2.7

Jacqueline Bird

Biology - Northern Michigan University

2.7
Quality
4.3
Difficulty
100%
Would Retake
186
Reviews
2.7
Quality
4.3
Difficulty
3.0
Helpful
2.4
Clarity

100%

Would Retake

186

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official
186 total ratings

5

30

4

35

3

32

2

52

1

37

What Students Say

She likes to trick you on tests

BI203 - 3.0 rating

Its obvious that she loves biology but I don't think she realizes how much she makes her students despise it

BI203 - 2.0 rating
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

100%

Textbook Required

100%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

59% confidence
Based on 3 grades
Most common grades:
Drop/Withdrawal (2)
A (1)
Not_Sure_Yet (1)
Grade Distribution
A(1)B(1)C(1)D(2)F(0)A-/B+(0)
Based on 6 reported grades
Drop/Withdrawal: 2
A: 1
Not_Sure_Yet: 1
C: 1
Common Tags
Participation matters (1)
Skip class? You won't pass. (1)
Amazing lectures (1)
Rating Trend

Stable

+0.11 avg change
Nov
Dec
Mar
Apr
Oct
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

BI423

5.0

(2)

BI110

5.0

(2)

BI100

5.0

(1)

BI111422

5.0

(1)

BIO423

5.0

(1)
+15 more courses
Difficulty by Course

BIOLOGY

5.0

BI104

5.0

BIO423

5.0

BIO221

5.0

BIO203

5.0

Reviews (185)
4.0
5.0
BI111
Aug 18, 2001

pay attention to lecture notes

2.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 29, 2001

No Comments

4.0
2.0
BI111
Apr 23, 2002

No Comments

5.0
3.0
BI221
Apr 24, 2002

very enthusiastic, gets to know her students, very helpful and easy to talk to

5.0
4.0
BI111
Jul 10, 2002

Nice, funny, enthusiastic. Technical. Liked her a lot!

5.0
3.0
BI221
Feb 28, 2003

Great Prof....Take any of her classes!!

5.0
3.0
BI111
Feb 28, 2003

Makes class interesting and fun

2.0
4.0
BI111
Mar 17, 2003

She goes very fast through her lectures. If you study the book and the cd with the book you will do fine. She flies through the material though.

4.0
3.0
BI111
Mar 19, 2003

Very flighty, fast, unclear, difficult tests.

4.0
4.0
BI111
Mar 20, 2003

very energetic, will help if you ask for it, definately likes very hard tests, make sure you do the reading and study a lot

2.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 26, 2003

Don't Take it, Unless you have to.

3.0
4.0
BI111
Mar 26, 2003

Very hard tests...

4.0
3.0
BI111
Mar 27, 2003

very hyper, goes very fast, but if you read the book you'll pass

1.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 30, 2003

No Comments

3.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 1, 2003

No Comments

4.0
4.0
BI111
Apr 7, 2003

No Comments

1.0
5.0
BIO111
Apr 15, 2003

No Comments

4.0
4.0
BI111
Apr 16, 2003

No Comments

3.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 21, 2003

No Comments

4.0
3.0
BIO111
Apr 21, 2003

she was a tough instructor, and hyper, but if you read the text, attend class, and take tons of notes, you can do well. After all, this IS college, not grade school!!

3.0
3.0
BI111
Apr 25, 2003

Hard but fair. Is helpful if you ask.

1.0
3.0
BI111
Apr 29, 2003

No Comments

5.0
3.0
BI111
Apr 30, 2003

tries hard to teach, but college kids' brains dont function that well at 8am.

5.0
4.0
BI111
Aug 19, 2003

GREAT Prof!! Always willing to help students.

1.0
5.0
BIOLOGY
Oct 17, 2003

Doesn't ever help. Teaches very quickly and uneffectively

2.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 22, 2003

If you're thinking of taking this class, beware. It's tough, don't think you can breeze through this class without studying for hours and reading like crazy. Consider this a warning from someone who's not the dullest crayon in the box. Trust me, be wary.

1.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 30, 2003

Doesn't follow book or teach from it. She is the reason A LOT of people dropped the class.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 7, 2003

This was a very difficult class and many people were almost forced to drop, seemed like she wanted people to fail, was very unhelpful if you asked for her help and thought all students already should know the material

2.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 10, 2003

Horrible class, Bio 111 is not supposed to be ridiculously hard. Her notes and lectures don't reflect what is on the test. I didn't even understand what she was asking in half of the questions on her tests.

4.0
5.0
BI221
Nov 11, 2003

Dr Bird is a good person, but not a very effective prof. She believes a student should come to class already have gained the knowledge through ready. Unfortunately, some of us don't learn that way. If you plan on taking one of her classes, plan to WORK

1.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 23, 2003

Her slides are incomprehensible, and she is not very good at posting grades all long the semester, so right up to the end you're not sure of your grade. Also, seems disorganized. She'll tell you different info every time you talk with her.

3.0
3.0
BI111
Nov 24, 2003

Hard material to comprehend, especially jumping in cold. But if you are going continue in biology you need to learn this stuff early on.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Dec 3, 2003

HORRIBLE. She is the worst teacher on this campus.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Dec 7, 2003

This teacher needs to be fired, she's horrible, confusing, and shady. Steer clear.

5.0
2.0
BI423
Feb 24, 2004

Great teacher! Learn lots! Always willing to help a student out. Expects you to be a mature person and take part in your own education. Take a class from her you'll be all the more smarter in the end.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Feb 26, 2004

VERY hard class. I am an "A" student but I am getting a "c" in the class. Tests do not match up with book and lectures are hard to understand.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 15, 2004

This class sucked! Her lectures moved fast, unclear, and confusing at times. She was never in her office during her office hours and unclear in her instructions. If you have this class I would advise NOT to have her as a lab instructor too.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 16, 2004

This professor is MEAN. She will make you fell stupid. Won't answer questions. She used to be a vet. Hopefully she treated animals better than she treats her students.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 19, 2004

Daily lecture quizes, and numerious quizes given on WebCT over the weekend. Not a good teacher, very unclear. Labs are the class' only saving grace. Oh yeah fogot to mention the > 50% drop out rate.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 5, 2004

The fact that you can pass the class with a 50% should be an indication of its difficulty. The weakness of the class lies in the fact that Dr. Bird's powerpoint presentations are not thorough, and provide very little information. The book won't help.

5.0
3.0
BI111
Apr 6, 2004

Fairly difficult, but valuable, course. Sparse powerpoint presentations make it difficult for non-auditory learners, but she covers everything to be tested if you're a good listener. Nice and very helpful outside of class.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 9, 2004

hard class, no help, tests very unclear

1.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 22, 2004

Wow, one of the worse teachers I have ever had.

4.0
4.0
BI222
Apr 27, 2004

Very tough prof, but someday you'll look back and realize she changed the way you learn. I did. She believes in the student putting forth a significant amount of effort. Very helpful outside of class is you show you are trying. Plan on lots of work.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 27, 2004

No Comments

4.0
3.0
BI111
Apr 27, 2004

If you ask her for help, she will be more that willing to help you. Although you cannot take her for granted and expect her to give you the answers with out you having to think about it.

5.0
5.0
BI111
May 3, 2004

A hard prof, but fair, helpful, and very enthusiastic. One of my favorite profs on campus, but if your not a bio major, you may want to avoid this class.

4.0
3.0
BI101
Aug 5, 2004

She is very excited about being a biologist and will tell you that. The class is hard if you don't work for it. The info is a bit boring but it sort of has to be at this point.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Aug 24, 2004

Very hard teacher. Only does powerpoint presentations. Very unclear, not very helpful during class, but was willing to help in her office after class hours.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Sep 21, 2004

Most likely the worst professor at Northern. Don't take her class unless someone else is teaching it!

3.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 3, 2004

very unclear, just makes things more confusing.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 9, 2004

She very nice and enthusiastic. But I don't understand a thing she says. She strains to get her point across and often does not.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 11, 2004

Didn't really answer questions when you asked them in class. Constantly running around the room.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 18, 2004

She was much easier to understand in lab than in lecture. It helped me to have her as my lab instructor. But in the lecture, she was very difficult to follow, and seemed to have her own particular way of explaining things that she wouldn't vary from.

4.0
2.0
BI111
Oct 20, 2004

Helpful, but needs a dose of vallium

4.0
4.0
BI111221
Oct 26, 2004

Yes, Dr Bird is difficult, but also one of the wisest and friendliest people I've met. If you are putting forth effort and still having problems, go talk to her. You'll be amazed @ how much is learned during these brief sessions. Move from memorization and actually think. That is what she wants.

1.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 28, 2004

She was way too confusing and never put powerpoint slides up until just before class started...I hated that.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 30, 2004

you think she'd get the clue when her whole class fails her tests...when the average is 62%...that's a problem

4.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 1, 2004

Why is it fashionable at NMU to hate Dr. Bird? She's enthusiastic, intelligent, and really tries hard. I had no problem getting an A in BI 111. Great prof.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 2, 2004

you would think she thought the entire class was made up of biology nerds the way she taught. last ichecked the class was supposed to be an entry level course. dunno if shes trying to seem cutting edge with her weird ass test questions, all it does is make everyone fail. im barely pulling a C

5.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 6, 2004

She's got a wealth of knowledge, is easy tot talk to, and can be VERY helpful if you take the time to to raise your hand, slacker!

1.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 10, 2004

The lectures and tests were by far the scariest things I've ever seen. I studied 20 hours a week for the class alone and couldn't pull a C.

5.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 10, 2004

One on one she is a way better teacher than in lecture, so go talk to her! Will bend over backwards to help you succeed if you put in the effort.

3.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 11, 2004

She is a wonderful lab instructor and great one-on-one, but her lectures are almost frantic and somewhat confusing. She has a lot of energy, but she can't seem to make good use of it in lecture.

1.0
3.0
BI111
Nov 12, 2004

Seemed like she might be a good prof, but not at all. Openly admitted to not knowing what she was talking about a few lectures in. If you're easily distracted by constant "uhs" and "ums" and find it annoying when someone pets a screen, you will hate this class. Weirdly worded tests don't help.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 14, 2004

tough and demanding but you can do well if you study

2.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 14, 2004

She's really difficult. Tries to "weed" students out. I did poorly on both exams. I am now doing better with Dr. Strand in the second half of the class; I like him MUCH better. I don't like the idea of putting people "on the spot" to review, very helpful. I would avoid the class, but hard to do.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 15, 2004

The material in this class is hard to comprehend, a lot of complex cell processes are taught. Also, it's hard to know what to study for. Even if you know a concept very well, she could put a question about it on the test that would throw you off and you'd get it wrong. Frustrating!

4.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 16, 2004

cool but hard to understand/follow

5.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 17, 2004

knowledgable, intersted in the subject

4.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 18, 2004

Her lectures are full of information and sometimes hard to follow. Lots of studying is needed and tests are alright.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 19, 2004

NOT VERY GOOD

5.0
3.0
BI110
Grade: A
Nov 28, 2004

The subject matter is difficult but i think she did a good job of getting it to sink in. It's clear that she loves Biology. It's not supposed to be easy!

1.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 29, 2004

how can she still work here? She talks like shes on speed.Shes all over the place, she doesn't explain anything, and over half the class fails. You can study your ass off, and you still won't get a good grade. I think she should just stick to being a veternarian, not a teacher!

4.0
3.0
BI111
Dec 1, 2004

Sure the class can be difficult, no doubt about that. But if you put in a little extra effort and actually show up for class, it is possible to get an A. Also, if you see her for help after class she can usually explain things really well.

5.0
2.0
BI111
Dec 6, 2004

One of the best teachers I ever had. She's the ONLY teacher I coudl stay awake for in morning classes. She's enthusiastic, helpful, and friendly. Take her class.

1.0
4.0
BI111
Dec 8, 2004

She tries, she really does. Rarely do her lectures make a good deal of sense - you're better off trying to grasp a concept on your own time. She can be very condescending and can make you feel stupid. The tests are very difficult to study for, and the $120 book won't help.

2.0
3.0
BI111
Dec 8, 2004

if youre a big fat biology toolbag who looks at diagrams of proteins all day and you like things that suck, go ahead take this class.

5.0
5.0
BI111
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Dec 10, 2004

Dr. Bird seems very overwhelming at the time you take her class. It's not until your sitting in your senior classes and everything relates back to her class and your realize you really did learn something

4.0
3.0
BI111
Dec 14, 2004

Has a huge passion for teaching, but has alot to cover in a short time. I found that her lectures went really in depth on alot things you only needed to know the basics...which seems overwhelming. Beware her exams she likes to make you think and it will trick you! However she is very helpful!

3.0
5.0
BI111
Dec 15, 2004

STOP! If you don't have a supreme intrest in Biology, drop this class NOW! The teacher goes FAST and the tests are HARD. When she says 2 hours of studying after every lecture, she means it! Lab is fun. . .sometimes.

3.0
5.0
BIO111
Dec 15, 2004

Hard teacher. She is hard to follow and her tests are even harder.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Jan 20, 2005

Bird I'm sure can be a good prof. if she wanted to be but the majority of the time she isn't. She talks really fast and mixes things up. I studied hard, read the book, and went to every lecture and I still only got a C+. Good luck to all who take it.

1.0
3.0
BI111
Jan 30, 2005

Worst teacher ever

4.0
4.0
BI221
Mar 2, 2005

Dr Bird is one of the best profs you will have...as long as you're willing to do your part. If you are having difficulty AFTER you have put forth effort, go talk to her. You will be amazed how much you can learn in 15 mins. She is tough, but the rest of the Bio people will be easy after her.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 31, 2005

She's a good person, but she has to teach a****ty class. Its not her, because she really loves what she does. The topic of the class is boring, which makes it harder. She is a good adviser though, and easy to talk to. She makes and effort to get to know you.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Apr 1, 2005

it's very difficult. I just made a C in the class. the second half is much better, also with a different prof. she tries hard, but tlaks really fast, stutters and messes things up. diagrams and pictures are hard to follow. i still don't understand ATP and the Krebb's Cycle.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Apr 7, 2005

Lectures are hard to follow

2.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 7, 2005

Biology does not need to be this hard, but she makes it that way.

5.0
1.0
BI100
Apr 12, 2005

awesome class....easy too. TAKE THIS CLASS.

5.0
4.0
BI111
Apr 13, 2005

Bird is a great teacher who loves the topic. She is difficult but this is college. What do you expect? Do the work and it is not impossible to get and A.

5.0
4.0
BI423
Apr 19, 2005

One of the best science professors I have EVER had.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 28, 2005

Hard class, try to keep up and understand her section of the class, its hard and she isn't very accessable.

2.0
4.0
BI111
May 4, 2005

really wasn't fond of her. I'm sure she a smart lady, but she can't teach at all. She stutters a lot during lecture, and makes even easy things confusing sometimes. It's hard to find her to get help also. The only cool thing about her is that she makes an effort to learn your name.

2.0
4.0
BI111
May 12, 2005

Class was pretty hard. She tries way to hard to make the material self learned. She does studder and lose her train of thought. For GPA's sake I would avoide her as a professor.

2.0
4.0
111
Jun 18, 2005

Deliberately imprecise, given to wild chemistry tangents....forces you to study all materials just in case. Few A's are given, you will work for it. Lab is nice.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Aug 25, 2005

Yes, this is a college course but there is a such thing as clarity and making sure your students can actually learn the material presented. Even if you read the book and attend all lectures you will struggle with understanding her lectures & tests. She should not be teaching this course. Avoid her if you can.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Aug 30, 2005

she sabotaged me on my lab, was not helpful, a hard teacher to pass or get along with.

5.0
3.0
BI111
Aug 31, 2005

good prof. you just need to work really really really hard for an A. BI 111 is not one of those classes where you can just show up, fall asleep, and get an A. the people who dont like dr. bird are those who were expecting another easy A class.

3.0
3.0
BI111
Grade: Not_Sure_Yet
Aug 31, 2005

I'll be ok because ive already had many bio classes, but this lady makes things way more complicated than they are. I pity whoevers taking this just to fufill the lab requirement.

3.0
4.0
BI111
Sep 1, 2005

No Comments

5.0
3.0
BI111
Sep 1, 2005

No Comments

2.0
4.0
INTROTOBIOLOG
Sep 2, 2005

No Comments

1.0
5.0
BI111
Sep 13, 2005

Crazy crazy crazy needs some ritalin to calm herself down...No idea what this woman is talking about...

4.0
4.0
BI
Sep 15, 2005

I have done a lot of classes and research w/ Dr Bird. She is the most challenging prof you will have in Biology Dept. Just realize it's not high school anymore, work hard and go talk to her if you need to. She's a great person and will be a ton of help outside of class.

5.0
4.0
BI111422
Sep 28, 2005

Dr. Bird granted is hard professor, but get to know her...she is great help outside of class and always available. Participation is the key with her. The vertabrate comparitive anatomy course is scary, but you will learn alot from her. Remember BI 111 is a "weeder" if you cant commit to the course your not cut for biology. Dont get mad at Dr. Bird.

4.0
3.0
BI111
Oct 7, 2005

definitely not a class you can slack off in...if you put forth the effort of trying to do good in her class its possible to get atleast a B...she seems to test on only things she covers in class although she does seem to scatter in the book..overall not the easiest teacher but study your 2 hours each lecture and youll be fine

1.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 17, 2005

She beats around the bush to much and avoids answering questions. She wont just answer a question simply she has to try make it difficult.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 20, 2005

She is definitely dedicated to her field, just is a pain because she expects her students to be the same way. Her exams are rediculous, random quizes for attendence reasons only so it seems, and the material goes way to in depth. She is nice however...so far.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 27, 2005

Hardest class I have ever had. Be prepared to study every single night. It's crazy.

5.0
3.0
BI111
Nov 1, 2005

I loved Bird. She was amazingly dedicated. Ask lots of questions, she will work with you until you get it. If you listen to her, and read the material, you will pass.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Grade: C
Nov 4, 2005

the reason why most predental/premed students decide to change their major.

4.0
3.0
BI111
Nov 10, 2005

I didn't find Bird's material especially difficult, and the work that she expects of you out of class (i.e. quizzes) is worth the time. Attend lecture and pay attention, and you can get by without looking at the textbook. She can be random and eccentric but she has a lot of passion, and overall I really enjoyed the class.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Nov 14, 2005

She's so disorganized. She's everywhere in her lectures, and doesn't do a good job with connecting it all. I worked my butt off in that class and it's essential for my major. Avoid her if possible.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Grade: B
Nov 28, 2005

She jumps all over the place when teaching and you can get lost very easily. She assumes that students already know everything shes teaching in which we don't.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Dec 3, 2005

She jumps ALL OVER the place in every one of her lectures. I was lost every single day in that class.

2.0
3.0
BI111
Dec 4, 2005

She knows what she s talking about, but jumps around and has no compassion for students. She is easy if you have previous knowledge of biology, but if not you could be screwed. Not very friendly

2.0
5.0
BI111
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Dec 8, 2005

Wow- she goes so fast and doesn't explain much, so you don't get a chance to actually learn much. I was very disappointed. Her exams are impossible.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Dec 14, 2005

She is crazy, and the final in this class was way too hard. This was the hardest class I've ever had.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Dec 22, 2005

two thumbs down, way down.

5.0
3.0
BI111
Jan 16, 2006

I loved Bird. She was enthusiastic and gave the students examples and opportunites to apply material. Her tests were straightforward (simple multiple choice), and as long as you show up for class and pay attention, you'll have what you need.

2.0
4.0
BI111
Jan 26, 2006

I can follow her lectures, she goes to fast and i cant make out her explinations of the material

1.0
4.0
BI111
Jan 29, 2006

goes way to fast in the lectures and explains absolutly nothing

4.0
4.0
BI111
Feb 25, 2006

Way too difficult for a 100 level course. Dr. Bird is SUPER helpful though - go to her office hours!! She loves science, and her energy is infectious! She's hyper all the time, which makes lecture a little difficult to follow. She goes very fast - TAKE GOOD NOTES! She was awesome as the lab instructor -try to get her if possible.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 15, 2006

Very hard class, a lot of work and a lot of time. She doesn't explain things very well. The class moves very fast. She is a terrible teacher.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 22, 2006

very hard. you have to go to class. she talks so fast that you can't even take proper notes. she will help you out during her office hours though. take a study group!

1.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 29, 2006

HORRIBLE, that's all i have to say... HORRIBLE

5.0
4.0
BI111
Apr 8, 2006

helps out a lot when she gives you the topics you should study after each lecture

1.0
4.0
BI101
Sep 15, 2006

Dont take this class. The professor is a joke. She knows her material, but she just cant teach.

5.0
3.0
BI111
Sep 29, 2006

She’s wonderful professor who cares about her students. For everyone who said she’s a terrible proff, you obviously didn’t come to class or try to do well in the slightest. Work hard, Go to class, and pay attention, and you’ll do GREAT! She sets up a knowledge base that you’ll have for the set of your science career. WELL DONE Dr. Bird!!!

4.0
4.0
BI111
Oct 28, 2006

Fast paced teaching... you need to pay attention and do reading assignments as neccesary and probably go to study group too.. and still you will probably not do as well as you'd like. She is fun and helpful though.

2.0
5.0
BI104
Nov 8, 2006

No Comments

1.0
5.0
BIO111
Nov 16, 2006

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! I quit the biology dept. altogether because I felt like i was a failure because of her! She will not explain anything to you, she goes through the textbook like water, and if you miss one day then youre screwed. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!!!!

1.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 16, 2006

a lot harder class then BI 112. Bird should make the test slightly easier because majority of class does bad. From what I hear she was on probation for failing too many kids??? You'd think she could put two and two together!

3.0
4.0
BIO111
Nov 22, 2006

She's hard to follow sometimes. On her tests and quizzes she uses difficult examples.

5.0
2.0
BI221
Nov 22, 2006

excellent professor. knows her stuff. hard to catch on to her style of teaching but blast in class

4.0
3.0
BI111
Jan 15, 2007

Everyone says Bird is terrible, but she really isn't that bad. It's not the worst class in the world by far. If you go to lecture and take notes, and study from them, you'll do just fine. Exam questions are lengthy and sometimes hard to follow...but overall not the terror she's made out to be.

4.0
3.0
BI111
Jan 24, 2007

Although I heard many horror stories, Dr. Bird really is not that bad of a professor. If you attend lecture and take good notes you should be fine. Although her exam questions can get tricky, they aren't that bad! Go to see her in her office if you have trouble understanding--she is EXTREMELY helpful!

3.0
4.0
BI111
Feb 19, 2007

Moves through the Kreb cycle way to fast!!!! Simple stuff made complicated, and her quizes are terrible!!!

4.0
4.0
BI111
Mar 30, 2007

No Comments

2.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 11, 2007

Tends to mumble at times. Ample reviews and key concepts, but will only post them days before exams! Explaination is nowhere near as concise as exam questions! If you want an easy C or D..or retake, this is the Professor for you. If you get an A in her class, you shouldnt even be here at NMU!

5.0
3.0
BI111
Apr 23, 2007

If you pay attention and go to every lecture you should be fine.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 29, 2007

She tends to mumbles when she explain difficult concepts. It would be cool if she could teach the way she set up her exams. She posts her study gude last minute, too much material, too little time. If you are a book worm, you will do well, if not, you will die like a bug!

2.0
5.0
BI111
May 1, 2007

OH DEAR LORD, she is soooo hyper active.. i pray that i pass.. she speaks way too fast for 8 am and rushes through the slides.. yah.. everyone who needs to take her.. have fun.. blah.. and DONT buy the book.. its a waste of 100 dollars!

1.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 15, 2007

Horrid. Moves way too quickly through lectures, takes no time to explain vocabulary, incomprehensible exams that are worded poorly. Looking forward to having Dr. Strand next half of semester.

1.0
5.0
BI111
Oct 15, 2007

No Comments

2.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 3, 2007

No Comments

3.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 5, 2007

So, I will never take a class with her as the instructor agian. Her test are horrible because she does not know how to write a question. Her lectures are fast paced. Good luck if you take this class and all i can say is im glad lab is 40% of the grade in that class.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 11, 2007

She tries to cover way too much material in a short period of time! her test are extreamly difficult! There is no way you will pass this class unless you read the text book alot and know everything!!! You have to teach yourself!

4.0
5.0
BI111
Dec 20, 2007

Dr. Bird is by far one of the most difficult professors at NMU. With that said, skim the chapters on the weekends and the powerpts in the 10 min before class and you will do fine. Go in to see her, she's more than willing to help you. Also, make sure your lab notebook is complete & cram the night before exams.. Do all of that and you'll get an A.

3.0
4.0
BI111
Dec 22, 2007

So, after hearing that a lot of people fail her classes i freaked out and, thought i'd most likely fail as well but, i didn't i got a C+. Anways, she is an allright person her teaching is really fast so be prepared..you have to actually study and go to class to get a passing grade.

5.0
5.0
BI111
Feb 28, 2008

I love Dr. Bird. She is tough, but if you do what you're supposed to you learn a lot. She's more than willing to help if you go see her, even if she can rush through things sometimes. One of my favorite profs for sure.

2.0
5.0
BI111
Mar 29, 2008

Don't ask questions and expect to get them answered unless you want to be even more confused than you were before. She obviously is very smart and likes what she teaches, but I don't think she has an easy time explaining things without making them more complicated than they already are. Study your ass off, you're going to need to.

5.0
5.0
BIO423
Jul 30, 2008

Dr. Bird provides extremely concise instruction. If Dr. Bird says something; take her word for it and understand that every item she covers is a potential exam question. Read all assignments and be ready to recite information from the reading. Always give more than she asks. Take excellent notes. Don't give up.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Sep 16, 2008

Run, and run fast! This prof is horrible. She talks fast, is hard to take notes from, and pulls exam questions out of her... well you know. I REALLY like biology and I had to drop the class with a W because I could not pass it, I hung in till right before the last withdrawal date, and had a D- average! Not impressed with this prof at all

3.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 29, 2008

She taught Medical Microbiology for the first time and was her last. She doesn't require a book, but then references to one alot. Doesnt offer a study group, tutor, or review session. Her notes were very short and not detailed at all. She didn't make the exam until the day before it. Some material on the exams didn't pertain to the class...do yours

3.0
5.0
BI111
Nov 6, 2008

Dr. Bird moves really fast. I took it as a Freshman and even though I took Advanced Bio in high school, it was still way too overwhelming. I did not do well on the tests, even though I read before lecture and took good notes. Lab is pretty fun, though.

4.0
4.0
BI420
Dec 1, 2008

Her classes are not easy, she treats students like adults (gosh) and expects them to study (gosh again). While lectures are fast paced, she gives ample warning on what she will cover... read the syllabus, read the book, do the studying, get an A... simple as that.

3.0
4.0
BI111
Dec 7, 2008

This pro. is very hard. She was on probation for failing to many kids over a few years. took he my freshmen year and had a hard time. The only reason why i passed was becaus eof my lab grade. When the teachers switch half way through it sucks. The next pro. useing a ton of latine words all the time. Hopefully you can ake good note and keep up.

3.0
5.0
BI111
Apr 28, 2009

Very tough. That having been said, if you are motivated and here to learn, you should have no trouble passing this class...

2.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 5, 2009

She takes a simple concept and complicates it. It is as if she does not want you to do well in her class.

2.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 5, 2009

She takes a simple concept and complicates it. It is as if she does not want you to do well in her class.

1.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 5, 2009

Even if you go to every class, study like no other for the tests, attend all the offered tutoring you still will most likely fail her tests. When asked for help she blows you off! DONT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!

1.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 5, 2009

I attend this class everyday, studied for weeks only to get a failing exam grade..This professor will not help you even if asked. Unless if you want to lower your GPA, take this class with a different professor/college. Stay away!

1.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 7, 2009

You can know your notes in and out, but it won't help you on her exams. She tests you on material she doesn't cover in class that she expects you to know out of the book, the smallest of details. If you ask her for help she accuses you of not paying attention and has to look up the question in the text to give you an answer. WORST TEACHER EVER.

1.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 7, 2009

She explains a lot of material with the word "stuff". What is this "stuff"? Worst teacher at NMU, take BI 203 at another school. She seems to like to feel more intelligent over the students with her exams, making them near impossible to pass, yet she can't answer a question without finding the answer in the text.

3.0
5.0
BI221
Jan 20, 2010

She's very tough. She definitely makes you think about things that aren't discussed in the book, but things that she expects you to understand from the basics discussed in the book. The class is not impossible to pass.

4.0
5.0
BI203
Mar 25, 2010

Dr. Bird is very driven and passionate about her work. She cares if you care. I miss Medical Micro a lot. It was a pain in the ass while I was taking it but now I realize how much I learned. Nursing majors be warned!! you should study up on your biology before taking this class then you won't retake it like most of the nursing majors in my class!

1.0
4.0
BI203
Mar 28, 2010

So so so hard!! I can't keep up! She is brilliant but has a hard time passing her knowledge on to the students. For nursing students, I recommend the lab. I didn't take it because it isn't required and right now I am regretting it. I wish someone would have told me that the lab would be helpful! She asks questions on exams that she didn't cover!

3.0
5.0
BI203
Apr 7, 2010

She is very hard. She likes to trick you on tests. I don't know why a teacher would want to trick you, you would think she would want her students to do good! The only thing that I like is if you got an A, you deserve it. No one can walk into a test, not do the reading and pass. Remember its not the right answer, its HER answer.

2.0
5.0
BI203
Apr 28, 2010

She expects you to know the basic material of the class on the very first day in which she builds on each and every day after. Therefore, if you don't teach yourself what you are paying to be taught, you will not pass her class. Its obvious that she loves biology but I don't think she realizes how much she makes her students despise it.

2.0
5.0
BI203
Aug 23, 2010

Lives up to her reputation as one of the worst professors on campus. A good student with an interest in the subject will easily be disheartened by her teaching and testing. Northen should not have this professor.

2.0
5.0
BI203
Sep 13, 2010

She really thinks shes something because she used to be a Vet, give me a break and learn how to TEACH. Hope you know everything you will be "learning" or are very good at self-teaching.

1.0
5.0
BIO221
Nov 4, 2010

Literally failed 100% of the class on the 1st exam (take home exam). Let us redo some of it to get some points back but gave us a "revised," version of the original rubric. Basically she graded us on the "revised," rubric, not the one we were provided with. 1st lab exam is about the same, but those get easier as you go, they will be what saves you.

2.0
5.0
BIO203
Nov 17, 2010

This professor is useless. She knows her material but cant teach worth a darn. This course has a VERY HIGH failure rate. (80%) If you need this class, take it from Marc Labeau at Bay College in Escanaba or travel down to Green Bay, WI one day a week and take the class with Dawn Madl or Scott Seidl. Once you completed the class, transfer it to NMU

4.0
5.0
BI221
Dec 6, 2010

Dr. Bird gets an unwarranted bad rap. People who give her bad reviews are just plain lazy and don't want to work. She LOVES biology and doesn't believe in mediocrity; something many Northern professors seem to be OK with. She's a tough teacher but will also help you if you take time to visit her. She's tough, but you'll actually LEARN something.

4.0
5.0
BI221
Dec 8, 2010

She enjoyed drilling students with questions first thing in the morning. It's tough and irritating, but it really forces you to learn. Her lab is the best part, allowing you to be independent and discover things in your dissecting. She is very humble and energetic, but she is very tough, even with take-home tests and an open note final.

2.0
4.0
BI203
Dec 10, 2010

She's a terrible teacher. The material that is covered is not difficult at all; however, she doesn't test you on the material. I'm still not entirely sure what she did test on? It was a mind game basically. Don't take this class if you can help it. Lab is long and tedious, elementary type stuff again.

3.0
5.0
BI203
Dec 11, 2010

TERRIBLE professor. If you take this class be prepared to teach yourself everything. And even if you are capable of teaching yourself...when you get to the exams she will test on something completely different anyway. I am getting A's in every other class and am perfectly capable of comprehending the subject, but the exams are completely random.

2.0
5.0
BI203
Dec 25, 2010

Her class is extremely hard, make sure to take the lab it's worth 40% of your final grade and is an easy A. To pass her exams, you really need to pay more attention to what she says in class, not just the book and they're not about memorizing the material, it's about a general knowledge of it, so you really have to be committed to studying

4.0
5.0
BI203
Mar 17, 2011

She doesn't deserve to be rated so harshly, she's a good teacher, who expects a lot. Some people don't realize this isn't high school, YOU HAVE TO WORK.

3.0
5.0
BI203
Apr 6, 2011

She moves extremely fast! BEST class I have ever taken!!! If you like a challenge, and love to take exams that truly challenge what you know, not what you memorized this is a class you will wish went on forever. not many people passed...

3.0
4.0
BI203
Apr 24, 2011

This class is hard, but you can't put that on the teacher. My only issue with the teacher was she took her sweet time grading exams. Very few people will probably receive the grade they wanted, but if you are determined you can "pass" this class.

4.0
5.0
BI203
Oct 30, 2011

Fast paced class. Hard work. Attendance is necessary for the first few weeks because you have partner quizzes, but you should go-it really helps. Took this class twice and only raised my grade from C-C+. Very helpful if you go to her, but talks quickly and kind of goes off on rants a lot. Nice woman, hard professor.

5.0
3.0
BI110
Dec 22, 2016
Would take again

Very lively, like a cup of coffee in the morning

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

100%

Textbook Required

100%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

59% confidence
Based on 3 grades
Most common grades:
Drop/Withdrawal (2)
A (1)
Not_Sure_Yet (1)
Grade Distribution
A(1)B(1)C(1)D(2)F(0)A-/B+(0)
Based on 6 reported grades
Drop/Withdrawal: 2
A: 1
Not_Sure_Yet: 1
C: 1
Common Tags
Participation matters (1)
Skip class? You won't pass. (1)
Amazing lectures (1)
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