2.5
Quality3.5
Difficulty30%
Would Retake195
Reviews30%
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195
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47
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48
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BIO121 - 2.0 rating“He made my passion an annoyance”
BIO121 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
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Reviews (195)
Really interesting and funny, the lectures tend to keep you interested. I like the use of the clickers, it keeps everyone involved. The only drawback to this class is the three hour lab...but otherwise, he's a pretty cool guy.
Tries really hard to keep lectures interesting...clickers help keep us focused, but sometimes goes WAY too fast through powerpoints. At least the lecture slides are usually posted online...
He deserves an A +++
hes really funny and interesting but we just took a test on 10 chapters of the text book...the average was a 64.... he doesnt know how much to test on and you realllly have to understand the details to do well on the test but other than that hes ok.. always answeres questions you have
It takes a lot of work to do well, which really makes it hard to like this class if you don't like biology. Which I don't, so I hate the class. Its ruthlessly boring and overly in depth.
very tough. Has a lot to learn about teaching. But clearly knows the material.
Seems passionate about what he is doing, and seems to know a lot about the material. Not the easiest professor. You can't just go to lecture and absorb everything, you also have to read the textbook. Tests are tricky due to wording
This was his first semester teaching BIO 121, and I think he did an okay job. Labs were pointless, and lectures were redundant. Only necessary to go to class for participation points. Overall he was a fair teacher, although tests tended to be a little on the tough side. If you study beforehand, you will do well.
I didn't think this class was that bad. However you really have to understand the material. He really tries to change the learning method of his students. It's not about remembering facts, but it's on understanding the concept.
So funny and you can tell he loves his job...however... he needs to learn that putting 10 chapters on 1 test is insane... if you study for hours youll probably do well but you cant just slack off and expect an A.
His class is interesting because he obviously cares about what he is teaching. he's very enthusiastic and always tries to keep students engaged in lecture by giving out extra credit click points. exams are tough, but they're also fair so if you study you'll be fine. overall best prof i had in freshman year
Great Teacher Fine Teacher really seems to care.
He is the worst teacher at Syracuse University he needs to quit and figure out a new profession...he definitely should not be a professor at any university the class sucks and the tests are unreasonably hard
Enthusiastic, and loves his job. He's a great prof, but he needs to outline his class a little better. Bio 121 was not very interesting, lecture was boring and repetitive. Labs were a waste of time. You think that once you get into college you'd move on from construction paper DNA models. The prof is fun and clearly knows the material. Good overall
He tests on way too much material and although he claims he just wants us to understand the concept, the tests require many details. The tests are tricky because of the way he words the question. The class is very boring and there is way to much reading the textbook, which is overcomplicated for no reason. The labs are the worst!
Engaging during lectures, but his presentation is very quick, which leaves little time for questions and note taking. His tests are pretty hard and many of the questions are very convoluted
I'm probably going to be alone in saying this, but I really don't like Professor Wiles. Yeah he is energetic, but lectures are still boring and he is really corny in a really stupid way. Mainly, I dislike him because he caters specifically to freshman and as a senior, I felt like I was being talked down to.
People who complain about getting bad grades because of the work are lazy. There are many long chapters for the exams however that is something one should expect. The only big complaint I have is that some of the questions are worded poorly and he does not allow it to be up for discussion after they are graded.
Dr. Wiles is obviously very intelligent and willing to help any student that wants to succeed in his course. His courses require you to spend time reading the textbook and sometimes other material and his tests can be tricky for those who don't take tests well. At the same time compared to other science courses it is relatively easy.
It is easy to tell that this man loves teaching. He is very enthusiastic. However, he moves way to fast during lecture in attempt to cover all of the material he assigns for reading. This makes it very hard to take notes and ask questions. The lab section is useless. His tests are very difficult and while he says he only tests concepts he doesnt.
Seriously, I have learned more in this class than in any other class I've ever taken. If that's what you want, then Wiles is awesome. You have to keep up though. Don't expect to cram it all in right before an exam. The labs help too.
It bugs me that he reads this website and cares so much about what students say about him. He mentioned it multiple times at the beginning of the semester to not go on a website and write about how awful he was if he misspoke about what was going to be on an exam.
Overall a good teacher. Lectures are boring but he tries to keep them interesting. The tests are hard an require you to study every week and not right before the test. He includes a lot of material in 1 exam but doesn't get really specific with questions. Some questions are worded to trick you though so be careful!!
I'm a senior, and I've never had a professor who was more demeaning and difficult. He expects you to know ridiculous amounts of information that you forget by the final. It is unreasonable. Personally, he really talks down to students during lecture. He treats students like children instead of peers. I can't say very many good things about him.
He is unclear about test information, he gives too much information on exams, doesn't give you a chance to help your grade if you didnt do well on an exam. I just feel as if he wants us to fail .
Dr. Wiles is a really great professor. He loves what he does, he cares about his students and he as always been enthusiastic in every lecture. The only complaint I have is that his tests are often worded in confusing ways, but if you know the material, you're fine!
he is a horrible teacher, all thoughts of being a bio major ended with him. I feel like he wants us to fail ! He says one thing and does another, complete waste of money, SU would be better off without him .
This professor is fantastic! He extremely devoted to his students- those who reach out to him would know that. He tries his best to make the subject enjoyable with the inclusion of images, intuitive explanations, and his energetic behavior. This course, like any other, is what you make of it. I now have a profound interest in the field of Biology.
Waste of time. Wiles is horrible. His tests are easy but the way he words things is stupid and tricky. You need to spend more time learning how to read his questions then knowing the material. His lectures are stupid and he says nothing important. They are all posted online.
Not a very good teacher. He expects too much from students and doesn't help students that need it. I can't recommend him at all. If you need a science, take Chemistry or even Geology. Just not Wiles.
he spends all lecture time talking about stuff that isnt relevent and then has to rush the slides to cover all the material. he doesnt give u time to take notes nor are his explanations very clear. i'm so glad i dont have to take bio again. because now i hate it
The class is interesting, that's for sure. However, he expects you to know 10-11 chapters for one test and in some tests, he doesn't even put all the material that was even discussed, so it makes it that much harder to study to do well. The tests are so ridiculous because the wording sucks. I don't know if it's for show but he tries to be wayy too
Do not take this class unless you have to. It is horrible. The info is interesting but the way that he asks questions on his tests are impossible. His lectures are pointless but attendence is mandatory. Tests are on about 10 chapters each and he will ask about half of that info on the test so you dont know what to study.
He thinks that he is the coolest teacher ever... he is not! I wanted to be a bio major until I took this class it is horrible.. STAY AWAY!
Jason Wiles is a great teacher. He uses many fun stories and his sense of humor to get his students to learn the material. He expects you to know 11 chapters of material for a test, but doesn't expect you to read it. I just looked at the power-points and Aced every test. As long as you attend class and read the power-points its fun and an easy A.
Clearly cares a lot about his students, but his sarcasatic comments and inability to word questions correctly on the tests make the class unbearable. Those who do well haven taken AP Bio in high school, a fact which attests to his poor teaching methods.
He really sucks. He wants you to fail, he bores me during lectures, although he's very animated I think he thinks he's teaching elementary school students. He wants you to fail, he sets up review sessions and you would think that it helps and it doesn't because as soon as you get to the final you're totally confused.
Dr. Wiles is a good teacher and genuinely cares about how his students do. However I feel he makes his tests too easy for college level courses. If any effort is put into studying then a good grade is easy to earn. The class does not go in depth as much as it should nor do the tests. People complain when they shouldnt. He makes it very easy for us
This professor may seem cool during lectures, but the test are difficult. You can memorize the material, but Wiles words his questions awkwardly and puts alot of "all of the above" questions, leaving you kinda confused to pick an answer choice. If you don't go for the answer he looks for, expect it to wrong. Also doesn't give back tests.
fairly easy class, do the readings and youll do fine. however, he has a HORRIBLE sense of humor and his awful jokes and ways of speaking get old so fast. ickkk
This class is hard. Seriously. If you're trying to full-fill the liberal arts Science requirement, this may not be the class for you. But if you're not good at math, well, the options are quite limited. Wiles can be cool, but very tricky with exam questions. (Read carefully!) Wiles is a likable guy, but his exams are hard!
Trys too hard to be funny without applying to lectures. He never clearly answers your questions, leaves you still wondering and asking the same thing. Trick questions on tests, don't even bother with review sessions, he doesn't answer what you ask or help with what you need.
This teacher tries WAY to hard to be funny in class. Talks to fast and is very condescending (without trying to be). I think he's probably a nice guy outside of class, but as a teacher he is awful. I am an upperclassman taking this class and I feel like I'm being talked down to. He tries to make everything a joke. Try and get Chris Duke for a TA !
Definitely agree that he is condescending and tries way too hard to be funny. Class is so dull, everything I learn I learn from slides afterwords. You get participation lecture which is boring, try to find someone to bring your clicker for you. hopefully you get Chris as a TA he helped me understand more then Wiles in all his lectures in one lab.
Dr. Wiles tries way too hard to be funny and treats the class like they are in elementary school. However, the material is not hard, and people shouldn't blame him for getting bad grades. The exam questions come straight from the slides and if a little effort is put into studying them, it is an easy A, especially with good attendance and labs.
Isn't as bad as everyone says. Just look at the slides and you'll be fine. Exam 3 is the only one that will really give you a hard time, and he makes up for it by throwing you a bone with the final. Easiest final I ever took. Good class, you'll learn a lot.
I thought he was a great guy who made bio interesting at times. He needs to better learn how to control a lecture hall though because most people just texted the entire class. Tests were interesting and kept me engaged.Labs were boring and depended on how good your TA was (mine was AWFUL) Really nice guy, NOT an easy A class. Don't underestimate it
Excellent professor! Despite the fact his tests are difficult it shouldn't scare anyone away unless you are not willing to put the time into the course. The labs seem too childish at times, but sometimes it takes the ridiculous things to help understand concepts. By the end of the course you will be able to tell he truely loves his job and is there
This class honestly lies in the center.Those who say its easy either took AP bio or did well in hs bio. Those who say it was super hard probably didnt study the material well enough or are not good at multiple choice. You just have to MEMORIZE. His tests can be tricky because of the "all of the above" "none of the above" options and his odd wording
Good teacher, very sexy bald head and chin strap and a great singer. What more could you ask for? Also he has a high pitched voice when excited!
A bit of advice: if you haven't taken AP BIO or high school biology do not fall behind. Though it is just an introductory Biology class, he moves pretty fast, but doesn't cover too much. I had taken AP BIO before and still barely got an A. Also, doing well on lab quizzes is important.
Class is very easy. Study powerpoint slides and it's fine. Wiles isn't the best teacher, but he seems like a nice guy.
Class is not an easy A. You have to read! Anyone who has taken this course will agree, especially non-majors. As a non major, I had to study and live biology. You need to memorize everything, especially diagrams! Whatever is in Dr. Wiles' lecture is fair game, no matter how insignificant it may seem! Study frequently and you will do well.
study, study, study. that is all i can say about this class. he is the worst teacher i have ever had and expects you to know everything without even willing to help. tests are all multiple choice but not east at all.
Professor Wiles is very helpful. He always tries to keep the class entertained and for people who come to class, there are clicker questions that count for extra credit. But you have to study his notes.The textbook helps but his lecture notes are key to passing the exams. If you know them, then you can pass.
This guy is seriously annoying. He just jokes around in class and the stuff he talks about doesn't even come out on exams
He is nice and tries to make the class interesting. But personally I feel like his exams are hard even thou it's only MP. His powerpoint notes are directly from the textbook, which is not very helpful. NO study guide and the review sessions are just Q&A. Basically, he expects students to know a lot without explaining things clearly and deeply.
Dr. Wiles is an awesome teacher. He knows what he is talking about and his slide shows help with the comprehension of what seems like difficult diagrams. The clicker questions almost always appear on his exams. The exams are straight forward and not too bad.
he tries to help but studying has to be done outside of class. tests are harder than the material he reviews.
He likes to joke around during lecture, mostly because his lecture is tailored toward freshman. Exams are SO easy (He teaches things like the Krebs Cycle, then says "For the exam only know how many carbons are in pyruvate." EASY), but attendance is required. He clearly has a more ecological interest in biology rather than cellular, though.
Funny and nice guy, and he clearly understands all of the material very well. Tests are very difficult without any study guides or practice exams, as he covers such a vast amount of content.
He is a very enthusiastic teacher and is almost always clear with his teaching. Lectures are really helpful, and you need to be there. If you haven't taken AP Bio, this class will be difficult. Studying is needed b/c of all the material, and some test questions can be really tricky. Put in the effort, though, and you will at least get a C.
He can be very rude and tries to make jokes that aren't funny. His powerpoints are generally clear. Make sure you pay attention and read the textbook because his exams are very difficult. If you don't have to take his class, don't. Attendance is mandatory and reflects in your grade. He doesn't teach, he preaches.
No study guides for test, no practice exams, so if you wanna pass you better study your ass off over the top
I would devote a whole week to studying for each exam and with that i mostly got B's. Wiles isn't a terrible teacher, but i personally don't think he prepares you for the exams. The only way you can study is basically reading and re-reading the chapters. This class requires a lot of time if you want to do well. you're basically on your own.
If you're just trying to fulfill course requirements, do not take this class. It's clear he has A LOT of expectations from his students, and bunches 10+ chapters into a single exam. His lectures aren't helpful, and he doesn't prepare you for the exams. The textbook provides excess information and his notes not enough. You can't win either way.
His lectures are easy to pay attention to and interesting but he does not cover all of the material you need to know for a test. The course covered ~30 chapters and required a lot of time and studying. The few times I did have questions he was extremely rude and answered with something like "What do you think is best" and never gave an answer.
Fairly average teacher. Fair, but strict. You have to study a ton in here to do well. This class is very straight forward. He gives you all the information that you need if you pay attention, so don't miss a homework or a class, and you should get a C or higher.
He was so hilarious last semester but now he just stand in front of lectures and isn't clear about anything.
This was by far the worst professor I have had at Syracuse. His lectures were made so that a two year old could understand them but the exams were extremely difficult and I studied hours for them. Mastering biology took 3 hours to do and wasn't helpful for the exams. Needless to say, I skipped Bio 123 and am in Bio 326 and am doing much better!
Personally not a fan of Wiles. He might seem like a nice guy, but how much does that matter when it comes to teaching? A professor can teach effectively without being a nice guy. I took BIO 123 and I'm struggling to pass. His test are NOT worded that great and he throws in a good amount of confusing questions. Highly do not recommend.
Tests are not hard, although they do require a good amount of studying the textbook. In this class, you get out what you put in. Put in the effort, and you'll get a good grade.
This class was super easy, would study like 3 hours before the exam an get like 98s on them. Always went to class for the clicker questions but never really payed much attention.
The class is easy if you just go to lecture. Making flash cards of his lecture slides helped me a lot. Nice guy, except LOTS of online homework that didn't help on the exams. Exams were fair and I really liked the class
Do not take his class, he is a moron and thinks hes helpful..i got an A luckily because Im good at test taking...He tries to trick you on your exams and thinks thats the way to teach. He is unreasonable and tries to weed out pre med kids by not budging on issues. Take another class.....youll appreciate it
He's really funny and an interesting professor. The exams are hard, you need to study! Going to class isn't needed for the exams that much if you read the textbook and do mastering biology, but there is clicker questions. He's a decent professor, nothing great but not bad!
tests are hard. he doesn't teach and recitation is not helpful. Do not take this class. he tries to trick you on exam and he doesn't go over all the material on the test in class even though he says that youre only tested on lecture notes
Very moronic teacher. Only wants to teach pre-med students, and still isn't helpful. Absolutely do not take this class if it is not required. Tests are impossible. Won't talk to students, makes everything go through his assistant who does everything. Bad, bad, bad.
I hated this class with every part of me. If you don't know if Biology is for you, do not take this damn class! It was extremely difficult. I will be switching my major after mas break! Basically no extra credit given ! but tests are almost foreign! Don't do it! Don't take this!
Professor Wiles is the man! He has made biology fun and enjoyable! Tests are truly not that hard if you study the right material. (Labs,Power points,mastering biology). Take BIO 121 my friends, take it! You will learn a lot!
This was the hardest course I took in my first year, but I learned more than I thought I would. More than my other courses for sure. If you don't want to learn, why are you paying so much to go to college? Wiles made it worth it.
Wiles is great. He gave good examples and his exams are not very hard. He thinks his funny but he gives good examples with his "jokes". He is a good professor that really wants you to learn the importance of biology.
Very easy professor. Literally just look at his power points. Every exam I just studied the day before the exam, and thoroughly went through all his power points. Scored High 90s on all exams. Definitely recommend. He is fun and tries to make jokes and doesn't just stand there for an hour. Summarizes all information in one sentence for each section
Goes over very vague lecture slides in class, does not answer questions, lots of energy, no review for exam, ambiguous exam questions and answers, the majority of the class failed. He is not a teacher, just a man who speaks about the subject.
this class is just a headache and his lectures are pointless which is why he adds clicker questions in to make people show up. study the textbook and mastering biology but he is out to trick you on the exams so read the questions carefully
Spends the first 15-20 minutes of lecture discussing something off topic or "funny," then rushes through the last ten lecture slides (which are often the most involved) in 3 minutes or less. Tests were manageable after extensive studying. His arrogance and lack of interest in his students somewhat diminished my initial interest in biology.
Does not really tell you what's on the exam. You need to go to class for the clicker questions. Pay attention and do mastering biology. Labs are really helpful, go to the TA for help.
Wiles is not a good teacher at all, but unfortunately he is the only introductory Bio teacher. Overall, he is just terrible
Worst bio teacher I've ever had, but do the reading, use mastering bio to study for exams, complete all labs effectively and you'll be fine
2nd and 3rd tests are tough, must read the chapters in the book and do the associating questions in order to do really well in this class. Don't read the book, won't do well.
There is no secret formula to this class, really. You just have to know your studying style. I personally found the exams to be easy, and I never read the chapters in full or took really good notes. I just did the online hw and paid attention in lab. It's a big lecture, so don't expect Wiles to be extra helpful.
Idk what it is but I just really wasn't a fan. He does make jokes in lecture to lighten the mood, but going to lecture suuucked. He crams about 10 chapters in the first exam so be prepared.
The people who say that Wiles is hard, obviously copy and pasted the homework every week and didn't do the readings. The lectures are dry, but if you actually pay attention rather than Facebook stalk old high school friends, you will do fine in the class. Tests are important, but most of the material you can get from his powerpoints.
only reason I passed this class was I took AP Bio and I read the book thoroughly. dr. wiles is disastrous, so many students changed their minds about majoring in bio cuz of him. his "jokes" are suited for 3rd graders & he rushes through 10 slides in 2 minutes. he really does not care about students and is a terrible teacher. should not be teaching.
He goes way to fast and completely defeats the point of going to lecture. It's insanely annoying and it makes class unnecessarily difficult. He spends a bunch of time making metaphors and analogies that don't make sense, all while trying to be funny (and failing). He screws around and then blows through 20 slides in the last 2 minutes.
Wiles made Biology more complicated than needed. Not only are lectures pretty uninteresting, but he often went off topic talking about otters or his personal life. I was appalled a few times when the day before the tests we would do an in class exercise on other subjects that had nothing to do with the test. Also Mastering Biology is hell. Goodluck
Wiles is an interesting guy and is very passionate in regards to biology. His lectures are 200+ students. He has improved dramatically since he had a kid, and I really enjoyed him this semester. Biology is such a great subject, and Wiles brings the enthusiasm that biology deserves.
He made my passion an annoyance.
i don't like him
Lectures are awful. Wiles will talk about random stuff all class and then try to rush through 30 slides in the last two slides. He also does't help you when you reach out. The test are hard and require studying for a few weeks prior if you want an A. For an intro class the difficulty level was too high and no one I have talked to enjoys the class.
He takes forever in lecture to actually get to the material, the tests are hard and he tends to speed through lecture during the last ten mins. You need to put in the effort OUTSIDE of class to do well. Start studying the material the SAME day. Wiles knows what he's talking about so pay attention during lecture. and read the textbook (makes a diff)
Attend lecture because he consistently uses clicker questions for participation grade. Take advantage of PLTL because it gives you a lot of extra credit if you go to at least 10. He stresses always reading for the tests way in advance but I never read more than 2 days in advance and I got an A-, take that for what it's worth. Similar to AP bio.
Wiles is possibly one of the worst teachers I have ever had. He covers about 1/10th of the material in lecture and leaves the rest up to the student to struggle through on the weekly homework assignments. He shows up for class 5 minutes late everyday and holds the students an extra 5 minutes. I would prefer my highs cool biology teacher.
Not an awful professor but could teach material way better. Lectures are really long and boring because he goes off topic all the time. Tests are wayyy tougher than they need to be. Have to put in a lot of effort and time into this class to do well.
The most difficult course I have ever taken. Don't think that goofing off in lectures and studying the night before the test is the way to go, because you'll barely pass. Study his lecture slides. Make connections between slides and know how ideas are connected. Don't think you can pass this course by not paying attention.
it's gonna be dreadful because his lectures are usually filled with either too much information to absorb or he wastes half of lecture discussing stuff he could have posted on blackboard. clickers are your attendance it's not worth skipping. do PLTL if offered and the labs teach you a lot if your TA is good
Very enthusiastic. You need to use all the course material to your advantage. Try to always attend lectures and actually listen. Some clicker questions may pop up in exams. Review the homework assignments (long, but provides LOTS of information so you don't really need to read the book). If possible, do PLTL (or review PSETS on your own) or lab.
If biology is not your strongest subject then pay attention in his class and practice masteringbiology before exams. Also, sign up for PLTL so that you can get extra credit points. In addition, his tests are worded to confuse you if you don't know your stuff
Wiles is an okay professor, he often goes off on random tangents that have nothing to do with the class. His tests are pretty consistent and fair, and he offers a lot of opportunities when it comes to extra credit (pltl) which makes it easy to bring your grade up. Even though it's a pain, go to lecture for the clicker questions, they do matter.
Prepare to teach yourself basically everything from the text book. Literally... everything. Lectures are essentially pointless and he goes too fast for you to even finish copying notes down from 1 slide to the next. I usually copy my notes down from the book during lecture instead of actually copying his. However, showing up is mandatory as he does clicker questions throughout. He seems nice, but tries way too hard to be funny and relatable. Like I said, prepare to teach yourself everything from the book.
Possibly the worst teacher I have ever had in my entire life. HE basically does not care about his students and is only there basically to collect a pay check. His tests are ridiculous and completely unfair. If you do not have to take Bio 121 don't. Seriously don't. You will save yourself the heartache.
Professor Wiles goes off topic all the time. He will spend 20 minutes on a tangent the same day of an exam. Another problem I encountered was the lectures would be so far behind what the current homework was on. The only way you will pass (if you haven't taken AP Bio in high school) is to read the textbook and study it hard. But he's a nice guy.
He doesn't teach during lectures.
Very funny professor, but he usually has his TAs come and teach the lecture half of the time. The exams are tricky because he doesn't only grade you based on how well you know the material, but also of how well you can read and decipher the questions. The textbook isn't necessary (in my opinion), but the online textbook and code are.
Lecture slides covered some of the material in the book but were pretty disorganized. I mostly spent time learning from the book. You can find really detailed chapter outlines by typing in "Campbell Biology chapter outlines" instead of reading the book. Tests are kind of hard.. I needed to use a lot of background knowledge from ap bio to pass
its true what they say. The mastering biology assignments are usually 2 weeks ahead of his lectures. He really doesn't put much on his slides and spends most of his time rambling on about nonsense during the beginning of lecture. I couldnt stop focusing on his bald head. i suggest looking at youtube videos like crash course
If you're about to take this class then I suggest you look for another professor who'll actually teach you & show up to classes. Wiles hardly puts any effort in your education & proceeds to act like he cares. He'll spend lots of time advertising other courses rather than teaching - please never take this class unless you already completed bio
He isn't that bad if you show up to class and put your headphones in like most of the other students. The main reason people don't pay attention in lecture is because what he says is rarely on the test. He can be a funny dude sometimes but gets off track with his stories.
Very difficult class
If you can avoid taking this class try to get into the night time U001 section. Wiles isn't helpful at all, his lectures are a complete waste of time but you have to go bc of clicker questions. Definitely have to read the book to do good on mastering bio, another waste of time, and his exams unless ur a natural genius.
Wiles sucks. He does care to teach nor does he want to. The textbook helps a lot i recommend it. I recommend going to class for clicker participation points but it isn't mandatory ( i skipped a lot). Homework is all on google so its easy 100. Gives extra credit like PLTL and surveys. Class is great teacher is the worst in the college.
He isn't as bad as people say he is. Like a previous rating said, if you don't sit on your laptop watching Netflix through lecture, you're basically guaranteed an A. I was absent for a couple weeks due to family issues, and I still managed an A. Most people don't take advantage of extra credit as well, which can raise your grade up by 5%.
Dr. Wiles is really cool. His lectures are inspiring, and he made a lot of connections across chapters, which made reviewing his lectures much easier. He had laid such a great foundation for me.
I took a college level bio class before taking this class and I'm still completely lost. There's a TON of homework for lectures, PLTL, and the labs. You're expected to remember things straight from the book including specific diagrams. Unless you have a photographic memory or you're a genius, good luck.
Not the best professors to have. He does not explain topics, does not go over what we are learning, and misses A LOT of material from what we read in the textbook. He discusses on what we read and doesnt go over the reading. He does not clarify anything on the topic. Better be ready to read the textbook cause thats your only hope.
Hands down one of the worst professors You have to fill out surveys to get course materials from blackboard,this is part of his research Lectures are wasted doing stupid clicker questions Does not go over most of the material from the textbook. Says to Buy the book for the first day of class. Mine is still shrink wrapped. I use eText all the time.
His main worry is that the students are working in pairs. Horrible teacher, lab is wicked hard.
Would rather transfer schools than take this class again. Heard from multiple adults & other students how bad he was, but thought it was an exaggeration. It wasnt. Lectures are useless, nothing is taught. Luckily, I had a good lab TA. But seriously, avoid this class at all costs.
Wiles is funny and passionate about biology, but doesn't seem to know how to teach. I never skipped lecture (its mandatory) but never felt like I was learning, Lab is where I learned everything. Exams are multiple choice, but hard to study for because it isn't clear what he expects us to know and what he just finds interesting to mention.
Never take this class unless it is required. He will make you hate biology. He's not a terrible guy but he definitely needs to learn how to teach. If lecture wasn't required to go to, nobody would show up. If you take this class you will be teaching yourself the the entire textbook, and the class covers a lot of material in a short amount of time.
I feel many misunderstand the way he teaches. Lecture is there as review not to teach every possible topic in biology. That's what the textbook and homework are for. Class was huge so he can't teach every topic in great detail. Use the help given to you, go to office hours or PLTL or tutoring or exam review. He also uses clickers for attendance.
Wiles is knowledgable in biology but has a terrible way of teaching. Instead of providing a lecture to learn the insane amount of material covered he makes you turn and talk to the person next to you about silly questions for the entire lecture. I learned more in the textbook in 10 minutes than 10 lectures.
The lectures are pretty much pointless as long as you do the readings, but you need to go for clicker questions. He tends to be a little sarcastic and cocky, which I did not find amusing. All around a bad time but do your work and you'll get an A.
You have to go to lecture because of the clicker question points, but otherwise lectures aren't helpful. Don't expect a helpful answer from Wiles if you're genuinely confused about anything because he'll hit you with a sarcastic answer and you'll be left more confused than when you began. Happened to a friend of mine. Be prepared to teach yourself!
I'm pretty sure that Wiles is actually a halfway decent lecturer/professor, except you would never know because he spends every lecture class going over homework and other assignments instead of actually teaching anything. If it weren't for the clicker questions there would be no reason to go to this lecture.
He has gotten better with the lectures and actually taught, go to the free tutoring hosted by C.L.A.S.S and then the PLTL will def help, the PLTL and the extra credit really helps with final grade so you should def do it, This course really dominated a large percent of my time but it's. You get the grade you deserve if you put the work in
Hsi lectures got better right at the the end, so I was pretty much teaching/reading on my own; lecture is mandatory bc of clicker points; PLTL saves ur grade by a ton + extra credit; he didn't teach much plus would ask clicker- questions with two answers; class is not that bad if u put the work in
Dr. Wiles isn't the best, but his class is pretty easy and you can easily get an A as long as you show up and study the textbook for the exams.
Provides opportunities for extra credit. Rarely does he ever actually teach, rather makes us answer clicker questions and answer questions with the people sitting around us. And then he assigns us long chapters from the textbook - multiple at that- and gives us 60 question mastering biology assignments. If you don't read the book you won't pass.
His lecture style isn't ideal for most people. You're expected to have a grasp of the material before you get to class or else you will be confused for many topics. There's a lot of discussing with other classmates during lecture, which can be very difficult. He is a nice guy but the only way I did well was going to tutoring and teaching myself.
Exams are hard, and one exam can cover up to 7 chapters. His lectures are pointless pretty much, I learned more in Youtube videos than attending lectures. He makes me want to change my major. Do not recommend, and don't risk yourself if you are not required to take it, because there's no professor other than him teaching this course.
I had him freshman year and scarred me the whole semester. His lectures are terrible as much as I hate to say it. He expects you to read on your own and come into lecture to engage in "active learning" which is useless. Prepare to be present in class if you want to pass even if the lectures arent informative because he likes to do clicker questions
The lectures are pretty good, but the exams are nearly impossible. He does not go over everything in class that is on the exams, so it requires A LOT of studying and self-teaching. Also the exams have lots of material on it and no type of guide to study from. The questions are intricate and not straight forward.
If you actually work for your grade, this class is fine. A lot of these ratings are from lazy people who don't take advantage of the extra credit and don't read the chapters for the tests. They are an easy B+ with minimal studying. Lectures are informative but boring, and if you actually pay attention, help.
Dr. Wiles has definitely gotten better at lecturing but he still is not the best. He is a very humorous person and does seem to care but he's more focused on us learning through each other than through him. There is a lot of extra credit opportunity but he does focus on irrelevant topics in class.
Reflecting back Wiles is not as bad a professor as I originally thought. In the moment, I was very frustrated that he did not lecture and rather had us pair up in groups and discuss the answers to questions (along with clickers). However at the end of the day he cared about the content and his teaching style helped me learn it better.
Once you get used to how he lectures, you know what to expect on exams generally. Stick to the powerpoints and chapter summaries to study. He is not as bad as I thought he was, and he is getting better with lecturing but he is not the greatest yet. He does care about his students and it shows.
dont teach again
Expects you to learn material on your own. Stubborn person, big ego.
Had a large ego. Would often go on targets about some material we don't need to know. all you need to know is EVOLUTION.
Dr. Wlies does not teach much during lecture sections, he simply goes off on tangents and then will maybe come back to the topic in the last 15 minutes of class. The textbook is an okay study tool for his exams, but your best bet is to attend review session hosted by the tutoring services or Dr. Wiles's office hours.
He uses critical thinking strategies to make you think. You can not memorize your way through this. I advise you to take the PLTL workshop it is a HUGE grade boost. I am a biology major and I found the class informative he really is a decent professor I don't think he deserves the flak for making people actually work, plus you have no choice.
I did not learn anything in this class. All my knowledge came from high-school Bio, the text book, tutoring sessions and lab. The tests made me think "you are not a good enough teacher to be giving this hard of a test". If it wasn't for coronavirus and online tests I would be getting a B+ at best with 8+ hours of studying for each exam
Dr. Wiles didn't teach me anything in both courses that I took with him. I spent 6+ hours studying for each exam and received mediocre grades in the end. He gives ridiculous amounts of homework on mastering biology that usually take around 3 hours to complete. If it's not a requirement for your major do not take this class, it's a waste of time
The textbook is a necessity. The lectures were useless, he just restated everything that was said in the textbook. He did give helpful outlines as to what subjects would be covered on the exam.
Wiles was the worst professor. He cancelled his online lectures and instead posted awful pre-recorded lectures where you were unable to ask questions. My only knowledge came from the lab and my PLTL (tutoring group). Take any opportunity for extra credit. It is easy to pass but you won't learn anything and will spend hours on homework every week.
I pretty much had to teach myself from the textbook and didn't really learn anything from his lectures as he just restated what was in the textbook. The labs for this class did help me to understand most of the concepts being taught.
He's funny and very nice/helpful, but he does assign a lot of questions on the homework. When I took his class he didn't have us attend the lectures, he posted them asynchronously. We took 3 or 4 big tests throughout the semester, you really do have to study and do your work or else getting a good grade will be hard. Def join a PLTL group for EC
This is a self-taught class! Exams are really hard and full of surprises! I would never take this class again
This is basically a self taught class. He will have chapter 3 homework due when he has not even started chapter 1 in lecture. His lectures are spent talking about everything BUT the actual course material.
I wouldn't say I hate him as much as some others, however he's still not great. I basically taught myself the class. His lectures are useless and he gives out 2+ hours of homework often. Attendance is mandatory for lectures and participation is counted for a grade. Definitely read the textbook if you hope to perform well. Very nice guy tho
While lectures are lacking in the classroom there is still a ton of opportunities for extra credit. Join PLTL if possible as it can bring your grade up half a letter grade. The test are multiple choice and clicker questions are on them! As long as you study the material you will be just fine.
Wiles is fantastic. He gets a bad rep because he doesn't do typical lectures. He takes a more interactive approach which means you will need to watch the recorded lectures on your own to really grasp the material. This being said the material is not difficult and is very broad in nature. He is a wonderfully inclusive and caring so I recommend him.
Mandatory attendance for boring and unhelpful lectures. Lots of homework that everyone just Googles the answers for. Exams are challenging, but if bio is important to your major you should be able to do well. The class isn't hard to get a good grade in, but the work is grueling and material is self-taught. Only saving grace is that lab is easy.
So much to say about Jason Wiles. He does not lecture and you are responsible for learning the material on your own. However, he does care about his students. And his tests are extremely easy with a lot of extra credit opportunities given throughout the semester. My prior knowledge carried me, so beware if you have no bio knowledge prior to his cla
Wiles gets an awful rep but the class really isn't that bad. In-class lectures are boring most of the time but the recorded lectures summarize what you need to know for exams really well. You definitely have to teach yourself some concepts but that's pretty standard for a college class. Having a background in basic biology from high school helps.
He's a nice guy but he does not teach during lectures at all. You also have to pay for a lot during the class, textbook, clicker, clicker subscription, etc. The tests aren't too bad , the questions are pretty easy if you've taken AP Bio you should be good.
Great
There is no way of passing without doing your homework. Homework in which does not appear on the exams, as well as takes hours on end to complete (never wait to do it last minute). He cares about mental health but does nothing more than just talk about, so if you're struggling go straight to the TA.
This prof is genuinely the worst prof I've ever had. He forces you to go to class and do clicker questions to prove you're there. He is always at least 15 min late to lecture. His tests are nothing like the homework and he's just so annoying I can't stand him. Please don't take any class with this guy unless you absolutely have to.
This guy does ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING IN CLASS LIKE IM WASTING MY TIME RN.
Bro does not teach. Like how am I supposed to learn bruh. This guy is straight up nonsense.
Actually the worst. Spends lectures talking about nonsense and then assigns you basically everything he won't talk about during the lectures to watch and teach on your own. The test was the worst, I studied so much and definitely still failed. Mastering biology is stupid and takes hourssss
This guy blows. Doesn't teach. Have to learn everything on your own. What a joke
Terrible teacher that doesn't engage with his students. Lacks lesson plans and misses class a lot.
The only reason I got an A was because I took AP Bio in high school. He does not teach during his lectures; they consist of answering unimportant clicker questions. He gives so much homework which does not help with the exams at all. He gives extra credit but it doesn't really help with your final grade. Don't take this class if you don't have to.
The truth is if you must take this class, you must take it with him. All he does in class is clicker questions which are how you get participation grades and show off his white guilt by talking about diversity. He won't teach in class and posts lectures online which you must view to pass exams. Make friends during his boring lectures, they help.
Does not teach during lectures, you basically have to learn everything on your own.
Literally free you if you take this class
doesn't teach and spends the whole class justifying why he doesn't teach. only way you'll learn anything is by watching his recorded lectures outside of class or by going to pltl sessions. worse part is, can't skip his lectures because you get a grade for in class $70 clicker questions. if you can avoid taking his class, DO IT.
He is the only class I dread to come to just because I am constantly wasting my time during his classes. We had to buy $70 clickers and he doesn't even teach during class time. You should do all of the homeworks, watch his recorded lectures, and do PLTL because that is the only way you will be able to know whats happening in the exams.
This guy is a joke, he walked out to the Bulls theme song, and we learn about buddhists for 40 minutes instead of bio.
Teaches nothing and spends all class trying to justify why he doesn't teach. Assigns homework on topics not covered yet in the book or class. Egotistical, and clearly does not want to be a teacher, only here for a paycheck. suggest taking this class at a community college or online before attending S.U, just to avoid class with him
Teaches nothing and spends all class trying to justify why he doesn't teach. Assigns so much homework on topics not covered yet in the book or class. DOES NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS and overall one of the worst PROFESSORS I EVER HAD!
The course is decent, at first, the professor seems crazy (he stays crazy) but you eventually get used to his ways of teaching (which is to teach yourself) watching the video lectures sets you up fine for the tests. The homework and textbook readings are way more in-depth than you need. He has good intentions and cares about his students.
His face-to-face and online lectures do not match up. he gives a ton of material. he gives a lot of opportunities for extra credit so it seems like the class average is always high. yet, a lot of students struggle to learn while trying to keep up with the workload he gives.
Over-hated. The course itself is easy, especially if you're in it because you failed the AP test (which was mostly everyone). Use Quizlet on the Pearson assignments, take notes on the recorded lectures, and look up the clicker questions. I barely studied for the exams and the lowest grade I got was a 94. Can skip 1 exam and 5 lectures w no penalty.
AWFUL! Wastes student's time with meaningless lectures where he refuses to teach. Prepare to spend many hours outside of class watching the lecture videos and completing the mastering biology assignments (most are +2 hours). Very childish with the jokes he makes and has long rants, "Yes we get it you have basic human decency and are not racist"
Definitely a unique teaching style, but if you engage with the lectures and resources like the textbook and unstuck ai, you can do well. The assignments are time-consuming, but the grading is fair. Overall, it's a manageable class with the right approach.
Although Wiles gets a bad rep, his classes are easy. Took "Political Science", a discussion-based class on "controversial" science. Just show up, do the readings, and the final group project. He is often late to post the "quizzes" and the homework readings and is disorganized in doing so. You don't get a grade until the last day. Still, not bad.
Had him for 121 and it was rough, but his Political science selected topics class has been great. Definitely disorganized but that seems to be a product of the class running for the first time this sem.
121 with him was unnecessarily difficult but I was interested in his selected topics discussion class ("political" science) and it was great, focused on controversial topics in science and different experiences and opinions were encouraged. First semester running so it was all over the place at times but the class has a lot of potential.
Best honors class I ever took. Wiles was great and made a fun environment.
If you can do winterlude and need a science class this is the one. It was a lot of reading, but it was all interesting. Group meetings only once a week made it fun too. Open ended quizzes made me think about the assignments and learn more but were low pressure, not like an exam on campus. Very good class.
It was great. Class discussions were fun and there was a lot of comedy too.
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