3.0
Quality3.4
Difficulty33%
Would Retake252
Reviews33%
Would Retake
252
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
252 total ratings5
65
4
54
3
29
2
36
1
68
What Students Say
“Focuses on irrelevant things that aren't on the test”
PSYC210 - 2.0 rating“Be prepared for term of frustration”
PSYCHOLOGY201 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
86%
Textbook Required
40%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.44 avg changeRatings by Course
PSYCH
5.0
(1)PSYC412C
5.0
(1)PSYC311
5.0
(2)PSYCH311B
5.0
(1)PHY210
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PSYCH311B
5.0
PSYC215A
4.0
PSYCHOLOGY201
4.0
PSCY210
4.0
PSY201
3.8
Reviews (250)
Really easy if you just do the work, lots of assignments/quizzes, no big tests
Really interesting course, nice guy, easy but frequent quizzes
And I thought the history of Psych would be dry. Great class! Kind teacher.
Nice person, boring lectures
Fantastic teacher. Actually TEACHES! I took his class in the summer a few years ago and was impressed by the amount of prep he put into it!!
really nice guy...he gives lots of work, but its all to make sure you understand the material and get a good grade.
Great teacher! Tests are a little tricky, but all multiple choice. With a little effort,you can easily get an A.
Lots of homework and quizzes(multi-choice) but its all to help you know the material. Written exams were pretty difficult but some people had not trouble with them, not me though.
A lot of work but a great class! great teacher!
Best prof I've had at UVic, actually knows how to teach! Just do the work, and you'll get a good grade.
Good guy. Cares that people learn. Very effective teaching methods and class structure. A fair amount of consistent homework that makes you keep up and bank grades all the time.
History of psych was a required course for my degree and I was not looking forward to it as I anticipated it would be really dry. However, I was quite surprised, with such a fabulous teacher and very effective teaching skills this class was one of my favourites!!! BEST teacher I ever had!!!
Wonderful prof lots of work but helps you through it. really cares about his students and wants you to learn. lots of chances to do well.
just the NICEST guy ever, but can put furniture to sleep...
He made a potentially boring course really interesting. The workload is steady but he uses teaching methods to make the information easier to remember for future courses. It's not hard to get an A if you do the work.
Easiest class ever! Go to class and read the text before the tests and you'll get an A+ for sure. Don't bother with suggested assignments, there's no need for them.
Polson is a great prof. He really makes sure you learn the material. Class can be pretty boring sometimes but I would certainly recommend him to anyone.
Highly organized and well structured course will have you learning s--- so f---ing boring only a master like Polson could do it. Little guesswork. Study guide covers only what can be tested. Requires weekly reading and completion of assignments. Easy but time consuming. Exam/quizzes require high precision of wording (direct copy of what is taught).
Better in 201 than 311b. *So much little work* -designed to learn material well; not so good for ppl who can learn w/o being spoon fed. Very nice, supportive prof tho. Gave answers for midterms to memorise but strict marking criteria. Makes a potentially boring subject interesting. can do well as much as you remain motivated
Polson was a wicked prof for this class. the material is comparable to paint drying but it's a required course. it could have been a gillion times worse but P made getting a good grade easy. NO FINAL!!! woot studying for that would have been like pulling teeth.
Watch out! Three hour final exam??? I found his tests hard and the amount of work overwhelming on the assignments. I found this guy's ego out of bounds. I don't know what everyone is raving about.
Great prof, really. Very clear about what you need to know and what is expected of you. If you listen to him, you will get an A+
This class does come with alot of work, mainly lab work and Thinkfast. Although TF does help you get used to the terms used in the book and does improve your grade if you don't cheat out of TF excercises. Materials covered in this class are not very exciting however.
it's the classic case of good teacher bad class... it's stab me in the eye boring, but he REALLY knows his stuff, which is nice... make sure you pay attention, sometimes he tests on examples he talked about in class.... the text is pretty usefull, it'll a good resource for APA info too. lots of little tests but no final, and that always rocks!
This class is realy boring. Often it was hard to stay awake. Althoug, Dr. Polson is quite dry he is a nice guy. His test are fair and the labs are pretty easy. If you work for it a grade in the A range is manigable.
I really like the course layout (constant little assignments/tests rather than a big lump right at the end) but I can't take his lectures. Reads directly out of the textbook, so quickly that any cohesive notetaking is impossible. This would be fine, but when he throws in something that isn't in the text, it's very easy to miss.
The lectures were kinda boring but I guess it's because the materials were so dry. His tests were fair enough.. Even if you don't do well on the tests, you can raise your grade by doing all the assignments for "completion mark" and you can also do some bonus assignments too.
SOOO boring.. His tone, his lectures, his robotic movements.. The constant exams are tough, assignments come random and hurt you when you miss alot. He puts lots of dumb questions he randomly talked about in a lecture for 2 seconds in his exams.. I want my many hours of life wasted in this classroom back...
For such horribly dull material, he presents it as interestingly as possible. There's no final exam, no midterms... only several little tests that cover a couple chapters each, which makes it really easy to stay on top of things. Class excercises are straightforward, and he gives the opportunity to get up to 5% in bonus marks. The lab isn't bad eit
Enforces active learning, makes cue cards for marks... At first I was overwhelmed when I saw that every class we had a quiz, along with every second where we had a test but it turns out to be an easy grade if you do the work, most of it is completion grades.... No final exam either. Highly recommend if you have a little time on your hands.
This Prof cannot teach. Do not take this class!
If you like an extremely organized class, this is the professor for you. If you come to class and do the bonus work, you will do fine. After awhile you even begin to enjoy the information because it is really applicable to life. Good Professor!
No Comments
VERY organized prof. If you go to every class and do what he tells you its impossible not to get at least an a-. Very helpful outside of class. 201 is the most boring class though... try to not take it in the early morning!!!
Class notes are very organized. Class is systematic, you will learn his teaching style very quick. Go over his notes and do your thinkfast and you will definitely pass.
Polson is a great prof. I was dreading the course prior to taking the class, but found that it wasn't as bad as I'd thought. Polson uses a different teaching style than most profs, and at the beginning it can seem quite demanding. However, there is no final, and if you study for the tests you will do really well. He is incredibly fair.
Course content is really boring, but also really easy. I think Polsen made it as interesting as the content allows, and his tests are super easy. I studied for tests the night before and got an A+.
Very dry prof. I think its a combination of material and personality. Very organized class, 10 tests, 2 "exams" and a bunch of homework. Easy to do well if you use the right words and study.
This Professer is very organized, but seriously was the dullest class of my life. Teaching methods are quite different, didn't really make me learn and understand the material though. Overall, boring class, professor was ok but really boring.
Very structured and organized. Maybe not exciting, but reliable, helpful, and very fair. Knows how to teach and test the material to ensure the best understanding of it. Put in the time and go to class, and you'll do well.
Everything is taken directly from the textbook. This class could be online. He comes across as very unapproachable and doesn't really listen to what you're saying. Thinkfast is horrible. Not a hard class, just tedious.
I really did not want to take a history course in psychology but Polson made it way better than I expected. His classes have good structure and he is a good lecturer. His courses are designed for success if you do the work and attend all lectures. I look forward to more classes with him.
He's very fair. What you put into the class is exactly what you'll get out of it. It is a lot of work, lots of little projects/assignments - but DO THEM ALL - every little bit really does add up!!!
he's: boring & unhelpful. if you have a question he'll say to go to his office hours. which is actually just two half hour sessions that he has set up in a week.. so really it should be called office HOUR. also, he never explains how to do well on his tests, and he's never worked in the field so he doesn't understand what he's teaching.
He makes the class as interesting as possible. He plays really random music at the beginning when you first walk in. The material is just so boring... he does the best he can though. I liked him as a teacher hated the material. Enjoy this boring pre req. And no final!! Also he gives you a lot of Extra credit.
Excellent at ensuring learning, with think fast, quizzes and tests. Numerous chances at bonus marks as well, success in this class is entirely up to the individual, but totally possible. Moreover he brought in people who actually work in the field which totally inspired me and helped me figure out the direction I want to go in with Psychology.
The material was SO boring, but he did the best he could with it. Tests were on 2 chapters every other week, no final. Lots of opportunity for extra credit...wish I had taken advantage of it. Probably the most boring psych class you'll ever take, but your grade solely reflects your effort.
Polson was a great teacher, amoung the best for sure. I did not put in a ton of effort but because of Thinkfast and bonus marks I retained a lot more of the material then in other classes. He was really clear and tests were small and on a regular basis.
It definitely was not the most interesting material but Polson really does try to make it bearable. Overall, GO to class, READ the textbook, DO the extra credit options and you will get an A+. My strong recommendation is to do the textbook reading and review questions (doesn't take too long) before class as suggested, I did this and it got me an A+
He made really boring material semi-interesting. He seems really serious, but had funny little things in his slides. Super nice guy overall, and great prof. Tests were totally fair. Makes you do "ThinkFast" on the computer which is an easy grade booster and also helps to prepare for exams. The lab paper was huge, but pretty easy considering.
Dr.Polson is the nicest prof. He seems intimidating at first, but as soon as you talk to him you realize he really wants to help you succeed. Definatly can tell the tasks he makes you do (i.e. "ThinkFast") really cue your learning. You can tell he has been teaching for awhile and really knows how to give students the opportunity to do well.
Material in this course is not that interesting, but he makes a good effort in trying to make it interesting. Tests are fair and straightforward. Teaching style made everything clear and easy to understand. Definitely would take one of his other courses for sure.
Very good prof, keen on everyone doing well. Gives ample opportunity for bonus marks. Tests are very fair but require a lot of work to do well on as you need to read the whole text chapters. You will get exactly what you put into this course.
I really did not enjoy this prof or his lectures. I've taken two course with him and done poorly in both, even though I've done all the required work. The course is really dull, he's really dull, and the textbook is really dull. Have fun trying to stay awake!
Can be easy depending on learning style.Students are required to use a flashcard program weekly, meaning that we get marks just for stuyding.There are weekly exams, but no mid-term or final, which I think makes us learn the material better.Not easy, but if you are willing to do the work and go to class, you will get a good grade.Clear requirements.
If you did poorly in this class, you're lazy. It's that simple. Read the chapters and notes, do the thinkfast assignments and you WILL do well. True, it's extremely boring and tedious at times,but that definitely wasn't Dr Polson's fault. Dr Polson, I think, made this class very manageable and fair. Would definitely recommend him for this class.
Both 201 and 210 were the same quality. Dry, boring, and really, skip his painful lectures and just read the text. ThinkFast assignments are a pain and only work with MSDOS so mac users, get used to the lab/library. Easy courses but tests are painful as m/c answers are verbatim from the text and most answers are plausible. Mandatory headache.
straightforward teaching style and notes. If you go to the lectures you do not need to read the text book at all - and no final which is a plus. He also gives an optional test at the end that replaces your worst mark or does not count if lower. Think fast does work on mac - I have been using it on my macbook for the last year.
Classes are composed of slideshows which cover all the material. Can be dry for some people, but quizzes throughout class kept me attentive. Throws bits of humor into the course with sound effects. Great professor.
Great prof, made getting through research methods easy. His notes are super organized. If you go to the lectures it's difficult to do badly in the class.
Great guy, well organized, and very clear about what he is teaching and what you need to learn. The sound effects and music are "different" but overall it was a great class. The only downside is Thinkfast, a computer program from the 80's that you have to use... I'm excited to be taking one of his courses over the summer :)
I really enjoyed Dr Polson's lectures. He's very clear in his explanations and the exams come straight from the lectures/textbook. Plenty of opportunities for bonus marks. Definitely worth going to the lectures because he often gives very obvious hints for exam questions. Enjoyable class!
The one word I would use to describe Polson as a prof is "fine". It was a tedious class and his lectures aren't very intriguing. It wasn't a great experience or a bad one.
This was a very interesting course. Dr. Polson did a good job of explaining concepts clearly. He is very interested in the subject himself. An earlier comment stated that he had not worked in the field, which is not true. He worked for a while in the field, and was able to share stories with us from his own experience.
Hard working and passionate about teaching
Good course, powerpoints very interesting, but lots of material. Don't take as a 3 week course - it's brutal!
Extremely clear explanations. Go to class and you will do well!
really wants his students to learn, great teacher. not overly expressive but dont mistake him for dull, hes just subtle. high expectations but only in an attempt to get people to learn and think about the material.
Easiest class ever! Go to class, take good notes, and do a moderate amount of studying and you will get an A+. The lectures are kind of dry but there are no papers or final exam. If you have to take 210 take is with Polson.
I think Mr. Polson is an amazing teacher! He is so amazing at teaching. He gave me an A+! His lectures are great too.
Great prof! I highly recommend taking a class with Polson, especially behaviour modification (his area of expertise).
Very nice guy. His slides will definitely keep you awake through the slightly boring material. Tests are fairly easy as long as you study every component (tutorial quizzes, ThinkFast, etc.)
Polson is a really nice guy! He sets you up to succeed by providing a number of different options to up your grade (ThinkFast, Tutorial Quizzes, Class Quizzes). Although the material is really straight forward I would advise not skipping class as his powerpoints are informative and he does do class quizzes almost every class.
Good prof! Lots of opportunities to boost your grade. Sometimes throws in a trick question or 2, but by paying attention to the lectures and studying the textbook tests are relatively easy. Also has an optional cumulative bonus test at the end of the term which takes out lowest previous test score. Recommend Polson!
He makes the material interesting. Go to class, pay attention, read the textbook & read the text & you should do well. He provides lots of opportunities to raise your mark. His make up exams are fair and write the optional exam and you will be fine. There is no way to fall asleep in his class as he keeps it lively with music & lecture quizes. Good.
He makes it easy to succeed, which is great, but he looks like the principle from Arthur (mr. rat?) and is monotone. I had a hard time paying attention.
Polson is a good prof. He is very helpful if you go to office hours and cares about your concerns for tests/assignments/etc. The course is really boring though, and he is pretty monotone. But he makes his slides interesting. Go to class. Lots of chances to increase your grade. Study the textbook and keep up. Good luck!
Fabulous professor! Clear, engaging and approachable. Will be taking more courses from him in the future! Recommended.
Highly recommend. Polson is very clear in what he wants you to learn, and is always willing to explain things in further detail. One of the best profs I've had at Uvic!
I found that his studying criteria for preparing for test did not prepare you in anyway for the material tested. He spends one class on a full chapter, his explanations are unclear, leaves no time for questionsconcerns, and talks in such a monotone matter that it makes the class that much harder to stay focused. Be prepared for term of frustration
Lectures are long and pretty boring. Notes posted online don't quite cover everything gone over in class so attend! Tests on lecture more than the text book. Extra marks on the exam from textbook. Think fast is annoying but possible bonus marks. REALLY HARD MARKER on written of exams. Docks you marks when you don't say exactly what's in notes.
I really enjoyed Polson as a prof. The layout of the course was great, having all the tests really helped me learn the subject matter and a big bonus that there is no final! He gives lots of opportunities for extra credit, and is a fair marker. The lab project wasn't great though. Other than that it was a fair and enjoyable course.
Polson's class is super archaic- ancient think fast program probably created at the dawn of computers, same powerpoint for years.. he has literally memorized it. reads it word for word in a monotone voice. tests are really hard and he is a seriously tough marker.. you have to know his exact definitions or else he won't accept anything you say.
Polson was awesome! Some find him dry but he is so good about preparing you for what will be on the test. Can get up to 3% bonus added to your mark. Go to class and take notes!! There is also always a quiz during class time based on the material he would have just covered a few slides ago, so they're pretty straightforward.
Very dry lectureer, doesn't give good feedback, or provide much support or understanding. Do not, take the class with this professor. I had an alser, during my time in his class
I would not recommend this professor. He's unhelpful, tough, and doesn't care about students .
As a student with a disability, I found Dr. Polson to be insufficient. He was not good at communication and I found it nearly impossible to arrange a meeting with him. E-mail responses were insufficient after waiting long, long periods of time to hear back from him. Expect tests almost every 2-3 lectures.
Don't skip class and don't slack on readings. This isn't an easy A or B so SMASH those flashcards and take good notes(!) Polson is a nice man but gives a fast lecture with DAILY QUIZZES(!) His lecturing style is unilateral and doesn't accommodate diverse learning styles so be prepared to seek help from other sources. The lab is easy. Stay positive!
Lectures were boring, and tests were difficult. There were in class quizzes every lecture, so showing up to class is essential to receive those marks. The guidelines for the poster project, and research paper at the end of course were given with extremely short notice.
The most boring class I've ever taken. Concepts aren't clear or easy to understand. Plus he's monotone which makes it even harder to pay attention. Tests were hard. Attendance is required because he makes you answer questions on a piece of paper each class.
I hated my 201 class because of this professor. His monotone delivery and general boredom made my interest in research methods plummet. I highly recommend avoiding a Polson class if you can. Also, he offers a very poor way to study using a 1980's 8-bit flashcard program that doesn't even teach you anything.
Polson puts a lot of effort in to the course material, plus he makes it very clear he wants you to succeed - he even gives you the opportunity for up to 3% in bonus marks. Definitely recommend him, just be prepared to do lots of homework and in-class discussions.
Worst prof ever. Tests are hard and tricky. You have to go to lectures or you won't be able to understand the material just from reading the textbook and you won't understand the slides he posts online without him explaining them. But hard to pay attention to him when he's so monotone and makes the material so dry!
Hated this teacher. Lots and i mean LOTS of homework. Pre Class Quizzes InClass Pop Quizzes Group activities that take over an hour to prepare ( Theres 10 of them!! ) Pre Test for the Test Lots of chances to get grades, and bonus. Will Make you work for it. Way to Overwhelming when I had 2 other classes to deal with. Never again.
Polson is one of my favorite profs of all time. He genuinely wants his students to succeed, and even provides extra credit opportunities. Psyc 338 is a great class to take with him, as it is his speciality. Attending lectures is VERY helpful, as he explains the material very well, which really helps prepare students for his exams. Highly recommend!
This class takes up a lot of time because of all the different components; however, those components do help with learning rather complex subject matter. This class wouldn't be ideal for people who prefer a slower pace to their lectures. If you like fast paced courses and you're interested in the subject matter this class is a good choice.
He is awesome! This was my favourite class this semester. He's super approachable and really wants you to succeed. I got 100% in this course and I was taking 5 other classes.
I really liked the prof. Learned a lot from different course components!
Best prof ever - learned so much that I can apply to my daily life. Fair, prepared, organized, knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
Polson assigns a ton of homework and it seems overwhelming at first, but it helps you keep up with the course work and his little assignments really help to boost your grade. His tests are very fair and his lectures are structured. It it very clear what is expected of you, all in all a very good prof!
He really encourages students to become engaged with the material. At first, some of the assignments feel overwhelming, but they really help your understanding of the material. He offers many opportunities for extra credit, so if you show up, put in an effort, and take advantage of extra credit, there's no reason you shouldn't get an A.
Reads directly off the powerpoints in a monotone voice the entire time. Cringeworthy animated powerpoint slides with a classic rock sound track. So much homework, tons of readings, he even includes questions on tests based on his own opinions that directly oppose what is stated in the textbook he assigned for this course.
Dr. Polson is extremely monotone, so lectures can be boring. However, he provides a million little assignments, which is annoying at first until you realize they do actually help you learn the material.
Dr Polson is extremely clear. The material is well structured, and the expectations are plainly laid out. Stats is not my thing, but got an A+ and even became a little more open-minded about stats. He's not particularly exciting or inspiring, but he's a great teacher anyways. I was VERY well prepared for 300A.
He really takes time to help students understand. Very helpful if you contact him. He expected a lot, I had to put in double the amount of work for this class than comparable 3XX Psychology classes. I recommend you learn any peg-words he recommends, because they will be on your final.
Polson does try to make lectures better by playing music and using study examples that catch your attention, but he does not reply to emails seeking help or clarification, ignores people's hands in class, tests on the hardest material, has unclear expectations and is quite frankly impossible to pay attention to. I doubt he likes teaching at all.
He was truly a tough grader but he is a good teacher. He is very thorough and detailed in his lectures. He sometimes uses youtube videos in class which surprisingly worked to explain stuff people had a hard time grasping. The lectures were sometimes boring but overall his class prepared my very well for psych 300A so I am happy.
He was a good prof. The class is dry, technical, and boring and his exams were quite tough, but he was clear about what to pay attention to, what to know for exams and was thorough in his lectures. He was very helpful when I emailed or went to see him in office hours. The assignments and quizzes were useful in learning the material.
He seemed like a fair teacher although some of his material seemed outdated. He was fairly approachable and provided extra examples if the class wasn't getting it.
He does a grade job teaching what is probably the most dry material in existence. Very detailed lecture slides, fair tests, and lots of opportunity for extra credit. He made this course bearable.
Polson is a very kind prof. The course material is dry, as is his delivery, but his soundtracks and quirky slides make it bearable. Plenty of opportunity for extra credit, and if you put in the time you will do well!
Prof Polson does a great job with the incredibly dry material of Psyc210. Lots of different assignments make up your grade, so you will never have one heavily weighted test. Great guy overall and does an engaging lecture (relative to the material)
Dr. Polson is a terrible lecturer he lectures to his laptop at 1000 words/min and his test are really hard, and there is a ton of HW in the class. Having said that he actually really wants students to do well and is so helpful outside of the class room. I don't think I could take another class with him just because of his lecture style.
Focuses on irrelevant things that aren't on the test. Spends too much time looking at anecdotal quotes, videos, and music/effects, and not enough time on the actual course content. Monotonic and uninteresting teaching methods
Polson makes a dry class somewhat interesting. His organized slides and accompanying music and sound effects makes for a little bit more of a fun experience. However, he doesn't give the greatest feedback and is not very clear in his explanations sometimes. Don't bother emailing with questions, he won't get back to you for a few days.
Uhhhh, ummmm... Polson, while not the worst prof at UVic, is most certainly not the best. His lectures are rushed and scattered and he tries to be funny and interesting, but fails. Having old pictures from the 80s on his slides doesn't exactly make the content more interesting and he is not the best when it comes to answering questions.
I found some of the comments here interesting. I didn't realize people didn't like his lecture style. Of course, I find it very transparently revealing to write an open comment a professor is sure to see. It's good to know that his 2xx courses are comparable to 3xx. Then I'm ready. Difficulty was none of it was very down to earth. also dad-rock.
Dr. Polson made lectures very enjoyable with his incredible taste in music and clear lecture slides. As someone who struggles with math, he made this research methods course easy to understand and provided lots of examples to ensure that students could transfer the concepts to real life situations. A great professor.
It is so difficult to pay attention in Polson's lectures because he spends the majority of the time speaking in a monotone voice and reading off of his slides. Boring lectures, really hard exams. He answers questions in a round-about way and always lacks clarity. Avoid his class at all costs, not worth it. Super nice dude though lol
Dr. Polson taught an online psychology class of mine. His feedback was amazing and he was always available for help or questions I had. The online lessons he put together were well thought out and interesting and he appreciates the amount of work students put into the projects. Dr. Polson wants his student to do well and facilitates same.
Polson's lectures are extremely hard to sit through, and his testing method might be worse. I advise bring the text book to class, and spending that time reading, so that you can see the questions on the mandatory lecture quizzes he has implemented in order to prevent students from skipping his lectures in droves. Avoid if possible.
The worst teaching style I have ever seen. The material is interesting, however Polson makes it unbearable to sit in his lectures. He reads in a monotone voice, fast and quiet, I have no clue how students at the back can hear his rambling. He ignores hands in class, let alone pause to ask if we do have questions. Avoid at all costs!
Dr Polson is absolutely ineffective in his communication of materials though his lectures. The class failed by extremely large margins (30% failure) and he resorted to scolding the class and no curving, taking out bad questions or altering anything at all. His lectures are dry and hard to follow sometimes, he also goes on tangents that arent tests
The class average on exams was around 60%, a good chunk of the class failed. His lecture style is so boring- but you have to go because he tests you on his opinion on things in the book. Unless you 150% have to take a class with him- I would not recommend.
I hope he never sees these comments, the guy is just trying to teach a class. Hes effective with his planning and clear with his expectations. If you do the readings and take thorough notes, you will do fine. The people who failed chose to. It isnt fun or easy or inspiring, but you do learn a lot about the history of psychology.
oh my god he's so boring to listen to! sitting through class with him talking in a monotone voice literally feels like torture. his tests were weirdly hard for simple material. i would rather die than take another class with this dude, I have no idea how he has such an average rating.
Least favorite professor I ever had. Listening to his lectures is actual torture. Instead of putting effort into explaining the material, he puts way too much time into slideshow effects that make the notes more confusing. Uses long, outdated, painfully boring videos for important information instead of teaching it himself. Avoid if you can!
Just don't. His lectures are the most boring thing in the world that I just forfeited the participation marks and did not attend. His tests are pretty straightforward but you better know your stuff. Polson if you read this, update your lecture content! Just because you are discussing history, you don't have to play & test us on super old vids!
Dr. Polson seems really nice personally but his teaching style just goes over my head. He constantly stammers and takes forever to get to the point he's making. He marks the written portion of tests unnaturally hard. He also isn't clear about what exactly he's looking for on tests so its kind of up to you to do your best and figure it out.
Honestly, I really enjoyed having Polson as a prof. I took the online summer class and he did a really good job teaching the course in 3.5 weeks. All his lectures are pre-recorded and I honestly found them entertaining and full of useful information. If you watch the lectures and do the readings it's super easy to get a good mark.
AWFUL. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS! The entire class failed an exam and he came into the class raging mad yelling at us to do better. His bonus 3% takes 12 hours to complete (literally), have fun installing a program from 2001. It is all MC exams and you cant challenge it. He used exams from 400 level for our final from across the country. Do not take.
Took his PSYC210 during summer online, definitely not something I suggest anyone do. He gives a lot of resources for us to succeed and detailed feedback on work done but all this goes down the drain considering the course was squeezed into just 3 weeks during summer. Making use of all resources given is difficult. Not the best prof for PSYC 210 tho
I took this course online during the summer and it was an extremely heavy workload. Tests were weighted heavily and other assignments and papers were weighted significantly lower, despite taking hours to do. I will not be taking another course with this prof again.
Assigned 6 classes worth of lectures along with 3 chapters of reading before the 2nd class for a quiz due by the end of it. The course schedule on MyPage claims 50 minute lectures twice a week (lie). Did everything possible to avoid interacting with students by pre-recording lectures and not answering forum questions unless "absolutely necessary."
Whoever has to take his online class, brace yourselves! His recorded lectures are dull, monotone and full of irrelevant and old school examples. He doesn't give you any feedback on the tests, so you have no idea how to do better next time. Topic for self-research was also on the most boring topic ever. So happy I will never deal with him again!
This was the second class I had with Polson and honestly he was an awesome Prof. He's monotonous, but he is so thorough with his lectures, and gives extremely fair exams. You can tell he wants students to succeed, given the little assignments which help boost your grade and the opportunity for bonus %. Attend lecture and you'll be fine. In 338 now!
if you cant sit through 2 hours of boring lecture material with the most monotone voice and stupid slide show effects don't take this class, ITS TORTURE. He's also horrible at getting back to students. I emailed him at 10 am 2 days before a test asking important questions about the test and never got a reply. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS TEACHER! awful
Took this course online. He assigns WAY more lectures than there would be time for in person, at least 2 chapters of reading a week, crazy long labs that are worth almost nothing, and his lectures are so incredibly boring. He talks so slowly and monotonously. He also was very rude when I approached him about the amount of coursework. Dont take him
-7/10 experience with Polson online, he has pre-recorded lectures that are minimum 2 hours long each (posts 2x a week), expects us to read 2 LONG chapters a week, long lab assignments due each week, same with quizzes, and a research project EACH WEEK, Wouldn't release averages for the test (class failed) gives 0 feedback so 0 chance of improvement
201 has been dreadful. He gives you 2, 2.5 hour lectures 2X a week (which greatly exceeds in class time length), the lectures are monotonous and mind numbing. You're expected to do 2 chapter readings, 2 quizzes AND a lab on top of that WEEKLY, plus a project. His grading is harsh and unfair and NO FEEDBACK IS EVER GIVEN. DO NOT TAKE 201 WITH POLSON
Psyc 201 is a tougher class than anticipated especially in online format. Dave does not always make the modules user friendly but his lecture notes are fun and he provides the data well. Feedback could be better.
Dr. Polson is a nice guy, and thats something I really appreciate when it comes to a professor. He really wants his students to do well, and it shows. His lectures do go on for 2, 2.5 hours which is much longer that the allotted class time, but I would say thats really the only thing I wasnt satisfied with in this class.
This is the worst class ive taken. The amount of weekly course work and the length of the lectures is incredibly unreasonable and takes up way too much of my time weekly. No other class has 5 hours of lectures, 2 chapter readings, 2 quizzes, and a lab each week + a project. Come on.
Dull, dull, DULL. If there are other options for 201, I would definitely recommend choosing the other option whatever it might be. I could never pay attention in Polsons lectures no matter how much music or sound effects he put in his powerpoints. The content is dull enough, lets not make the professor dull as well
Dr.P is great, very clear marking and instructions. All lectures posted on course spaces, tons of opportunity for extra marks. I'll finish this one with a 96%+, thats another one for the good guys, med school here we come!
65% of our mark was 6 tests, the other 35% was chapter quizzes, weekly lab assignments, self-research updates, lab assignments, and a 15 page research paper. The course design lacked conviction. Polson was unwavering with me in addition to other students I spoke to when he was asked for feedback, reconsiderations, etc. And his lectures, yikes.
Polson gives an unreasonable amount of material to cover & it defeats the purpose of learning. There is no doubt a lot to cover in research methods courses, but the way its taught makes a huge difference. He has made an effort to help this process, but the way he's gone about it is archaic and unnecessary. DROPPED & WAITING ON A DIFFERENT PROF.
Do not listen to the good reviews. AVOID POLSON LIKE THE PLAGUE! This guy is legitimately the worst professor I've ever had before. Will not let you review your tests, even though you might ask to. Expects you to learn from very long pre-recorded lectures. Honestly feels like he's running a dog and pony show, and scamming students out of money.
It was a relief to have a well organized class with clear learning objectives. There were study questions that corresponded to specific textbook chapters. If you did those then you were set for all quizzes and exams. I actually learned something in this class. Looking for more classes with Dr. Polson in the future.
I would advise taking someone else if you can. His lectures are so dry and he's monotone. His tests are made to intentionally trick you with unfair wording and those stupid all over the above, neither, only a/b. Like come on! He also doesn't take the time to explain where you are going wrong. He doesn't seem to care about students' success.
In an online learning environment, Polsons class was effective beyond measure. His course is well-structured and carefully planned out, so although there are quite a few lectures & labs to complete, youre allotted enough time to finish everything if you stay organized. This is one of the few classes this year I feel I actually learned something.
10/10 do not recommend. The test grades are basically based purely on the written answers which are graded to taste. Since this is the case, Dr. Polson has made it impossible to be able to view your marked test, so you wont be able to fight it or even see why you lost marks. He hasnt been helpful over the course and assigns WAY too many quizzes.
Consistently (and unnecessarily) exceeded lecture limits by hour or 2. Did not change this despite many complaints. Although it's a lot, if you do the study guides and take good lecture notes, they prepares you well for the open book tests. Overall I'd avoid, v monotone and slow talker + disrespectful to students' time
I dont understand what the teacher is teaching in class. And his test is so heavy. A lot of my classmates are the same.
polson's current rating is very inaccurate. He never finishes his slides during class time and expects students to be responsible for all the material he fails to cover. The quizzes and long, hard, and you never get to see what material you got wrong unless you go to office hours. Also cumulative final need I say more. do not recommend
Gives alot of information to know in a very short time, seems to assume everyone structures their life around his class, Words his questions on his quizzes unfairly, gives over an hour of extended lectures after 2h class, everyone I've spoken to is not doing well, mundane + boring lectures. could be great if he restructured how he teaches material.
Dr. Polson is really thorough in his explanations and gives a lot of examples during lectures. You can tell he really cares about your experience and is super approachable if you have questions. The lectures have lots of material because stats is dense, but the tests are really fair! Just don't skip class because tests are mostly based on lectures!
Just do not take this course, most interesting pros ever, u will feel you are wasting your money and your time. He gives a quiz every weak after a 2 hours lectures, he feels like everyone only have one course on campus. Also, the quiz questions are not relevant at all to the lectures he teaching. DO NOT TAKE IT! RUNAWAY FROM HIM.
I've taken 2 classes with him and all I can say is he sets you up to succeed. He is clear in his expectations -- you absolutely do need to read the textbook and do the review questions. That's not an unreasonable expectation in uni. I've never found his quizzes to be unfair. If I do poorly on a quiz , I know it's because I didn't put the time in.
This is the most monotone prof I have ever had, except for when he blasts music in between slides. He not very engaged but overall an *okay* prof. I took this class because I needed it for my degree, otherwise, probably do not recommend.
Dr. Polson made this class difficult. The weekly tests were stressful- graded on confusingly worded multiple choice and heavily marked written questions that are based on very random pieces of information from text/ video. It felt like I could only do well if I memorized every tiny piece of info, which any full time student doesnt have time for.
Weekly quizzes that are extremely difficult and weighted heavily. Often even if I had read and studied the material thoroughly the quizzes were hard to understand and difficult to answer. Many questions are based on random material and facts that do not seem relevant to the class. Prof is a dry, unenthusiastic lecturer.
Dr. Polson provides clear, structured lectures and expectations in his class. If you read the textbook and attend lectures, and take clear notes of the main concepts, you will do just fine. Make sure you review your notes before quizzes because they're worth a lot and you need to know your stuff. Lectures can go on for too long, but overall not bad
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS! Probably the worst prof at uvic. Weekly quizzes are extremely difficult. Many questions are based on random material and facts that do not seem relevant to the class. Even after studying for hours for each quiz and reading the textbook I still manage to get a low grade. Also cumulative final exam... stay away from Polson.
DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASS WITH DR POLSON Worst prof Ive ever had. Grading scale in points, test every week on his opinion, has nothing to do with the textbook, monotone speaker, assigns 1-2hrs of lecture outside class, test questions are meant to trick u. I spent 10 hrs aweek studying for the tests and still failed 4 of them. He sets you up to fail.
David Polson made my life hell through second year and I ended up dropping the course twice before I finally finished it. There is just to much going on in this class and he overcomplicates simple concepts. This was the only course that I struggled in during my second year of psychology. Avoid him if you can.
Polson attempts to make lectures fun, and his lectures pretty informative (also somewhat dry). His in class participation helped keep me on track. However, his test/ quizzes are insane. 90% of his questions focus more on trying to trick you than testing you on any actual knowledge or concepts he teaches you or expects you to know in his courses.
Okay lets be real for a sec. Hes an honest man and he knows what he is talking about. HOWEVER, his tests are tricky & each question kinda seems like a set up. Just wrote the final exam. Let me emphasize. GO. TO. HIS. OFFICE. HOURSE. TO. LOOK. OVER. QUIZ. QUESTIONS. bc you will infact be seeing those bishs again.
This man put me through the ringer this semester. Do not take both of his courses in the same semester. When you take one of his classes, he expects that you focus only on that one class, and that his is your only responsibility for 3 months. His weekly classes in this course were like mini midterms. However, I learned a lot of unimportant things!
JUST HORRIBLE. Most unrealistic course load I've been given yet and horrible hard test that he gives after not teaching any of the content on it.
Every week there will be a test on the chapter around 40 MC and a few short answer questions. Every lecture there will be a Participation Assignment worth about 0.7%, questions are given in class only. Every test will be password protected and given out ONLY in class. You will also have 2hrs of recorded slides and video quizzes each week on top.
Dr Polson so far has been my favourite professor at UVIC. He puts a lot of effort into the class slides, and attempts to appeal to all aspects of learning (visual, auditory etc). The class structure is quite ridgid, he does not change it, first class is the learning and 2nd class is the test, each week. but overall felt it was beneficial
Dr. Polson is not a bad professor. His lectures were unclear and boring at times. Class structure was one lecture plus one test every week. Tests were mostly assessing memorization of facts and figures. Reading the textbook chapter before the test will help a lot. There were a few opportunities for bonus marks. Participation check in every lecture.
Polson is very knowledgeable. However, he is disrespectful of his students' time. This course was very demanding. I do appreciate the structure of the course from a learning standpoint, the weekly tests were worth quite a bit and forced me to put in the time each week. Weekly 2hr study sessions with classmates helped me get the grade. THINKFASTgod
Polson is one of the worst profs I have ever had. His lecture slides are vague, so naturally, you would expect him to clarify them in class... but, no. He mumbles through the slides and did not do the content any justice. It could have been a really interesting class, so I am upset that his teaching style made this course as unbearable as possible.
Class lectures are very boring he simply reads off the slides, he is very unapproachable. Written assignments are graded harshly with no feedback given on how to improve. His lectures are vague and make the material more confusing than it is. Studies he uses in class are from the 1980's and videos are sometimes hard to watch. Horrible experience.
Polson knows his stuff well but expects you to understand everything perfectly the first time. Weekly 40 question quizzes, graded activity for each lecture every and every activity is password protected so attendance is mandatory. You will have 2 hours of recorded lectures to watch after each lecture and there will be quiz questions on it.
The class overall was pretty easy - but Polson isn't a great lecturer. Not really his fault - the material of research methods is pretty dry regardless - but either way I was falling asleep in class. Not the worst class ever, but might be worth exploring your other options before taking Polson.
literally one of the worst professors i've had. gives absolutely no feedback on anything. read the textbook you won't know how to answer quiz and test questions, watch the lecture videos and you won't know how to answer quiz and test questions. I dread this man, and if you can avoid him I highly suggest it.
Gives too many midterms. Project is interesting but he overschedules the amount of people to present each class so some of us had to present on Zoom several weeks later. Records the lectures but doesn't actually give them to students. Although he encourages students to stay home if sick but then has in class participation.
This professor was terrible, I would spend the whole class waiting for it to end, the only reason I went is because we had in-class quizzes which always had stuff on it that he never explained properly. On top of that, he was one of the most boring professors I have ever had, he speaks without any change In tone.
Imagine for a moment: an asynchronously taught class with lecture videos that are nigh unwatchable due to the poor audio quality, forcing you to rely on the textbook and slides to teach yourself the material. Add in egregiously hard multiple choice and you have Dr. Polson's 338 class. Nightmare- avoid this professor for the sake of your GPA.
Each week will have one two hour lecture and one forty question quiz with the lowest graded one dropped. No midterm and one final exam. In addition to the lecture you will often have extra material assigned to watch and have quiz questions on it. Overall this is a difficult class.
Pretty good teacher. Unit quizzes are tedious, but worth a big part of your grade and aren't that hard to do well on. Write down the in-class questions and answers and questions from the unit quizzes, and you'll be pretty prepped for the exams. Attendance is a must because of this, so don't think you can just watch the videos. I would take again.
If old school, rote memorization, gimmicks demanding wording repeated verbatim, lack of constructive feedback, almost no multimedia or application of learning, and little respect for individual student needs are not what you're looking for, find an alternative. This guy's a throwback & should adapt his teaching style or make space for new faculty.
Incredibly boring content and way of teaching. One of the worst courses/prof i've had so far in university.
Dr. Polson is so dry that it is impossible to pay attention during lectures. Gives no feedback and only uses studies from 20+ years ago.
Most boring class I've ever taken, teaches like you know the content already, exams are harder than he prepares you for, lectures are dry and long. Would not take again.
Has unrealistic expectations of his students and acts as if this course is the only one his students are taking. Lectures are long, dry and not easy to follow along. Very hard to understand the content of the course.
Polson is a sweet guy, really cares about his students. His lectures can be a bit boring but this class is overall pretty easy.
Polson means well, but he is a stickler regarding marking criteria. Lectures are incredibly dry and use outdated studies. Confusing definitions are used. He uses tricky questions on exams. Participation marks require the correct answer to get the full point. He is always on time and prepared, though. Probably will impact your GPA.
Does not explain well, cares too much about his own ideas on the subject matter(10% of the final was his thoughts on psychologists), not very clear with content and lectures are awfully boring. Get ready for lots of reading. Expects you to complete chapter and supplemental readings(30+) pages before his lecture and quiz before the end of the day.
Pros: knows the material very well; puts effort into his slides; allows up to 5% bonus marks; easy pass. Cons: trick test questions; dry lectures; blasts music/sound effects without warning; in-class activities marked based on answers, not participation; pretty much only references studies before 00s and uses outdated terms; hard A
Dr. Polson was one of the best professors I have ever had. Course evaluations ranged from exams to in-class activities to quizzes, which made it fair to get a good mark in this class if you put in the effort. As long as you go to class I can guarantee you will do good. Polson also allows up to 4.5% in bonus marks which can boost your grade.
Polson does not take students who missed quizzes/classes into consideration even if they're registered with CAL. His classes are also really boring and would expect you to know what's on the slide that he wasn't able to talk about because he always runs out of time.
no effort is made to supplement textbook or lectures with anyone other than old white men. he talks very fast, he says tons of things in lecture that you cannot find anywhere else. you must go to class you, theres not an online option- he has narrated powerpoints which are better than lecture but in-class activities every class make going mandatory
AWFUL. Lectures are confusing with random music and GIFs. Wastes time and leaves rest of lecture for homework. Must attend lectures for marks. Ignores CAL accommodations. This class should be 2x credit for the amount of work: textbook chapters, 3hr lecture, lecture and weekly quizzes, homework, and exams. All for a pass/fail grade. A HARD no.
He takes time to make good slides and lectures, informational but need to go to lectures to add additional information. His slides and information in class are the most testable, but he makes it very easy to understand the information. He is a great prof, who works really hard and does want everyone to succeed in his class.
The use of sound effects and GIFs in his slideshows is disruptive and annoying. He does not properly explain things and the tests are heavy and difficult. Attendance is mandatory, and frustrating. The material is better learned with someone else. I did not enjoy this class at all but it is mandatory for my degree. Good luck if you have him.
I have taken a few classes with him, and I just hope I don't have to do so again. He appears to be a sensible person in his personal life and quite funny (along with good music taste which will be seen in his lectures), but as a prof, it's a different story. He's super specific and wants you to read A LOT.
Polson is super kind but a very boring lecturer. There are many opportunities for missed assignments and he is super helpful one on one. I genuinely think he deserves a better review than what he has but he is definitely not the best prof ever. Just mid. This goes for both 210 and 201, as I took both with him.
I loved Dr.Polson, he is very intelligent and gives many opportunities for extra credit. I think some students become overwhelmed with the amount of additional resources he gives. I found it helpful because you do not have to look at the resources at all if you understand everything but you can if you need extra support. Also he gives fair exams.
I was hesitant to take another class with Polson, but I'm glad I did. You can tell he is in his element within this course and his explanations are clear and helpful, and his demeanor perks up a lot compared to his teaching of Psyc 210. The mandatory attendance is a bit outdated, but the course is very enjoyable. Bonus marks are massive as well.
The lectures are long and boring. He speaks in the same tone the entire time, cant tell when an idea starts and ends.
Long, dry lectures. Quizzes full of tiny details and hard questions. Hard to improve as he won't let you see what you got wrong on them because he reuses the questions for the exams. Interesting content and gives links to YT videos of textbook chapters. Pass/Fail so it doesn't ruin your GPA. If you don't have to take it, it's not worth the stress.
It's one thing to have a long, dull and lifeless lectures, but throwing in in-class quizzes every lecture is just cruel. Tests are not too hard but going to class is punishing, makes me re-think my decision to pursue a psyc degree.
I had him for 210 and thought it could not get any worse until I took this course. Although i've learned a lot, the class is way too difficult for what it is. I feel like I understand all of the material but I can't seem to get above a 75% on the exams, which is well above average for this class, and way below my usual grades.
Bullet point form because there's a lot :( -never finished a lecture on time; students are penalized for it -messy slides -"supplementary" readings are MANDATORY!! -disruptive; inconsistent volume, gifs/music/sfx that don't contribute anything I hear his office hours are a lot more productive, but personally I didn't have the means to access any.
If you can get passed his use of GIF's and music, which tbh in the beginning I found very annoying, then you may discover he is a great professor. Extremely organized, knowledgeable, and helpful with any questions you may have. One conversation with David shows you how deep his knowledge on these topics go.
As you can see I did not do bad, but poison made it harder than it need be. his lectures were so so boring and you must attend. I loved his music but it did not compensate for his horrible lectures, he talked so quiet. his tests are good, straight forward, it you study you can do good. labs are easy but research paper was not explained well.
Alright alright Polson has a bad rep and y'know what it is fair. His lectures are incredibly hard to focus on, however his skeleton slides and study guides are actually pretty helpful and will get you by in the course even if you cannot pay attention to the lectures for the LIFE OF YOU. Exams were semi-difficult but if you study you will be fine.
Too much work for a pass/fail class. Lots of readings, weekly quizzes, in-class participation questions, hard-to-follow lectures. Mostly tests memory, not comprehension. Dates, names, and details are very important. I also struggled with the noise level of music he used in slideshows - not for noise-sensitive people. Take 205 instead.
Super well organized ! I feel that there there are a lot of negative reviews of this class however I think that is due to the fact he actually required quizzes/ attendance which is fair considering it is a uni course. Very well spoken and the quizzes were direct lecture information, the tests were similar to quizzes so clear expectations for exams!
Only one of my second year psyc courses that I felt like I actually learned content IN DEPTH enough to think critically about the material. Important class and interesting to see all the varying philosophical perspectives/unanswered questions. Lectures can be very dry. Plenty of resources to succeed. VERY knowledgable about every topic taught
Good prof and really good at making you understand the concepts.But no matter how well you understand the concepts,you will likely get only 75% or lower on exams.Its more complicated scenarios on the exam rather than the actual content.
Dr. Polson is not a great prof. He is the worst lecturer and talks in a monotone voice at 0.5x speed making it impossible to pay attention. His slides are very old and do not make any sense at all so its very difficult to study for the tests. He told us on the first day of class not to email him because he won't respond, so he's also not helpful.
I enjoyed David Polson lectures not because he is a good lecturer but because the sound effects he uses in his slides always cracked me up. He also has in class quizzes everyday so be sure to show up. Also, his tests were usually hard to prepare for, since he wasn't specific about what would be covered aside from which chapters were on the test.
Dr. Polson is the best professor I have had at UVic. The assignments he designed for the labs empowered me to feel like a professional researcher. I can't believe how much I learned and how prepared I am for upper level courses in psyc. If you show up and do the work you'll do well. It is clear to me that he really cares about our education.
Toughest and most harsh instructor in my academic journey. Lecture notes on website deliberately omit many important notes that will be on exams. Exams are very abstract and difficult, extremely suspicious. He has many strict and unnecessary requirements. Overall, the studying experience with this professor was stressful and tense.
His exams and quizzes contain questions about specific quotes. His lectures are boring and contain a lot of useless information. I would not suggest taking, especially if your neurodivergent.
Professor is very organized but lectures can be dull. Use unstuck study ai and the textbook to stay on top of the material - quizzes and exams focus heavily on specific details.
7 chapters and 3 of 6 essay questions are crazy for a midterm; that amount of content is similar to a final exam in other classes
Don't take this class or this prof. I still have nighmares
This is my second class with Polson, and hopefully my last. He purposefully makes his exams difficult, he gives a heavy amount of reading and lecture notes, and seems to genuinely enjoy having low averages on his exams. Also his tone during class makes it hard to sit through, the sound effects on his slides the only thing that keeps my attention...
David's passion is clear, but his fast lectures, distracting slide sfx, and no breaks in 2+ hr classes make it tough. Videos were out of sequence, unavailable for review, and test content felt excessive for a P/F course. He's smart, but less stress, and clearer focus would help. text was more like a sparring partner for David than a tool.
Solid Prof. Seems overwhelming at first with the amount of resources he gives at the start of the course, but once you figure out his system and settle into a routine an A is achievable. Psyc 201/210 tend not to be everyone's favourite courses (Research Methods/History of Psych-both mandatory.) 338 is his best course, interesting and useful irl.
He is somewhat monotone and a very slow speaker. I found his lectures boring and frustrating. I can feel that he tried his best to keep the course engaging for students but I think it was just hard for me to absorb the information he was saying when listening for extended periods of time. The exam questions are complicated and lengthy.
A good prof, clearly had a genuine passion in the subject. Told us what we needed to do to succeed. His was able to clearly convey the material but there was so much content. I found it hard to keep up and didn't have time to really sit down and get a good understanding before having to move on. (Im also just not a fast learner)
I found his lectures complicated the textbook material, and his exams are intentionally complicated and frustrating to study for. If you have an enormous amount of time outside of class to read, study, and complete additional work/ quizzes, then you can succeed. My worst grade at UVIC. I was looking forward to this course, but would not recommend.
I passionately tell everyone to avoid Polson at all costs. You can attend/rewatch lectures, read the entire textbook and still be lost on his midterms. He makes his questions really confusing and words things very weirdly, seems to enjoy low averages? long story short - by far the most work into this class of my 5 and was still my lowest mark :0
I very much appreciate that this professor has recorded lecture videos to go back to - not many profs do this. Effort for keeping the lectures engaging with sound effects/good music. But the exams are beyond difficult. Hard to pass. Needs a reevaluation of exam format.
It's not that bad. It's a pass/fail course and it's easily passable if you put in a little bit of effort, and take all the easy points by doing the participation quizzes and unit quizzes. I recommend studying for the short answer questions- which he provides in advance, then study for the mc questions second and that's a good way to pass
Dr. Polson makes organized clear lectures and has completely reasonable tests and quizzes if you just actually apply yourself. This is a univeirsty class, it is not hard it just requires work and to be honest compared to upper level courses not even that much. He is a lovely prof and makes rather engaging lectures considering the rough time slot.
Very boring lectures, hard to pay attention. Exams are very hard, and I found it extremely hard to study for them
D. Polson is very hard to stay engaged with. I know he tries with the sound effects and music, but it is still hard even though the information is interesting (sometimes). He does not respond to emails, and won't help you pass the class even if you're trying very hard and have done bonus work etc. He does not care. He WILL let many fail!!!
One of the hardest courses i have taken. He is a really nice guy, but his teaching style makes it hard for me to keep engaged. The course material is hard and confusing. I failed this course by 1%, you need a 60% to pass. I did this course as a prerequisite for my PSYC degree, but instead i would encourage EVERYONE to do PSYC 205 instead (so easy).
Failed 210 over summer & retook it this term. He really tries with his lectures. Nice guy and generally helpful but course is tough, content is dry & difficult to remember, and tests are super hard. He told me specifically what I should study for and I got the test and everything was still foreign. Wouldn't take again but might have to :(.
The material itself I found dry, but Polson was able to make it as engaging as possible. His tests were very reasonable, go to lectures, do the weekly quizzes, go over the short answer questions he releases in advance and use the flash cards he provides and you'll have no problem passing.
Dave is a nice guy, but the lecture content is dry and hard to stay engaged with. He focuses heavily on the unit quizzes and takes attendance with in-class quizzes. His tests have questions that are very similar to his quizzes (so take that as you like). If you stay on top of the quizzes and at least pass both Exams, you should be able to pass.
David has a bit of a unique teaching method but he clearly cares about this class a lot and puts the work into his slides and presentation. PSYC 210 was pretty reading and homework heavy compared to my other classes and can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it got easier as the semester went along
TAKE PSYC205!! He puts more effort putting sound effects in the slides than the actual lecture. My view might be different cuz I have MS and I took this as a month-long course in the summer, but I cant help but feel like I am not actually learning the material but rather this prof's subjective view of the material too. Heavy course. Not worth it.
He mumbles a bit but you can tell he's passionate and I learned some decent stuff. Would've liked some more readable slides that didn't heavily rely on quotations. They can be a bit redundant and unorganized. Slides definitely need a revamp overall. Tests and quizzes are not too bad if you do the reading. I liked the music he played before class!
actually just makes no sense and the class is so mind numbing
He's obviously been teaching a long time but his experience is not really providing much to students. I could not get a good grade and put in A LOT of effort for his exams, his wording is extremely confusing and some of his answers to multiple choice questions have multiple arguable correct answers. Very confusing & really bad. Sorry to say...
I found this prof to be one of the best I've had in my undergrad. he was excellent at answering questions, cared if you actually understand the content rather than needing you to memorize the textbook. he really knows the material well and I learned a lot just from emailing my questions. easy to talk to as well. respectful and professional.
He was a good professor who provided a lot of extra material for students who actually wanted to do good. Doing bad in his class is the result of not putting in effort/not showing up.
absolute hell.
Bro should take up a career in reading bedtime audiobooks because I could not stay awake in those godforsaken lectures.
He's a great prof! He has to work with a boring topic and he tries to make it as entertaining as possible with funny gags and sound effects. He's very nice and the exams are very clear and not too difficult as long as you review! Lots of opportunity for bonus marks as well. He wants you to pass, but will not lower standards.
Some of the most boring and painful lectures I have ever had. Gives very little information of what will be tested. Hard class to stay engaged in
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
86%
Textbook Required
40%
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