3.4
Quality3.5
Difficulty52%
Would Retake217
Reviews52%
Would Retake
217
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
86
4
38
3
20
2
26
1
47
What Students Say
“I have never felt more dumb in a class in my life”
MATH1643 - 3.0 rating“He claims he is always there to help, but when you go into office hours he is really rude about why you don't understand the information”
MATH1743 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
66%
Textbook Required
12%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.91 avg changeRatings by Course
1503
5.0
(1)BUSCALC
5.0
(6)MATH1743001
5.0
(2)MATH17432123
5.0
(2)CPM1
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
1743
4.2
0115
4.0
ALG0115
4.0
CALC1315
4.0
CALC1111
4.0
Reviews (217)
If I could have him as my Math professor for all my math classes I would.
He is excellent at explaining Math so that it applies to real life.
He gave so many opportunities for success it seems it would be impossible to make a bad grade in his class
Awesome teacher. Grade in his class consists of a dozen or so quizzes (all take home), and 4 exams. Works at a fast pace, but takes the time to go over tougher material so everyone understands. No graded homework. Lecturing style is animated and lively. Class atmosphere is very open and friendly.
EXCELLENT teacher! He takes the time to explain concepts and does it clearly.
He is really nice and it is pretty easy to get an A in there.
this class is hardcore busy in nature (being 2 semesters cramed into one) but he did a great job at explaining math.
Easy to uderstand
Great teacher! Very sociable and down to earth. Hippie turned math teacher believe it or not. Makes class as fun a calculus can be.
He made calculus interesting in the animated way he related it to REAL life! He went out of his way to be helpful and really cared about our success as students! Nice bod for an older guy! ;)
He is very funny and animated. He can be hard to understand sometimes, however better than most teachers that I have heard about. I have no problems with him. The tests are hard, especially the third one, and I advise you to understand limits before taking the class or you'll be behind.
way better than my last calc 1743 teacher
He is animated and very clear in his explanations. He relates more real life to math than any other math teacher I have EVER had. I wish he would teach pre calculus class cause I would enroll in his class. In fact, if he were my only math teacher, I'd be happy. :) He goes out of his way to be helpful. If you don't pass, its your own fault!
Cool, easy to talk to. Just make sure and know what he says in class or you'll have reprocussions
He's a great professor who is willing to crack a joke to help you understand the concepts. He is really knowledgeable in the subject and is always willing to make time to help you outside of class. You have to study for his tests and quizzes, but your failure is no fault but your own. Definitely get him every chance you get!
The class atmosphere is great, he really goes out of his way to explain concepts that are more difficult to grasp. Additionally, he dedicates a lot of his time outside of the classroom to students. He's pretty eccentric sometimes, but it makes for a humorous lecture.
He made math make sense and he was rally good about what was going to be on the test. Very helpful and his teachings is not confusing.
I hate math and put it off (my fault), then I had to take this remedial math class as a Junior! IF I had Mr Barksdale as a math teacher earlier in life, I might not have hated it. After his class, I hate it a LOT less. Gary is great cause he cares about student success and relates Algebra to much of REAL life! If you get a chance take him! A+
If you don't make an A or a B, it's your own fault. He made everyone understand. I was pretty good with Calc to begin with, but he gave everyone a chance to learn without making it boring for someone like me. And he did it in such a fun-loving way. Sad I couldn't have him for Calc 2.
I'm not good at calc but he made it bearable. He's really good at explaining things in real life terms. Tons of office hours. Hw not required, but do it if you want to pass the quizzes/tests. The tests were hard, but if you do the hw and rework the quizzes, it's not too bad. Go to class!! He gives shortcuts in class that you will need for tests.
One of the best teachers ever. Go to class and do the homework and you will learn the material fairly easy
He's great at explaining things, but he's constantly showing up late for class and he keeps us late almost every day. Its easy, but I would recommend doing ALL of the homework or you'll be lost.
Boring. He gets off subject telling stories and trying to relate, almost breaks stuff down too much, making it harder than it really is. Also, I was in the hospital and he refused to take the notes from the hospital, causing my grade to go down due to attendance even though on the work I did well. Wouldn't recommend him.
Awesome teacher. He was excellent at explaining math to me. I seriously HATED math before this class and now it is tolerable. Love love love LOVE this man for what he did for me Math-wise. If you have the chance to take him, take him!
Barksdale is a great professor. He clearly explains the material and he will also specify if something is important for a test or quiz. If you can get a smaller class setting, he can be even more helpful AND he will try to remember your name (if he doesn't give you a nickname)
He is SUPER helpful and great at explaining things. major brownies points for going to his office hours! He often shows up late to class and will try to keep you late when he does. He really tries to teach everyone so if you fall behind it's really only you're fault. I would definitely recommend him especially for non-math minded people
Weird guy. Socially awkward, but a really good teacher. Always very clear on expectations and if he makes mistakes, he does his best to let students know ASAP. Very helpful in office hours.
Got off topic quite often. Was not helpful when people asked questions during office hours. shows up late every now and then but usually punctual. tests were difficult to prepare for.
He was good at explaining things in class. If you went to his office hours, he usually expected you to know the things you were asking, so office hours weren't very helpful. Will show up late occasionally.
At first, I didn't like his class. I felt like he went to fast and I didn't like how he gave his quizzes. He changed that,though, so overall the class was enjoyable. He made it fun and interesting. He's a nice person and has a fun, relaxed personality. He did his best to explain things and prepare us for the tests. I would definitely recommend him.
Great teacher. Definitely recommend taking his course!
The class isn't that hard but he makes it complicated. He grades harder than any other calculus teacher with no exceptions!
Such a hard grader! He reviews in class for tests but make sure you check your email because he will email quizzes and expect you to have them done! Extremely harsh grader!
Easy to understand & very helpful in offcie hours He has a lot of office hours, far more than required to. Great guy. Calculator is required & he showed the class detailed instructions on how it applies to the class. This class is VERY different from my HS calc class. Be ready to have your English usage and grammer scrutinized - hard grader.
Great teachers, he made the class interesting. He is really funny and wants his student to succeed. If you review all the work sheets and practice test and go to the review for the tests you will do well.
First of all, attending class is vital. When Barksdale says attending his office hours is vital to your success in his class, he's not lying. This class is not extremely hard, but if you don't do homework or go to office hours, it very well could be. Put in the leg work, and you will do well. Barksdale will help you every step of the way.
Barksdale had a lot of office and I am the type of student who uses office hours a lot to get a good grade in the class. It was a shame that this teacher was not approachable and made you afraid to ask any type of question. Class was difficult I suggest also using the math lab to help you with any homework questions.
Professor Barksdale breaks the information down in a way that is understandable, but you would do well to attend his office hours! I took his large lecture, so he was limited in his student interaction during class, but makes up for it with office hours; LOTS of office hours! He is a hard grader, but fair. KNOW your algebra!
Professor Barksdale is a good teacher and is available for outside class help more than any teacher I have ever had, But is is only my second semester. He explains concepts in a very understandable way & tried to personalize lectures by engaging us even though it is a large lecture class. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS!
GOING TO OFFICE HOURS IS ESSENTIAL IF YOU WANT TO DO WELL IN THIS CLASS! He is very helpful and really cares about the students who put forth the effort. He makes the material as easy to understand as possible (it's Calculus, it's not easy no matter how you teach it).
Harsh grader. Harps on having the exact unit right. If he doesn't teach you the method, don't try using your own on the test. Quizzes are completely random. He will say its on Monday and it won't be until the middle of the next week.
This professor (who regularly checks this site) is very helpful. I attended every class, got bonus points every now && then for attendance. You MUST MUST MUST attend his office hours to do well. The worksheets (not for a grade) are the same format as the exam. He goes over these worksheets, practice problems, practice exams etc. Just study!
If he is in his office even if it is not assigned office hours, he will help you! Go to office hours! His lectures are helpful & he is very specific in instructions, sometimes too much. Know your algebra and Cal 1! There is no make up for quizzes & he makes references to previous lectures in his lecture, so go to class.
Extremely tough grader but always in his office hours to help!
Mr. B was my instructor for MATH 1723 and 2123. Throughout this time I can honestly say that I had access to everything I needed to succeed in the course. No doubt both classes took work to get a good grade in, but his multitude of office hours, clarity of lecture materials, and feedback on assignments made a good grade an easier possibility!!
Barks is a phenomenal prof. If you want an A then you must go to class and frequently visit his office. He has a tremendous amount of patience and will work with you until you understand. His assignments, worksheets and quizzes are exactly like the test. You have to understand the material in order to pass. No memorization. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS
I'd run away from this one. Sure he offers help but he is so hard to understand and his notes are horrible. I attended other professors office hours in order to pass, I would suggest taking a different professor's class.
One of the worst classes I have taken at OU. The in class notes are terrible. Gary preaches and endorses office hours for success. If and when you show up he will tell you its in your class notes. Not much help. I will give credit where its due, and he was very generous with quizzes, which helps. I would stay away from this guy though.
Do the homework, go to class, you will get an A. If you miss class and don't do the homework you will struggle and he won't have much sympathy for you. He has plenty of office hours, but you don't have to spend hours a week in office to get a good grade. Seriously, just go to class!
he is one of the best teacher here. if you show him that you're working hard, he will help you no matter what. he does the very best he could to make everyone understand the lecture. you HAVE to go to his office hours. at least twice a week. study day by day and you'll be fine. he gives take home quizzes which is really good. choose GARY BARKSDALE
His handwriting can be hard to read at times so you will have to rewrite your own for more clarity. Old exams are your best friend but you have to understand the material before attempting to do the work. You will have to do lots of practice in order to get it right. And I wouldn't try to miss class too much, it will hurt you later. Awesome class!
Barksdale talks a lot. He teaches the important things over and over again. He'll go over lecture time so don't expect to get out of class early. He's a very tough grader but he lets you know what is expected of you. Do the homework and definitely go to office hours if you have any questions. Don't miss class even though it isn't part of your grade
Barksdale's class was very confusing. He claims that he will help you if you go to his office hours, so I did but he wasn't helpful at all. He told me that what I was asking was material that I should've already known. I wouldn't recommend taking his class. Expect a lot of quizzes.
Class is hard and he is a tough grader but he has a lot of office hours. He is very personable And willing to help. Lots of quizzes and I would advise going to class.
Professor Barksdale is the best! First off, he's an incredibly friendly guy. You're always welcome in his office and he makes the lectures as entertaining as they can be for a math course. He's very energetic and has a unique personality. Concise, clear, and direct in his notes and lectures. Complainers just aren't good at math. Take this course!
He claims he is always there to help, but when you go into office hours he is really rude about why you don't understand the information. His lectures are really confusing and you have to go to every single one because he tends to surprise you with quizzes or extra credit.
Very funny, hilarious professor. He has ways to explain the problems so you can understand it clearly. UTILIZE his office hours. He is extremely helpful and more than happy to help you out when you come to his office for help!
I have never felt more dumb in a class in my life. His lectures are very confusing. He has slowly worked my confidence in math to an incompetent level. The study guides were not helpful. He is a funny dude (if you have a dry sense of humor), but sometimes his cliche jokes and cool shirts aren't enough to win me over. Wouldn't recommend him.
I loved this class. He has more office hours than the math department requires him to have, and if you go to his office hours, then there's no way that you'll do poorly in his class. Quizzes are a bit difficult, but exams are about average. Barksdale really cares about his students and is willing to do whatever he can to help them succeed.
HORRIBLE TEACHER. can't explain things well and the worst grader ever. do not take his class
If you don't attend class, he may tell the class that there is a quiz next class and he won't send an email. If you go to his office hours frequently and ask questions, he will get to know your face and will give you helpful tips for tests. No mandatory homework, but if you expect to pass, you should do the suggested assignments.
I loved Gary! The kind of guy that is happy when you come in and lets you call him by his first name. Now, people that don't like math, this isn't a solution to your problem, but he definitely makes the suffering worse. People who complain about unannounced quizzes are just lazy. Quizzes are NOT hard, just come. Nice guy, just come to class.
He is one of the WORST teachers I have ever had. He is so particular with words in a MATH class that getting the MATH right will get you a lower grade than you deserve. Experiencing him as a teacher has made me lose faith in the integrity of teachers and their actual goal to help students grow.
Weird dude but over all super helpful. Go to office hours and you will more or less be given the questions to the test.
I really hate math but I had a really enjoyable time in his Biz Calc 1 class. I really like that he explains his answers in real English rather than math terms because I can actually see how the material we are learning is applicable to the real world. Definitely wish I had him for Biz Calc 2. He's always really helpful in office hours.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN -- get ready to hear that 5X + during the lecture. Honestly, not that great. Really loud.. and calls you out for walking out of class. Easily one of the harder teachers out there
He is a great professor because he makes you work for your grade, but puts the information not normal understood by most students in other math classes into a language we can understand and grasp. He is passionate and cares about his students. Just get to know him, office hours are key!
Best math teacher that I have ever had. He is very passionate about calculus, and he wants all of his students to do well. Lots of quizzes but he only counts the highest 5 , and he offers some take home quizzes which are easy 100s. He offers extra office hours the morning before quizzes and basically goes over what's on the quiz.
I did not enjoy this class. His lectures were helpful and relevant but he has a negative attitude. He was a pretty tough grader especially on the exams. He claims to have helpful office hours but made rude comments on the questions I had. He's not the worst professor ever, but I would recommend taking the class with someone else.
Barksdale is awesome. Homework is not taken for a grade. Attendance is not taken for a grade. 3 tests worth 100 pts each. 8-10 quizzes for 10 points each, but he only takes the top 5 best grades. Final is 200 points. LOTS of office hours, if you go to them he will like you a lot and be nicer. Test preparation is excellent.
If you took Calculus I in high school, you should be fine. Probably wouldn't say I enjoyed this class mainly because he was a pretty tough grader on exams. Very nit picky on wording. Sometimes felt dumb in class. Just pay attention and take notes. Didn't do many of the homework assignments and his practice tests help. Passed with an A though!
Professor Barksdale is a very tough grader. He really cares for his students and has AMPLE office hours for students to come in and ask questions or just sit around and do homework, asking questions as they go. His lessons are planned well, and it's obvious he puts effort into his job. I took this as a freshman coming from AB calculus(made a 5).
Took AP Calculus my senior year and Barksdale made me feel like I had never taken math before. The material is not hard, but he makes it hard. If you don't word things HIS way you get it wrong. I failed one of the tests for simply not using the wording he like and did every single math calculation correct. Rude every time I went to him for help.
Worst math professor I've ever had. Confusing in class, extremely hard grader. Tries to be funny but isn't. Says "Ladies and Gentlemen" 7+ times a class. DO NOT TAKE HIM
Very good teacher and gives TONS of partial credit on tests and quizzes. Homework is not mandatory but it's a good way to get ready for tests.
Barksdale made Calculus easy and understandable for me. He seems to really care for his students. If you need help, he has A LOT of office hours. Homework is not graded so you do not need the book unless you want to do extra practice. Show up to class and work on previous exams and you'll do great in this course.
You can really tell that Gary loves math, and that makes it easier to learn. He's interesting and knows how to make math so its not going to bore you to death. He gives partial credit for some wrong answers, which is really nice. Homework isnt graded and a book isn't mandatory.... but they are necessary to have.
I graduated several years ago, but Gary was one of those that left a lasting impression. I took a basic mathematics class of his that met every day. I ended up graduating with a minor in mathematics, thanks to getting a great start with Gary's approach. Now have a full time job in a great career. Thanks Gary you made a difference!!
He's a good guy.
Seems like a good guy overall. Holds his students to a high but fair standard. His tests and quizzes are tough, sometimes gives a pop take home quiz on very short notice. Encourages students to come to office hours, but tends to be unapproachable when you meet him in person. Overall, this class is more focused on using a calculator instead of Calc.
He can make things make sense. But if you struggle with math DO NOT TAKE HIM. No homework is taken for a grade (yay), but I'm the type of student that needs homework to keep up. Some quizzes are spur of the moment that he'll send an email about for the following day. He puts reviews up for quizzes and exams which help a lot.
Barksdale is an excellent teacher if you are willing to put in the time and effort needed to succeed. He expects a lot of you and of your past knowledge of math in order to succeed but is willing to offer several additional office hours outside of class to be at your beck and call. Most people do not click with teaching style as well as I did.
Amazing professor. I suck at math but got a low A. You have to work for it but he has TONS of office hours which I personally didn't attend but they probably help immensely. He gives out 8-10 quizzes, grades best five. Great at explaining things. Practice, go to class, homework isn't for grade but do it! He also plays Pokemon Go, raid with him
Barksdale was pretty good and really helpful outside of class. Has a lot of office hours to go get help. Gives practice tests and quizzes really similar to the actual tests and quizzes which makes it easier. He is crazy but a good prof. No required homework and you don't have to do it to be successful. Go to class, pay attention, and ask for help.
I wish all of my professors were like Gary Barksdale. He was very clear on what he expected and was always willing to help. He expected you to do the work and learn but was more than willing to help with it. He was extremely patient and you could definitely tell he cared a lot about his students.
I would never refer to Barksdale as "awesome." His class is entirely based on 4 exams throughout the semester, there are a few quizzes but they tend to hurt grades overall. He is accessible with multiple office hours but when you ask questions he is very condescending and doesn't provide a helpful answer. Take calculus with someone else
He lectured WAY too fast for me to learn anything (maybe because I'm already not the best at math). Gives pop quizzes. He is accessible outside of class and is very willing to help. Very strict grading on assignments, quizzes, & exams. If you write one word he doesn't like, points taken off.. and trust me they add up. Not impossible, but difficult.
This is my 3rd semester with Gary. Ive had him for algebra II, Calc 1, and Calc II. He was a great prof for algebra II and Calc I, I am not sure what happened this semester but he was off his A game on teaching. He would show up a few mins late and then go over on time. Tough really fast. I think he had surgery but he should of planned ahead 4 this
He expects a lot from his students, so much so that it can seem like this math class is an English class. His lectures are sometimes tough to follow and he can be rude to people who ask questions. His office hours are fairly regular but his attitude in class makes him hard to approach. If you value your GPA please avoid Gary Barksdale.
This is by far the worst class I have ever taken. This man single handedly ruined my spring semester with his ridiculously unreasonable and ridiculous grading criteria and his condescending and aggressive teaching style. You can do the math perfectly correctly but forget one word in your answer, he will dock you points that add up. DONT TAKE HIM!!!
I have had Professor Barksdale for Business Calculus I and II. He is a really good professor but you have to go to class every day and take good notes during lecture. Do all of the homework problems and definitely go to office hours! He respects students that show a lot of effort, and he will answer your questions more thoroughly.
Barksdale is by far the worst professor I've ever had. He is ridiculously picky about wording on exams and will fail you because of it. His lectures are unorganzied and he's terrible at explaining things thoroughly. I have been okay at math up until this class, where even attending office hours left me feeling incompetent. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!
I've always been good at math but this was the hardest class I've ever taken. I never understood any of the lectures and he is very specific. The tests were never like the examples he went over in class.
If you do not pass this class, it is on you. He has very extensive office hours and attends all the test review sessions to help students out, Math At Night. He can tend to rush his lecture and his tests are hard, and he is nitpicky on wording. Just go to his office hours and don't miss class. He is an ass about requiring a specific calculator.
I found it hard to keep up so I got a tutor and he was always so angry I got outside help. Would take off points on tests and quizzes for not doing it his exact way. Overall a nice guy and cares about math. Go to office hours and he really helps.
He's a really amazing professor. If you show up to lecture and take the notes he wants you to, as well as ask any questions you have you'll do fine in the class. Doing the practice tests and all of the worksheets he provides you is extremely helpful. Love Gary !
Gary Barksdale might be passionate about calc but he fails on the organizational side of things. Prepare to have assignments graded late as well as be given pop quizzes that he "told you about". 500/575 points in this class are tests but I'm pretty sure that goes for all biz calc 2 classes. Get ready for partial credit even with correct answers.
This class was not an easy one, but Gary Barksdale only wants the best for his students and is always willing to help out in his class and in his office hours. The homework and classwork he assigns in class and for homework really help with tests and quizzes. If you do your homework and take notes, you are prepared for all tests and quizzes!!
professor Barksdale is a fantastic professor. Yes, his class is very hard and sometimes he is a little unexpected, but overall he is a gem. Do the HW and practice tests!
Your grade is made up of 6 quizzes, classwork assignments (which are basically quizzes you can work together on but they are timed), 3 exams and the final. The final can make or break your grade. If I hadn't taken calc in high school I would have been very lost. Barksdale is a good guy but there is probably better options.
In lower math his class was much easier, the higher up you get you have to work for it! He is always adding office hours and provides good feedback on tests and quizzes. He cares about all his students, but like I said if you dont work for it you probably will get about a C. Always funny and happy, and does partial credit on work!
If you put the work in, he will go above and beyond to take care of you. Office hours highly recommended. If you dont show up to class good luck.
Professor Barksdale is passionate about calculus and really cares about his students, but the quizzes in this class completely wrecked my grade. He'll warn you about when the quizzes are, but the material on them was almost always new (also they were all about 3 questions). Make sure to at least look over the hw from the book to prepare for them!
Do the work and go to class. He provides lecture outlines that are extremely helpful to taking notes. He is very accessible outside of class and genuinely cares about how well you do. Go to his office hours. He is nitpicky about wording, but from what I understand this is a requirement of the course director. He is great and i highly recommend him
Gary Barksdale was my professor for three semesters. 1643,1743,2123. If not for him and his extra effort outside of class and his enthusiasm that is obvious in his lectures, I would not have made it into Price College. He is awesome, unless you do not work and show effort. His motto is true, Tenacity beats Talent when Talent ain't tenacious.
He was the best MATH professor I have had in my entire life!!!! TAKE HIM!!! His class notes are THE PERFECT resource for studying, many times he would take questions from there to formulate quizzes. Exams are VERY similar to quizzes and old exams, so if you study through those (quizzes and old exams) and his notes, you'll definitely pass.
Professor Barksdale is wonderful to have. Ask questions, do the homework, and occasionally attend study hours and you should be able to earn an A. Even in large lectures, he takes the time to engage with students and get to know them.
Barksdale is funny and you can tell he really cares about his students learning and the material. He goes quickly in his lectures which may make things harder to grasp, but he often extends office ours and gives lots of study material and is very helpful when you need it.
You have to stay on your toes for his classes but hes a great teacher
Lecture outlines were a great resource. Has a considerable amount of office hours, so you can always pop in for help. Offers tons of resources and makes subjects easy-to-understand. Would take again.
I had Professor Barksdale for Calc 1 and even based my entire schedule the next semester to make sure I had him for Calc 2. He goes quickly in class but it is kinda necessary in order to get through all of the material. He gives you all of the tools to succeed (great outlines, extra worksheets, extended office hours, etc). Great professor!
Garys amazing if youre on his good side(thankfully I am) he definitely graded each paper differently. A friend of mine had the same answers as me and got a 102 and I got a 95 sooo yeah but Garys cool.
Throughout the semester he was very easily to find in office hours. he is always willing to help you learn and figure out the best methods for you. sometimes he can grade kind of hard, but he just wants you to perfect your work.
Grade is made up of a few quizzes, classworks and 4 tests. He always announces if there will be a quiz or classwork the class before. Homework is not graded but helps. The quizzes can really make or break your grade so don't overlook them. Highly recommend going to office hours as he is very helpful and will be more willing to round your end grade.
Prof. Barksdale may seem hard to approach outside of class, but it's worth it. Barksdale was always really concise and clear with the concepts he explains in class. He grades everything by hand which means he can be a bit nit-picky at times, but you eventually adapt to what he's looking for. If you can't make office hours, use the Math Center!
Gary is a great professor. While his class may seem fast paced, it's just what he's gotta do to get through the content. He likes to crack jokes every now and again. I would definitely recommend taking him over the other biz calc professors.
Prof. Barksdale is not flexible at all, unfortunately. If you take this class, prepare for it to be his way or the highway. This teacher is not very understanding of extenuating circumstances like those brought about by COVID-19, which is surprising since he expects flexibility from his students to cope with his own personal issues. Look elsewhere.
Isnt nice about helping students with grades
Barksdale was a really good teacher in person but my grade tanked fast once we went online. His zoom lectures were not helpful. He constantly made little mistakes that we were always having to correct. I was in the hospital in March and had a doctor's note. I emailed him about making up the work from the week and he never even acknowledged it.
Professor Barksdale was decent. He made A LOT of small mistakes while doing our notes in lecture then had to go back and change it which just confused everyone. He didnt give homework which was nice but we did have class work and quizzes and he always announced those beforehand.
Make sure you attend class because there are in class quizzes and class works. He is a difficult grader, but office hours help.
I hated math in high school and I mean hated it. But I did really well in this class, he is super available out of class. Go to his office hours and he will help you. Tons of assignments and 5 exams, but he drops your lowest grades in each section. Do the homework and show up, you will do great!
Barksdale is the best math prof at OU if that says anything... He is very nit picky an grades very hard compared to other profs. I would take him again just because he is the best out of all the other options, but he is not a good teacher in general.
This was the hardest class that I have taken this semester. He goes through his lectures and materials really fast. Most of the time I don't even understand what he's teaching. You get a quiz or class work assignment every week and an exam about every two weeks. He is a picky grader and will take off points for the slightest thing.
Barksdale is super passionate about what he teaches and provides ample opportunities to meet with him during office hours. If you take the time to go, he will work with you to make sure that you understand. The class is well organized with note packets but does run at a pretty quick pace. My best tip is to do the textbook homework - it's helpful.
He is very passionate about what he teaches and wants to help. The class can be test heavy, he doesnt grade the homework but keeping up with it is very helpful.
He is not very nice or helpful! I definitely want to drop the class because the way he treats us!
Gary is the worst teacher/professor I have ever encountered. Does not care about the student or their location. Makes a point to make things harder for the students and the class as a whole. Will not work with you or provide genuine help or concern. Would never recommend this professor to anyone.
Professor Barksdale is the most inconsiderate teacher i have ever experienced. The first exam we took in class the class average out of 400 students was a 58, then the next class day we had to go over the exam he blamed the terrible average completely on the students for not going to office hours. I would not recommend my worst enemy to this course
worst professor i have had at OU by a lot. would not recommend to anybody. if you are enrolling and using this to decide which prof you want, pick someone else
I love Gary! Hes so kind and really loves this material. He makes a big effort to help whoever needs it, and he has A LOT of office hours. Very good at teaching the material. He is a tough grader, but eventually you will adapt. The tests are hard, but thats not his fault. The department makes the tests! I highly recommend!
Gary is an amazing teacher and has a ton of office hours. He is willing to help any student as long as you ask. He has no control over the course material and the way the course is set up and does understand that the class sucks, but does everything in his power to help his students.
This professor is arrogant, rude and couldn't care less if you do well or not. I got Covid during term and Barksdale didn't let me make-up any of the things I missed. I had to go to the math center every single day to learn his material because he teaches as if everyone already knows it his lessons. DO NOT TAKE HIM. My 4.0 went to a 3.89.
Let me save you some time. If you have to take this professor, just show up for exams and quizzes. Learn the material with a tutor or at the math center. I have never had a worse course in my life. Be prepared to teach yourself.
Gary is great. Make sure that you do your homework and go to class and you'll do fine
Took this class and went to every lecture and studied outside and went to the math center and still had to drop the class. He says that he is available for office hours outside of class but then cancels a lot of them. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!!!
Mr. Barksdale is a very good professor. He explains concepts in different ways to ensure a complete understanding of the material. At times, he may go a bit too fast, but there is a lot of material to cover in a short amount of time. Tests are unnecessarily difficult (departmental issue) and the homework load is heavy but manageable.
I went to every single class and have done every single optional homework and I still do not understand what is going on in his class. He boasts about how many office hours he has but he always cancels them. He puts stuff on the tests and quizzes that none of us has ever seen and gets upset when we don't know it. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS
One of the worst professors Ive ever had. He expects you to know all the material and doesnt actually teach. When students ask questions he gets annoyed. Boasts about being a great professor, yet over half the class was failing. Dont get me wrong, the course is hard, but having a professor that belittles you makes it almost impossible.
I took Barksdale 2 semesters in a row and never had the problems others seem to have had. If you show up, listen, and engage with his lectures, there is no reason why you shouldn't get at least a C. Do the homework outside of class and go to office hours. He expects a certain level of personal responsibility that some students clearly don't have.
Honestly, the course is pretty easy and straightforward. In order to get an A in this class, you need give yourself a time to go to math center, work on homework (even though it is not required) ,and go to his office hours, and ASK questions. He really wants to helps, and he explains from the very beginning to the end. You will learn a lot.
DO NOT TAKE!! He does not give enough time on quiz's and classwork because he comes in late and talks through our allotted time and expects us to have it turned in in 5 mins after he's done talking. Worst professor at OU. ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TAKE
Mr. Gary is straight forward with his course content. However, he is a very tough grader. But he does so because he is very clear with his expectations when it comes to grading. He also have multiple quizzes and in-class group classwork assignments. Overall it is very good class.
Professor Barksdale is an engaging lecturer that takes the time to teach the students. While he is a hard ass and not my favorite person, he did a great job relaying information to me in a way that made learning in his class easy. I have always been good at math so this class was pretty easy for me, but there were people who were struggling.
Honestly, Barksdale is one of my favorite professors here. He can be a pretty strict grader, especially with how he grades complete models, but if you attend his lectures every day and at least do the worksheets he posts on canvas, you should pass pretty easily. Also has super open office hours
This professor does a great job at presenting math in a clear and understandable manner. You can tell that he cares about his students, and he has a ton of office hours available. The homework load for this class can be a little more at times, but overall this professor does a great job.
I personally thought he was a great professor. His teaching style just worked for me and was easily understandable which says a lot because math is not my favorite subject. He constantly has resources available in order for you to be successful. Make sure to be prepared before you come to class and do your work because there are in class quizzes.
Barksdale is the best math teacher I've ever had. He truly truly cares about his student and you can tell he loves math. Calculus is hard but the way he teaches makes me feel like I'm smart and can understand everything. Go to his office hours!!! It will really help because he will simplify step by step for any question (and dumb it down for you).
Gary is a very knit picky grader, expects things his way or nothing else; takes points off of tests for anything. Big lecture class where he depends on office hours to actually teach you. He teaches very fast and is expects you to memorize material even faster
Mr. Barksdale is great. He makes his lectures easy to understand and is VERY accessible outside of class. He does use a workbook like most other math professors, but it is only like $18. He was generally understanding and pretty funny.
He is very passionate about his work and his students, that said, he doesn't seem to want you to pass. I have always loved math and he makes math so much harder than it needs to be, giving strict and specific guidelines, he offers lots of office hours but you've gotta be brave to go to them! he's creepy. do not recommend. Very much so a hard-ass
Gary Barksdale is the worst professor I have ever had. He does not teach he only writes notes that he copies down from his previously written notes. He will not review with you over things that you "should already know" and has no give. He could care less about his students and has no chill. All he does is yell and call out people.
Worst professor I ever had at OU. He claims he is there to help you during office hours, and he will just belittle you and say you need to go into the math center more. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. He constantly has a bad attitude and you can have a better teacher elsewhere.
Crazy! Beware of taking this course. Excessive yelling and rudeness. Very picky grader and does not want you to get an A. Would never take this professor again. Do not take this man's class.
Barksdale is by far the worst professor on this campus. His lectures are mostly him yelling about students not understanding a concept he barely explained. He tells you to come to his office hours with questions but then gets mad that you don't understand a concept.
Do not take him. He is bad at his job, any other professor will help you. He claims office hours help, but he will not help you. Take business calc at another university, it will save you a headache. Also makes really inappropriate comments in class.
Do not take Barksdale. He does not explain the concepts well then yells at students for being confused. Any other professor would be a better choice
Pros: He has extensive office hours. Seems like a nice man. Knows what he's talking in class, he makes things clear. Cons: Yells ALOT in class. He is fast paced when it comes to content. Personally I did not like that. He hates when people miss class, even if it is for a valid reason.
Super-fast paced and he doesn't take time to make sure you understand. Office hours were also unhelpful.
Excellent professor with more office hours than any professor. Always helpful at all reviews. I am hearing impaired and know that we who are disabled in this manner do talk loudly, or as some able-ists proclaim, "yell". It is absolutely repulsive that this site allows hateful ablist comments. He is excellent & genuinely cares about student success.
Excellent professor who genuinely cares about student success. More availability than any other professor. The best professor I have ever had! Pay no attention to the ablists. This is an auditorium class & he is hearing impaired. Of course he is loud. These ablist ratings should be removed. RMP is worthless. He's bad teacher because of his pets?!?!
You do the work, this class is pretty easy. Barksdale makes class excellent. He lectures in a way that inspires & challenges us. Of course he is loud, this is an auditorium & he cares enough about his students make sure we can all hear him, even in the balcony. He is more available than all my other professors combined! Take his class. He cares!
He is funny & interesting. His lectures are very animated. The guy has an energy that is surprising for an old guy. I never had another professor make themselves so available for students. He really gives a s**t if you succeed. He cares enough to make sure we learn and volunteers his time for Math After Dark. Pay no attention to the haters in here.
Professor Barksdale seems to have a genuine to help students learn, however, I did not enjoy his class. Even though I was promised that quiz dates and assignment dates would be communicated throughout the semester, this did not happen. There was an ongoing pattern of inconsistent assignments given in the class without adequate warning.
Yes it is a fairly difficult class, but once you put in the work you learn a lot and feel accomplished after. His tight grading standards end up being a good thing.
You have to have a relationship with him, talk to him after class and show you actually care. He is a great guy, and he loves teaching; all these negative reviews are people who never talked to him once. I sit in the front row, and he knows me by name. He is a VERY engaging teacher with a good sense of humor. Would take again.
While Barksdale may be tough, the class can be very enjoyable if you put the effort in.
He can be abrasive and loud, but also hilarious. Overall, he sets expectations very clearly and it is very easy to get a good grade if you follow his guidelines. However, some material on tests comes entirely out of left field. He is a very engaging and interesting lecturer, and while attendance is not technically mandatory, it is important.
The only reason I got a C is because I sat in the back of class and didn't engage. Had I participated more, I would've gotten an A. The work isn't hard and his lectures are very memorable because he is passionate. The one thing I could complain about is very little time on quizzes, but then again I sat in the back, giving me less time.
Overall awesome professor who really wants his kids to learn. You have to put effort in to get a good grade but its not a horribly hard class. Sit up front and you will be fine!
He teaches well, but he's very condescending sometimes and its annoying. If you take the time to study and understand the content, the class is pretty easy
He is very passionate, but avoid this professor and try to get the others. He humiliates people trying to ask questions and no late work is accepted, period.
He does genuinely want his students to succeed. If you pay attention and engage in class it should be easy. He makes his standards for grading very clear and shows you exactly the format questions should be answered.
Barksdale is great because HE LITERALLY TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT UR GONNA BE DOING. He will tell you exactly how to solve a problem, and the same format will be on quizzes, tests, etc.. I think there's really no way to fail his class, because he's not trying to trick you, and he really does care and wants you to succeed, but only if you help yourself
There was no homework in his class, but he often would do pop quizzes from the homework. I thought he was a really good professor. He had his own workbook that had everything you need to know step by step and also was great in office hours. Study guides are copy and paste of the tests, and the Zoom review before each test was insanely helpful.
Do not take his class, trust me. I thought I was good at math until I took his class, he is terrible at teaching and just expects everybody to understand all the things he goes over. He is the toughest grader of all time.. takes off so much points for the smallest things. Once you get the test, nothing looks familiar from the quiz's or classworks.
Barksdale is a good teacher. He is very good at explaining things and he wants you to do well in his class. He doesn't try to trick you and he is very willing to help you. He is very personable and very easy to talk to. I enjoyed his lectures a lot he is very passionate and quite funny. I would take his class again as he teaches well.
Mr. Barksdale is one of those professors who are passionate about the subject they teach. Sometimes his lectures can seem longer than usual, but he usually engages students to keep them awake. He is also so caring, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate and go to office hours!!
He can be intimidating, but he is really passionate about the subject. If you're struggling, the math center and office hours are really good. Going to class is important to get the notes. The practice exams are basically the same as the real exams. Barksdale can be really loud and sound mean, but he's actually really nice
The guy has gotten too comfortable being rude. He unleashes on people when they simply forget how to perform something they learned last class and are brave enough to ask for a refresher. The exams consistently brought up material he hadn't covered in lecture, so READ THE BOOK. If lecture wasn't required, you'd never need to go.
I thought I understood calculus well before taking this class. Can't explain the material in a way comprehensible to most students. It is passable if you really put in effort and go to office hours. Tests are worth most of your grade. If you haven't taken calculus before, this class will be extremely difficult
This instructor has a tendency to publicly ridicule students during lecture periods. If you can't make an exam window for any reason don't expect this instructor to be understanding or accommodating. Would not recommend taking this particular instructor.
Usually, I take reviews for math professors with a grain of salt, since it is a widely disliked subject. I consider myself a fan of math and I can say confidently that Mr. Barksdale is not a good professor. His strictness veers toward outright rudeness and he has a tendency to make example of students publicly. I wouldn't recommend his class.
Barksdale was very difficult to understand for students who had never taken calc before. I took calc BC and while I didn't find it to be that hard, it was purely because I already knew the material. He will make you explain your answers and if they don't include everything he requires in your paragraph, you get the problem wrong.
Rude to those who struggle
Mr. Barksdale was not a good professor he gave out quizzes that went along with nothing that we learned in class which ended up negatively affecting my grade.
Very rude. If you ask for help he will yell at you, screaming in your face, publicly, the same question you asked him, and if you say the wrong answer after that, he just gets louder. Knows his math but will not help you figure yours out!! Screams the whole lecture and if you answer wrong in lecture, better pray! not for people who get flustered
Would not recommend. Knows his math but if you're struggling has NO discrepancy whatsoever to explain things to you. Shouts a lot, in your face, makes you feel unintelligent rather than being helpful. Has a tendency to ask you the question you don't know over and over again.
Great professor, you just have to do our homework (not for a grade) and pay attention and you will do fine. He is also hilarious, had me cracking up half the time
I LOVE gary because he is very easy to understand and always makes lectures interesting. showing up to class is very, very important, otherwise you will struggle in his class. i would take gary for every math class if I could, sad I won't see him next semester :'(
I honestly hated this class more than anything because of this teacher, and I know I was not alone. Mr. Barksdale is disrespectful most of the class and doesn't really teach; he just does the problems without explaining. He has yelled at multiple students and made many kids scared to ask questions because of his demeanor.Take a dif class if you can
He is so disrespectful to his students. Most people that asked questions were yelled at for not knowing it even if it had just been taught. He also went incredibly fast on the material so questions should be expected. One of the worst teachers I've ever had
Professor Barskdale cares a lot about math but he teaches in a really aggressive manner which is really intimidating for those who typically struggle or need extra help in math. He does not care about the wellbeing of his students and will make you feel dumb when you ask a question. Overall, it is possible to pass, you just have to put up with him.
Gary is often rude and dismissive towards students seeking help. He is also VERY unaccommodating to sick students, and will give out zeroes for anything missed. His lectures can be engaging, but he goes way too fast. You will likely spend a lot of time outside of class on studying/homework. He has a tendency to say things that are off color.
Although Mr Barksdale is a good teacher for this class, puts in the work, and cares about what he is teaching, he is extremely rude to the students and moves at a very fast pace. If you ask a question, he somehow turns it into humiliating you in front of the whole class. If you are able to get a different teacher I would recommend that.
Though Barksdale may be on the more tough side, he is truly passionate about math and wants you to succeed, even if he is a little more harsh compared to your average professor. I used to struggle with math greatly but his office hours and lectures helped me solidify my understanding of math and even helped me enjoy the challenge!
He's a very passionate professor, which comes off as intimidating but gets better the more you get to know him. Attendance isn't mandatory, but you can easily fall behind just from missing a few minutes of a lecture because he moves through the material very quickly. I probably would've gotten a B in the course if it wasn't for the tutoring center.
This teacher is the worst teacher I've ever experienced.If you're going into math pls avoid him at all costs.He makes you speak up in class and if you don't you don't get full credit even when your writing notes.His tone is very scary and it sounds like he is constantly yelling.If he asks you a question he will embarrass you from it grading is hard
So basically if you want to love life do not take his class. He sucks at grading, he explains nothing, is very rude, and will call on you in class randomly. Save yourself the mental breakdown.
God he is the worst professor i've ever had so rude and goes through everything so quickly you can't keep up!
I had him in the Fall of 2023; he gets somewhat irritated when you don't know certain concepts. Generally not the nicest teacher, and will grade you on the smallest details. He does have study nights at least.
I was late my first day as a freshman because I had trouble finding the building. He was very unkind and honestly mean about me being late. I had twelve different people warn me TO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS AT ALL COSTS, a professor, my RA, and multiple students that have had him. He seems like he did not want to help any of the students get better.
Mr. Barksdale is not very helpful when asking questions. Not particularly pleasant or inspiring, wouldn't recommend.
He never gets better. He cannot teach for the life of him and is not useful at all. Do not even bother contacting him because he won't help you.
Do not take this class. Cannot understand or comprehend teaching. I want to throw my workbook across the room everyday. The reviews are NOTHING like the test so you might aswell not study. All of that studying and all nighters I pulled for NOTHING.
It seems Barksdale is polarizing. You either grasp his teaching method and everything makes sense, or you don't. He is always open to answering questions and wants people to come to office hours. He is passionate about wanting his students to succeed. Calc is difficult, but I think his loud engaging personality made it easy.
He is super serious about cheating and his teaching style is very very fast paced. I wouldn't say he's the kindest teacher and honestly makes a lot of mean comments especially about question people ask. His teaching style isn't horrible it's just very fast
he's actually so unhelpful and not at all understanding so you better hope you don't have any issues
Mr. Barksdale is clearly knowledgeable about mathematics, but does not have the personality to teach at the college level. Sometimes, he ridicules students who ask questions. His teaching style is quite inefficient compared to other courses I've taken, and reflects the math department at OU. I would not take again, but it was tolerable enough.
Honestly had the worst experience with this professor than any other teacher at OU he's extremely rude with comments he makes in class he even screamed at me in front of the entire 100 person lecture, fast pase teaching that almost became incomprehensible, and overall not a good person to those who are going through a hard time and need some slack.
honestly he is very knowledgeable about math but too passionate about other things, he makes his points very clear and he wants you to go to the math study sessions but I didn't have time but I could see myself doing better if I had
Take the good ratings w a grain of salt. If you haven't taken pre calc before, prepare yourself. Only reason I got an A was because I studied a ton. Also don't even cheat if you're thinking about it, he makes exams feel like you're taking the ACT. Thank god I'm almost done
I prayed to get struck by lightning walking to his lecture each day. Good luck on your second try!
Son 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Gives no feedback on homework or tests. Impossible to contact outside of class time due to his outside club obligations.
Barksdale is a great lecturer and made math enjoyable. He lectures fast, is abrasive, and sarcastic so be ready or avoid him if not your thing. Test & quiz heavy, so studying is a must. Can't get feedback on tests or quizzes :( , 8/10 prof. He's TPUSA at OU's faculty advisor and a prominent voice so it's like taking acting classes from Bill Cosby.
Barksdale is very loud and sometimes can seem aggressive and mean. But overall he teaches way better than the other professors for 1643. People in the other classes never really would understand the content, but then would come to our lecture or go to his study nights and would always end up understanding. But he does care for everyone, just study!
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
66%
Textbook Required
12%
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