very linient on the lab and test were pretty easy..just study

Wonderful teacher with a great personality.Younger man, so can relate to students.Lectures are clear.Tests are fair.As long as you show up to class and study a bit, you should do fine. Highly recommend.

i actually really liked Dr. Watanabe, but don't take this class if you don't have time to study as much as you should/need to for his tests (since the class is based on 3 quizzes, 3 tests + 1 research paper)also, missing class has major consequences.

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I actually Loved "Dr. Jeff" a great teacher & actually made BIO fun.HE is the only one that can sum up a cell to "A tiny ocean packet". Its not an easy class but like anything else study and you will be fine

GREAT TEACHER!!! Organized well! Class is alot of laughs!! You need to study hard and ask sooo many questions! I think he's hot!

Funny professor...definitely keep you awake. I can't say his hard b/c all science classes are hard...lots of memorization. I would definitely take his other classes if there's a chance.

He was a very energetic and lively teacher. Definitely interested in the material, despite always having despided bio. He was difficult tho. Definitely demanded the best of his students.

Very good teacher and very nice. His lectures are entertaining and are upbeat. I thought he was a good teacher. The class is a lot of work though, I studied really hard and got a B in the class. This class is great for a beginning Biology class. I remember I first saw him and I thought he was a student, he is young, but a Good teacher.

its all good. all lecture base with a group project.mixed exams X3 multiple choise T/F short answer

Watanabe is quite the enthusiastic teacher. His lectures always match the slides. He's willing to post up his lecture online. As long as you do your reading to keep up with the class, you'll do fine. Tests are a little hard. They get easier with more stydying. Would take his other class just to look at him. ;) He's a hottie!

overall, a personable and interesting teacher; tests were pretty easy, though the subject (marine biology, which is more ecology-based) wasn't really for me.

he's very organized. you'll have to work hard if you want a good grade. he's a good guy, and you can tell that he interested in what he's teaching.

This teacher is good. Especially his lectures are so entertaining and interesting. Because of his lectures, i remember most of the lectures without reading them. I really want to get an A but i got B.:)

The better of the two Bio-130 profs. His lecture style in goal oriented (that is, he teaches what will be on the test, not just a general overview.) The tests don't pull any punches, you have to know the material, but at least the class will prepare you for them.

He is very knowledgable about his area of expertise which helps the learning process. He is very patient and personable. The class in general is hard but he makes it feasable. He is a great dancer

He is a very intelligent, patient and extremely helpful professor. His lectures are clear and get to the point. He is always willing to clarify when necessary and he will always take questions and comments. Plus he is funny and tries to make his lectures as interesting as possible with pictures and animations. Take him!!

I would definately take his class again. His first test was hard, but the rest are easy after you learn his test styles. Even though it was an hour and a half class i actually enjoyed it because he made it interesting. He has a story for everything and they are pretty funny/nerdy. Would definatley recommend him for a teacher

This guy is pretty good. Class is very interesting and there are alot of hands on activities which helps the students learn much better. His test are not easy and you must study to pass. Test are based on lecture so make sure you take notes. i missed a day and i got a little lost so make sure you show up to class everyday.

Definetly the better of the 2 Biology Teachers. He is pretty interesting, and you can tell he knows his stuff. Just make sure you attend class, his tests are pretty damn hard, but as long as you get C's on all the tests and do all the HW, and Go to Labs, you will get a B in the class. I would take him again for a different class.

Keep in mind, science is always hard. Teacher aren't magic. He is a great teacher, specially for those who don't get science. Gives lots of examples. Not much homework. What he teaches you, is what's on the test. Fun, and interesting. You can use this information outside of class. Best science teacher ever!!!

Nice, solid teacher. Book-based slides are peppered with entertaining anecdotes about his adventures abroad that bring out the nerd in everyone. Attendance isn't enforced but missing a class will make you feel behind. If only every teacher had this much energy...

Tests are hard. Must go to most of lecture to be able to answer questions on the test. Be sure to write down everything he says during lecture b/c it's always little things that end up on the tests. Go to labs + do online assignment then it's pretty easy to get an A/B.

aiite

He is by far the best professor I have ever had, and the class was very interesting. Take his classes. They are all great!

Such a great teacher! Passion for biology (especially marine) and it shows. Definitely need to read the book, but tests mostly off his slides and information that he stresses during lecture. If he has repeated it a alot, expect to be tested! I haven't taken the final yet, but B or C, i'd be interested in another of his classes.

Fantastic professor in every sense. His lectures are very clear and interesting. Approachable, fun, and passionate about his field. Show up and pay attention!

I took his online class, but we were required to go on self field trips to certain places to learn about environmental sustainability. Don't treat this class like a joke, because you will have to read from the book a lot in order to do quizzes/tests and such.

Prof. is AMAZING!! He truly knows what he is talking about! This was by far my favorite class! Such a passionate teacher and you can really see it in his teachings. Always makes class fun and interesting with activities and videos. Just take notes on his wonderful powerpoint lectures and study before tests and you'll get the grade you want.

Very knowledgable. Not an easy A, but if you work hard and listen to lectures you should do well. Amazing professor, would definately take his class again!

Very enthusiastic, funny, knowledgeable about subject, helpful, all around good teacher. :)

Dr. Watanabe is great, He knows what he's talking about and he knows how to translate the thick material so it's easy for us to comprehend. But this class is no easy A, the tests are definitely challenging so get ready to buckle down and study.

Only the best teacher ever. So passionate about ecology and the Marine Environment it's contagious. Take this class if you want to learn about and learn to appreciate the world around you. Show up, take good notes and ask questions. An A is possible if you're willing to put a little effort in!

He's young, funny, and passionate! I left his class with a different outlook on the environment. His lectures are exciting and interesting, and he always tries to make the lectures relatable. Yes, his tests are a tad difficult. But if you do all the labs, and homework you can at least get a B. More importantly, you will learn and have fun. :)

He is really cool and outstanding teacher. His tests, and assignment are pretty easy. But on the exams, the discussion questions are very challenging. I recommended that you should take this class. :D

Good teacher, he is very clear about his expectations of you, when and how to do assignments and tests. You do have to work hard in this class in order to get a good grade. My only gripe with him is that he only gives you 65 minutes to finish 60 questions on a test (to prevent cheating. For me I need a little more time to process the questions.

He is funny and honest. He does an amazing job of connecting his lectures to real-world applications. His expectations are clear, and he puts a lot of responsibility on the student. Any student that isn't good at being independent will fall behind and might learn discipline from him. He is amazing and inspiring.

Awesome professor! Very funny, loves to interact with students, and does a great job of teaching the material. Keep in mind, however, that this is a Biology class, which is hard no matter the professor. Study hard for all the tests and take advantage of the few extra credit opportunities that he offers.

He always said, "what you watanabe when you grow up?" I swear it was like his catch phrase, but I sure as heck liked it. Don't remember learning much biology, though I didn't go much, but I loved his teaching style. He talked a lot, and he sounded like an American Sean Connery. Other than that, we didn't disect anything...sad.

He is a medium professor. He isn't too hard or too easy. In order to pass his exams with good grades, you must study his lecture notes that you take in class very well. study for a lot of hours and its a guarantee that you will pass his exam with a c or b or a. Don't study your book when studying sinc ehe makes his exams out of lecture notes.

It was a very tough class, but I was very happy to pass his class with a "B". His tests are very long and the questions seem a little confusing to me. I read that book from front to back and thought that I was learning the material until I took his exams. Overall, I really enjoyed his class and learned a lot from it.

I'm taking his class right now. He is an amazing teacher. I learned so much in his class regardless if it had anything to do with the subject. Gives you a complete different look at life. Pretty cool how he has field trips also. TAKE HIS CLASS if you need environmental bio! the lab and assignments he gives are pretty easy if you are focused.

Knowledgeable teacher. Willing to help. Extremely tough grader. If you are taking a class to fulfill your requirements for transferring and the course is not required for your major. do not take his class. I would reccomend this class to anyone who puts their heart and soul into Bio.you may end up going on field trips to ultimately drop the class.

He is a nice teacher, but a very tough grader. He never curve the grade. I think he could make his classes much easier if he could curve the grade a little bit.

awesome and fair

This is definitely THE best professor I have ever had. He is so engaged in his discussions and knowledgeable about all marine biology, and he makes every class interesting! Make sure you prepare well for tests though!But he is very professional and probably the best professor at Ohlone College;other professors,especially English ones really suck...

Great teacher! His class was hard but as long as you go to lectures and study it should be okay. His labs are really easy. You also need to make sure you do the flashcards online because that will help you and if you do not do them it goes against you. He makes biology really fun to learn. I highly recommend him.

Great professor, fun and clear also helpful. Labs are not complicated. Highly recommend him. Study his slides and do the exercises on line before class. Take enough time to read the on-line book, it is practically digested for you.

His class is really hard. I needed this class to transfer to UC Berkeley but at the end i had to drop this class and ended up going to UC Davis instead of Berkeley. Just because of this class i couldn't get into my dream school. I studies really hard, i read the book and still ended up getting a D in the first test.

He is a good teacher, he gives lots of good analogies for you to understand the lecture. All the stuff in the exams are going to be mentioned during the lecture so make sure you dont skip class. His Labs are pretty easy. This class is hard, but if you study its easy to get an A. I recommend him! You'll definetely know your stuff at the end of sem.

A great teacher! I would take this class again if I could! He is very passionate about biology and will make you realize how much you have to learn about biology, that you do not run out of things to learn about, which is interesting and got me interested in biology even though I would not have taken biology if I wer not required to. Study hard A!

This class was kind of hard. First midterm was easy while the second one, I bombed in. Professor is not that bad, but his class seems challenging. Labs were a bit challenging in this class, as well.

I'm an environmental biology major (so perhaps I'm biased) but I really enjoyed this class. We went on field trips and did research projects. His labs are unconventional and unstructured. You should attend lecture and take good notes, as the tests are based on lectures and are difficult . He's super willing to help you if you just ask for it.

Gave up to 24 exc points during Earth Week. Nice & approachable & engaging during lectures. 2 field trips, easy to get full credit on labs if you're thorough & use all lab time. 1 ppt presentation. Quizzes online are based out of the book. I didn't read much of the text & found the quizzes difficult, even open-book. Study only ppts for test!

In his online class he assigns a lot of work, not that hard, but takes forever to grade it. Includes a trip by yourself to farmers market in SF & interview 3 vendors (pics required). Weekly discussions & quizzes. 2 online articles on current environmental issues every week and write a short summary on each, due at end of semester. 2 tests & final.

Dr. Watanabe has got be one of my favorite professors! He's approachable, easy-going, and extremely passionate about biology. He keeps his students engaged during lectures with his abundant supply of information. Two exams and the final make up the bulk of your grade. Not an easy A, but study his lecture slides religiously and you will pass!! :)

I am not a Bio-anything major, but I found this class to be very interesting. I loved the field trips and the lectures. I wish labs were more structured, but if you put in effort you will get a good grade in lab. Ask questions! He is very nice & wants you to do well. There are 3 tests straight from lectures and a handful of quizzes from the book.

He's a pretty good professor, just a little bit disorganized. The way he explains things is funny and easy to understand, and I enjoyed the field trips. I'd definitely recommend this class, it was way more enjoyable and easier than any other biology course I've taken. He posts his lectures slides online but explains them in class; so go to class!

One of my favorite biology class at Ohlone. Hes a great professor, explains things pretty well and very engaging. I really enjoyed the field trip at the tide pools. He post his slides online and explain them in class. Have your slide ready to take good notes, study them, and you should do fine.

He's a very enthusiastic teacher that loves his job and the subjects he teaches. His enthusiasm is very contagious, and he makes it clear that he wants his students to actually learn the material which is why his tests are more detailed. However, he provides study guides and plenty of resources to help you succeed, all you have to do is put time in

Amazing professor! He is patient, kind& gives awesome lectures. His passion for the environment& science is contagious. It is easy to stay focused& interested during his class. exams are difficult, but he provides clear study guides & goals. I received Ds on my 1st 2 tests, still managed a high B grade. His class is worth the effort! STUDY! :)

This class required a field trip, even for an online class. The grade weighs HEAVILY on the midterm and exam, if you don't perform well on those it will be hard to maintain a good grade. Discussions and weekly quizzes aren't worth much. Easy A if you do the reading.

He is a great instructor. If you want to actually learn something, this class is the class you should take. Final was hard but he did cover everything in the lecture. He was really nice and knowledgeable and definitely passionate about bio. If you wanna transfer to a UC/CSU, this is a great class to take!!

Do not be discouraged by other comments on here; this class is difficult but very doable if you put in the work! There are only a couple midterms and the final exam which make up most of your grade. There is no homework but you should replace that time with studying for his class.

I took his online class and honestly, it wasn't that bad. I expected it to be much worse but he's really flexible if you email him about stuff. There are quizzes & discussions every week, two midterms and one final and two field trips (One actually being just the Ohlone Newark campus). I think if you're going to take him, it needs to be online.

This was the toughest online course I ever took in my life, the first exam I couldnt even finish it and got a C, the exam was setup so you dont have time to cheat, either you know it or you dont. Communication is the key to success in college, I emailed him for in-person meeting and request to take all future exams on site, got a B+ @ the end

Although he knows his stuff, I didn't much care for Professor Watanabe's teaching style. I found his lectures dense and boring at times, and couldn't grasp the material all that well. I did quite badly in the first few tests, but made up at the end primarily through reading a lot from the book. Self study will help you, but lectures can get heavy.

Very helpful, caring professor and willing to give feedback when necessary. Tests are difficult and based on lectures, but overall based on understanding of concepts rather than just memorizing facts. If you have a firm grasp on your own study habits, you will be able to succeed in his classes.

Professor Watanabe is a pretty nice guy if you give him a chance. He's very clearly passionate about his work, which makes learning easier. The biggest downsides are his long lectures and his grade heavy tests. The tests require a lot of time and effort, and are made harder with no study guides. My best advice is to make lots of flashcards.

Very passionate about biology, so class is engaging. Encourages questions & really wants you to understand the material. Gives fun uncle vibes but also well-accomplished marine biologist vibes. No complaints.

Has a lot of energy and uses anecdotes during the lecture to make it more engaging. I guess the best way to put it is that he is the "cool uncle". Very fortunate that he is also passionate in what he does which; the more effort a professor would want to put in their class, the better results it would have on the students.

A fun teacher and passionate about his work. He lives and loves science. Gives off the cool uncle vibe that others mentioned. Has some extra credit opportunities that will help your grade. If you do all the labs and study effectively you will be fine. Best way to learn/study is making resources in flashcards, slideshows, and asking him questions.

An understanding and fun professor to have. All test content comes from lectures and he gives two extra credit opportunities!

You can tell he is passionate about biology. Gives many fun facts in his lectures and personally I find them very interesting. Almost all test content comes from his lecture slides so make sure to go over those and review before exams. Also has extra credit opportunities. Chill guy 👍🏽.

All of the things in his exams are stated CLEAR in the slides and he puts in extra effort to make the class engaging and memorable. He warns people about when they should start studying before the exams (~2 weeks) and is always willing to answer questions and clarify. He frequently helps out in lab and gives straightforward instructions.

Teaches concepts really good. learned alot from his class. based on 3 exams. lectures are long but very interesting and informative. explains in such a way thats not confusing & answers questions. Have to study for the class and put effort in and you will do good. Do not take if you dont want to study or put effort in the class. overall very good

After reading the reviews before the semester, I was skeptical. But I ended up with an A+. This class is 10000% manageable if you are strong in your study habits. EVERYTHING is from the lectures. If you "performatively study", you will NOT get by. More than half the class dropped. He also answers questions and his lectures are interesting at times.