Super understanding and loves his subject. Could talk to him for hours! Like history? Will love this class!5
There is a book(dont buy it,you dont need it)! Lectures are important, he will tell you things thatll be on the exams (things he repeats a lot will probably be on test)(Do short answer). The only grades are exams but he does offer extra credit; movies and you write an essay EASY ( 10/10 would recommend seeing a lot of the movies esp The Cabaret)
Professor Johnson is nice and a funny man, but he doesn't use powerpoints, so its by word of mouth. He does give out lecture guides, which you can take notes on and he sticks pretty close to the guide, but sometimes things on the test aren't on there, so you need to pay attention to what he says. I liked him though.. Big research paper though.
Good mix of writing, tests, and quizzes. Super friendly professor. Expects students to do readings and make an effort. You need to attend lectures to do well, however, they aren't required. He is a veteran and is super knowledgeable on military history. He is a really wholesome guy. Always takes time to answer student questions. Generous grader.
While Professor Johnson provides all the lectures on Reggienet, this is about the end of helpfulness. His tests contain a lot of trick questions and if you want a good grade you MUST memorize every little thing on the lecture guide. The only grades are two exams, a final, and a paper. No matter how much you study, it is hard to do well.
Dr. Johnson is a very sweet, cute old man. His class is very very lecture heavy so use the lecture guides to follow along. There is a big research paper but he is a generous grader. His tests are hard like very hard so study study for those.
He's a sweet old man but his lectures are all spoken word, only a vague lecture guide to follow along to so if you zone out you're screwed. There's no homework which is good but only 3 exams in the entire class and one huge paper to decide your grade. Also doesn't put the grades in reggienet so your grade is a surprise at the end of the semester.
Johnson was one of the best professors I have ever had. He is so understanding and personable, he gives a lot of information in the lectures. Johnson will work through things with you if you use communication, he is one of the kindest people. He cares a lot about us passing, he will do whatever to help us pass. Definitely one of the best!!
I am not a history person at all and tried going to him for help instead he just told me life lessons. The tests were hard his curving is unfair. Don't recommend if history isn't your strong subject.
This class shouldn't have been as hard as it was. He doesn't use a powerpoint or anything when he lectures, he just stands in front of the class and speaks. You won't be able to hear him if you sit in the back. The only advice I would give is work really hard on your paper. It can save your grade.
Attendance is mandatory, does not put grades in ReggieNet at all (I didn't know my grade until the end of the semester), He is not easy to communicate with, DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PROFESSOR. I took this class as gen ed and definitely could have found a better teacher if I had time.
These lectures are brutal. No PowerPoint, he just talks for the entire time. You're only graded on 3 exams and one big paper at the end of the semester. He does post "lecture guides" on Reggienet but doesn't always follow them and they can be confusing. He also doesn't use the textbook so don't bother buying it.
You will never truly know whats on the test. Get ready for 50 min of lectures every class and also be ready for him to talk about random bs that does not correlate with the topic. I HIGHLY recommend that you find a dif professor for your HIS gen ed
This professor is so mean for no reason. He just told the class we had less than no skill after we took our exams. He also yells at you if you finish a 20 question exam in less than 50 minutes?? Never EVER take this class with this professor.
Tests weren't easy, but I also refused to study for classes that semester. With the correct preparation and a college-level of effort, an A is very achievable. There was a 10 page paper towards the end of the semester, he only offers a few options for it, but the topics have plenty of information, and he was a lenient grader on it.
Nice guy and he knows a lot about what he gives his lectures on, but that's really where the compliments end. The entire semester depends on four grades: two exams, a paper, and the final exam. He's a super tough grader and it's impossible to study for his exams since they cover a ton of material. Also don't buy the book, you'll never use it.
He honestly wasn't that bad. The first test multiple choice is rough and his questions can be a little confusing but he lets you choose a multiple choice or an essay for the last two tests. PICK THE ESSAY. Trust me it's way easier to write the essay as long as you communicate your points and cite using footnotes you will do better on this.
Great guy. Your grade consists of 4 things 3 exams and 1 paper. For his exams the study guides push you in the right direction for his written essay exams. Just pay attention and look over his lecture guides no reason to get anything lower than a B in this class.
if you are a history major or know these things, you will probs be fine. im not and took it as a gened. very lecture heavy, he just expects you to know everything and yells at you asking if your other teachers even taught u this stuff. both exams are hard and u have a paper and final. does not use reggienet at all. 3/10 tbh. PICK SOMEONE ELSE!!!
Super nice guy, I don't know why some on here say otherwise. He will help you out if you have questions, and he cares more about personal improvement than your overall score. You need to attend class and take good notes, as the lecture guides themselves aren't super fruitfull. Study your notes, lecture guides, and exam guide, and you'll do fine.
At first i did not like the class and struggled. We had a TA which was nice. If you are a visual learner don't take this because he just talks and you have to write as much as you think you should. But when it comes to the tests and paper. go to him because he will help you out. he is open to helping his students. go to class.
I have no doubts that this professor was great about 20 years ago, he's very knowledgeable and has some engaging facts about time periods I thought I had understood more. That said, his class now is very disorganized and the material he picks for his mc exams seem very random and nitpicky. He will give the same lecture two or three times.
David is a nice guy and he is genuinely easy to talk to. I struggled with this class because it is very lecture-heavy and hard to follow. After all, he just talks. There is no visual support (i.e. PowerPoint or slides) I would recommend it if you enjoy history and that kind of lecture style.
Professor Johnson is a knowledgeable lecturer, but his class can be challenging for non-history majors. The lectures are dense, so taking thorough notes and using resources like unstuckstudy AI alongside the textbook can be helpful. Overall, the class is doable with dedication.
Such a caring professor, lectures are hard but I went to his office hours and he was super helpful when I didn't understand things. (Going to his office hours shows you care and he cares about that). Go to tutoring at the visor center and the TA, tests were hard, only 2 exams then 1 research paper.
He is literally so sweet! He encourages students to ask questions and gives good feedback. He is genuinely a really caring and nice person. I would 100% take any class he teaches again!
Class Info
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100%
Attendance Mandatory
73%
Textbook Required
55%
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