He is fantastic. His midterm was very clear and if you did what he said, you should have done well. And helpfulness? Honestly people, how many other professors put on their lectures so you can re-listen? I haven't had one yet. However, I am not a first year and I have bio knowledge, but be grateful for being able to be taught by one of the best.

Fantastic. Podcasts are amazing! Prof isn't frightening if you speak one on one with him. Very funny, very clear, very good! Mean to his TA though. Do key words and crosswords!

Houseman is a beauty. His lectures are thorough, his humour is hilarious, and he is actually quite nice. Do the keywords and they encompass everything he teaches. There is a reason why he won all those awards. I wish every professor was as dedicated to teaching as him. And he's cute. Fantastic professor, a priviledge to learn from him!

Houseman was the best prof I had first year. He made everything clear and interesting. Gives good hints and advice, follow it and you will be fine. The guy is class! No one better!

he is an amazing prof. 10 out of 10 for excellent teaching skills, biology without him is nothing, take him its an EASY EASY EASY A+. this class will bump up your GPA. midterms and exams are a breeze

He is thorough, clear, straightforward. Very funny videos. Midterms and exam: no surprises;prepares u very well. B nice to him, and he'll b nice to u. Dont ask silly questions-youre wasting time, and making a fool of urself. start studying early for midterm. DO CROSSWORDS! pay attention in class, his powerpts are just keywords. best first yr prof!!

Houseman is a great professor. He is very devoted to his job, and it shows. He lectures very clearly, and his exams have been very fair. The labs are pretty fun too. However, there is a lot of work involved in this course. He is nicer in this course than in BIO1130, too.

This class is very challenging, but Dr. Houseman makes it fun. The labs are great too, except the lab exam is the worst exam you will write. Houseman is a fantastic professor that is very devoted to his job.

Didnt really expect to like organismal bio very much, but he definitely makes it interesting. Fair midterms...exam multiple choice were pretty bad though. DO CROSSWORDS!!

A great professor. Dr. Houseman's lectures are great, very interesting and funny. He can be intimidating and demeaning when students ask questions in class though. He must not check his website material for typos and bad grammar, which is irritating when you can't figure out how a keyword is actually spelt. Go to the lectures and do the crosswords.

i agre with the last student. Tried to talk to him twice but he insulted me both times so nevr went back.

Best. Prof. Ever. I'm saddened that I won't have him as a professor anymore. He is the best at the University of Ottawa!

He's not very approachable, and a bit of a snob, but otherwise he is a very clear and comprihensible professor. Exams focus on key words, and less on concepts, but he provides all of them, and crossword puzzles to study from.

<3 Pretty much in love with this man. Best prof ever.

lol, don't take this course as an elective. *eyeroll* what was i thinking! yes, he's very condescending, but he knows what he's talking about. i dropped the course because it was WAY more work than i had anticipated. on the bright side, he does give you a lot of resources!

Anyone who says hes arrogant, or obnoxious is wrong. Don't get me wrong hes sarcastic but he is always joking and does know exactly what he is talking about. He is my favourite and the best teacher I have had, his crosswords are key, all his online resources are brilliant, and he is one of the few professors that seems to be able to incorporate tec

Great guy. His midterms are a bit too precise but overall i learned alot.

very interesting lectures and tries his best to be funny. midterms kind of hard and precise. has affairs with ta's. seems kind of mean but can't say for sure because i never tried to approach him. replies e-mail. forces you do buy a textbook and makes profit from it (if you don't buy, it, you lose 10% of mark).

His lectures are interesting, and he's good at teaching but he expects too much out of first years. He makes it A LOT harder than it should be, and fails at helping the transition between high school to University science. His midterms are so specific, and the marking is picky. Despite all the memorization you attempt to do, it's more on luck.

His exams aren't that hard. Just do the work. Also, remember his "Voices from the past" that he presents you? Ya, use it... he doesn't mention it for fun. He's pretty nice if you go and talk to him. He still says "Hi" to me when we meet on the street. Loved him, his class, his teaching... everything.

<3 Love him. Amazing, thorough, funny. Brilliant prof!

Use the crosswords! Try to attend as many lectures as possible or make sure you listen to his podcasts! His exams are hard but they're really fair. It is easy to guess what topics he will use for short answer based on the material. I only needed to use the text before the final.

Very arrogant, if you ask a question, expect to be ridiculed in front of a very large auditorium. Too many keywords to learn, and he only tests on a few of them anyway. You think the midterm is going to be easy, until you get in there and it's entirely different material. Not a very good class, but there's no one else to it. Good luck everyone!

Very good at explaining, but VERY hard marker. You have to somehow know the EXACT answers he's looking for in an exam/midterm, even given his vague questions. MUST do the crosswords- they'll save your ass. Also, be prepared to study extremely hard for an average mark.

very very difficult and anal, but really knows his****

All I have to say is I just don't get why this prof is considered average and yet Katie Gilmour another bio prof is rated above average. I think thats messed up. I can barely saty awake in Dr. Gilmore's class and in Houseman's class he captures your intrest. Houseman is a much better prof.

Keeps the class interested, but thats about it. Midterms and exams are horrible as hes anal about the marking. Most arrogant prof I've ever come across.

Very interesting course! Houseman keeps the class interesting. There IS A LOT of material, so don't fall behind. Keywords and crosswords are essential for exams. Try your best to do well in the labs, as the lab exam will bring down your mark.

AWESOME!!!! Best prof at the University of Ottawa!

One of the best professors I have had so far! Knows how to keep the class interesting. Very arrogant so I would suggest not asking questions during class. Questions on the tests and exams are EXTREMELY straight forward, like "what is background extinction." Keep up on the crosswords and keywords and you'll be golden.

he is really good , great resources ... perfect teaching method

Great professor. His personality is irrelevant. Perfect use of resources, interesting lectures, and his exams are very fair IF YOU STUDY.

Awesome prof! Lectures are interesting and relevant. Exams are fair if you study!

He gives you so many tools to succeed! All the lectures are tapped and available online, he provides readings for things not sufficiently covered, key words for each unit... the class can be very hard, but everything is there for you. Though he is not very approachable for help at all... Pro tip: DO THE CROSSWORDS AND REVIEW QUIZZES!!!

One of the best professors I've had so far. Clear, concise expectations, amazing use of resources, will answer majority of questions asked in class and exams are fair. You must study to do well but he gives you all the resources needed to do so. Interesting and extremely knowledgable. Only prof to teach this class but I highly recommend him anyway.

Professor Houseman's has a great sense of humour when teaching. He provides many resources, and it is your choice as a student to take them or not. Make sure to write notes logically, that way it's easier to review after.

As a prof, he's the best of the best! Lectures are kept interesting, he speaks with enthusiasm, and really explains things well. It is ESSENTIAL that you study and review the material often - you learn A LOT in this course and it can get overwhelming! Very strict marker on midterms & exams. Study, understand the material, and you should do well.

He's a good teacher, but he makes the exams really hard to make up for the fact that the course content is really easy. If you read the keywords and do the crosswords, you should be fine. He's a little monotone. zgood luck!

Professor Houseman is one of my favourite profs. His exams aren't easy, but knowing the material is your own responsibility, not his. Do the readings, do the keywords, do the crosswords, and do the past midterms/exams. Basically, just know Organismal Biology so well that you can connect many concepts together.

He's a great prof, very engaging, and can be hilarious at times. I highly recommend going to his lectures because it helps make the connections to other concepts you're going to learn about. Use his podcasts for studying only!! If you want a good mark, then you'll have to invest time and effort into it consistently.

Not a bad prof at all, sometimes misleading whether information is relevant. If you want a good mark deffinatly need to invest some time.

He's a really sick prof, very cool and makes great lectures. He's one of the most organized. His Mid Terms to some degree are challenging, but if you put the effort in then you will receive a good grade. Everything is online on his site, and he makes crosswords,podcasts, and the sort to really help the students learn. Amazing prof.

Houseman is an awesome prof! Make sure you attend the lectures, and listen to the podcasts to make better notes. There are a million keywords, and aren't necessary if you know the material. If you actually listen to lectures the midterms and final reflected what is covered.

Oh my goodness Houseman...that Prof's midterms aren't hard but if you don't write the most concise definitions and descriptions on the evaluation you will be denied so many points. Old midterms and crosswords are a must...don't bother going to the exam without practicing them!

Very good prof. Very organized and definitely gives you the tools to succeed. This is not an easy class but the work load isnt too bad. All you really need to do is study for the midterms and the finals. You need to study well though.He`s a little mean but i guess thats necessary if you`re teaching 1100 students...

Excellent guy. Kinda mean sometimes but overall is a great teacher, he can TEACH. I highly suggest attending the lectures and watching every single podcast, hearing the material twice helps lock it in. Keywords... not mandatory if you know your stuff. TAKE NOTES, his lectures give the perfect info needed, didn't even need to used the text book.

He is pretty fair in the end. Answers your questions, has good classes. Good overall effort. Midterms were harder than the final

Great lecturer, but I despise the exams

Although he does come off arrogant/intimidating, the course itself is very well made. The crosswords are used as fill in blanks on his tests, the MCs from previous tests are reused, and the podcasts are sweet, so use all of them. Reading the textbook is not necessary to ace the midterms/exam, but the material is not pure memorization and it is hard

DO THE CROSSWORDS, also his practice exams on cengage is very helpful. His exams are very fair and he's willing to bellcurve the exam. Very enjoyable course

Best lecturer at this university. If you do the crosswords and the cengage now quizzes, you pretty much have a B right there.

Amazing lecturer. Go to class, don't skip because podcasts are online- use them as a study tool. Crosswords, Cengage quizzes & some keywords are all you need for studying along with lecture review. Exams are really fair if you STAY ON TOP of everything. One of the best profs at UO. Interesting, clear & fair. Takes a while to answer questions though

Have a look at the keywords before each lecture and look out for them in the lectures. Go to class!! Then make time to watch the podcasts and write EVERY word he says. Even if it's listening to the podcasts on the bus while reading over his blurbs do some bio every school day. He makes bio enjoyable but make no mistake this is NOT a bird course.

Excellent prof! The lectures are good, he keeps it interesting. Do all the keywords,cengage quizzes and crosswords, listen to the podcasts and do the readings. This course takes effort! Favourite prof so far!

He is the BEST prof, really cares about the class and tries to make it interesting (little jokes, sarcastic comments and videos). In both midterms he gave us extra marks (once by mistake and the other to help us out) but the course itself is really hard. Go to CLASS, do the KEYWORDS, practice the CROSSWORDS, and READ the TEXTBOOK.

He makes sure to explain things, and you can understand him unlike other profs. H provides alot of study tool which is awesome. Funny guy, but arrogant. He will not hesitate to make fun of stupid questions asked in class, and he has SO MANY key terms. practice midterms and crosswords are word for word on exam

He is a very good professor, very innovative approach to teaching. He records every lecture on a podcast so that you can listen to it again off of his website (he does not use virtual campus) however, dont assume that you can skip lecture. His exams are extremely difficult and usually are based on the lectures rather than the text.

Nicer in this class than BIO1130. Podcasts will save your life, and test marking is very rigid, so don't expect any marks back from re-markings. Lab exam Labs are every week and lab final is ridiculous. Be sure to make Digidiv your best friend, it takes getting used to but all the information is nicely organized there.

Presentation is fluid, interesting, funny and clear. This is a very organized course with a ton of tools to ensure success. Regarding the posts about his personality, I would rather have HIM than a nice guy who's course is hard to follow. I really like his courses and have always done well with hard work, I'll keep taking courses with him.

So he can be mean and not very well-liked by many people, but what you can't deny is that he is a GREAT prof. Extremely clear, informative, and interesting lectures. It is a lot of work - do the crosswords, the readings he wrote himself on his site, keywords, and go over his lectures and it actually isn't too hard to do well in his class

Great prof, may be tough but hes extremely knowledgeable in what he does. So organized too!

If you do not have to take this course, DO NOT TAKE IT! He is the hardest marker I have ever met.

Awesome prof, explains if you have questions that aren't stupid. If they are, he'll tear you apart. Hilarious, but you'll need to study for his course.

Hard prof, but if you pay attention and do ALL keywords, relate them to slides and textbook, you will do good!

Pros: amazing organization, he has been researching teaching to large classes for the past 10 years, clear, humorous, podcasts available if class was missed, crosswords and keywords. However he is really rigid in his marking. This is not a class you can start studying for the night before an exam.

I'd be more interested in this course in 20 years when the material is more absolute.He tells you exactly what you need to do to succeed and gave us generous bell curves on both of the midterms. Look at the past midterms because a fair amount is recycled from year to year. I liked the Dr. Houseman but not the course.

Very interesting guy and he honestly seems to have the students interest at heart when it comes to learning the material but his exams are pretty hard. Mostly study what he just briefly goes over in class cause chances are that's what will be on the exam. and the keywords and crosswords are really helpful.

A great professor. People who complain about how his exams are not "based" the lecture just don't know how to study at all. I didn't get a particularly good mark because I didn't study the right way. His exams are very fair and he has little summaries and textbook readings on his website that are extremely helpful.

He was very interesting and knowledgable. The course is easy to get a good mark in as long as you take good notes in class and do the crosswords he posts online. He could be a bit rude at times but was an excellent prof as far as teaching the content is concened.

Although his midterms are tough, he does give a fairly large amount of hints for them. After the first midterm you will learn how to study for his tests. He is actually a really good professor and is very passionate about what he teaches. Assignments are REALLY easy! Just study lots and you will do fine.

Houseman is extremely knowledgeable, and very passionate about what he teaches. He is one of the best lecturers I have had in my four years at uO. He is very blunt, but if you ask a reasonable question, he is more than willing to help. Do the assignments, and the crosswords. All of these are major midterm hints!

Probably the best lecturer I will ever have; really knows his stuff. You may think the course content is easy, but make sure you know everything before the exams. Exams seemed to focus on specific topics instead of the overall concepts, forcing you to memorize everything. Marking scheme is VERY rigid, don't be surprised if you do poorly on them.

Good lecturer. Yes, there's a ton of material, but there's nothing on the exam he didn't cover in a lecture UNLESS it's on a crossword. I've never seen a keyword on the exams that he didn't go over in class. Do the crosswords, and memorize the keywords he expounded on in class (and make your definitions using your class notes), and you'll do fine.

Great lecturer with a dry sense of humour who really knows what he's talking about. I liked him! Condescending on occasion (okay, most of the time), but as long as you don't ask stupid questions and use the resources he gives you, BIO1130 is not THAT bad. The midterms do focus on very specific things, however, so start early and memorize!

Great lecturer, really knows the content and material... sometimes a little too well, in the case of the midterm content. Make sure to set aside plenty of study time before the midterms and final, he's very nitpicky on long answer and definitions. Overall, very enjoyable class.

Excellent lecturer. He is very necessary for first and second year students. He knows what he's doing and he does it very well. Don't expect an easy A, he teaches fundamental biology courses which need your efforts. I am now doing reviews of my previous professors as I am entering my graduate school. He was one of the top teachers I had.

One of my favourite classes of my first semester at University, inspiring me to become a Biology major. Houseman is an amazing lecturer and you MUST take good notes during class in order to do well in the course. Midterms and final were fair. The material is very interesting but there is a lot so don't fall behind!

This course is difficult, especially if you're aiming for A's. Professor Houseman is very comprehensible and an excellent lecturer. The midterms and final exam were unfair, in the marking aspect; we had to mention very specific things to earn the points. Keywords are essential. Do the crosswords before midterms and final exam. Good luck :)

One of the best lecturers first year. He is very clear with his notes. His crosswords and previous exams are extremely useful as he recycles all his questions. Don't just look at the previous midterms he posted on his site, google his name to find more. His midterms and finals are tough but he does bell-curve the midterms and NOT the final.

Amazing lecturer, always captivating and keeps interest high. Midterms and Finals were a little tough, very specific marking schemes, which detracted from the overall course, but as a prof, very good and engaging.

Not my favourite class, but it wasn't too bad. Make sure to take good notes and pay attention. Do the keywords/crosswords but don't spend forever on them... some do appear on midterms/the final but theres A LOT of words. Midterm and final were pretty easy if you took good notes and reviewed key points/ideas.

A very good lecturer, I'd say definitly go through his podcasts (it will save alot of time!!) instead of searching all over the internet for keywords (his lectures explain them well enough), also his lectures explain other concepts so podcasts are very key** make sure get everyword in class !! because his Tests are specific/difficult **

HIS MIDTERMS ARE BRUTAL, BUT HIS LECTURES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

This guy is obsessed with bugs..Has pretty intersting lectures Def should rewatch the lectures,

"Okay, we might as well get ourselves settled in and get started" is all that will truly sick in your mind. Just kidding, it is a great course and Houseman does a great job explaining all the key points. Its a lot of material so it moves quickly but just do the crosswords before examples and its easy to figure out the key points to study.

Dr. Houseman is awesome! Sure, he can be pretty scary to approach one-on-one, but he puts A LOT of effort into teaching. He's engaging; his website is very helpful, and the podcasts are a god send. I'm not the biggest fan of the exam format, but everything else 100% makes up for it. Take his class; he'll be your best 1st year professor, guaranteed.

Great professor, amazing teaching tools, and can make lectures very interesting. The amount of effort he has put into the course is outstanding. Tests are tough but with the correct studying they can be done well. Don't buy the text book, not used at all.

A good lecturer with some really difficult midterms/finals. He rushed the material near the end though. Read up on the material beforehand or after class or you'll be bogged down by the amount of material he goes through. He also can't spell to save his life so his keywords/crosswords have all sorts of errors.

The tools that he provides are quite useful. I loved that he had podcasts if you missed class. Like others said, do the keywords/crosswords. Those two things will help you greatly on the midterms/final. The concepts are not complicated and he makes the class interesting. Textbook was not used but you may need it for BIO1140.

Houseman has a terrible rep at uOttawa, but I'm not really sure why. Yes, he has difficult tests and midterms and there is a lot of work to do in order to do well in the course, but that would be the case regardless of who the prof was. I found him to be quite approachable and helpful and he gives you access to everything you need to do well.

very precise and great lecturer. He can be a bit picky with tests, but nothing to worry over. Do the crosswords over again and keywords, everything will be okay.

The best lecturer in first year, also the hardest class in first year... If you can get through this, you can get through any other first year course. Wasted $150 on the textbook, never opened it. Re-watch lectures. For midterms & final I just mastered keywords and crosswords. Midterm 1 class average: 59 Midterm 2: 54 Goodluck!

Easily the best lecturer I've had since starting here. He's pretty arrogant (especially speaking to him one on one), but as a teacher at the front of the class he was great. Interesting lectures, material, and funny lil stories. Don't piss him off, he'll rip you a new one in front of the whole class. Textbook, crosswords, and keywords all helpful!

Overall a really good prof, he's a really good lecturer and makes his lectures fun. Sometimes, he strays from the topic but other than that, a great prof! I found him somewhat picky in his marking scheme for midterms and finals but if you study hard, you can do well. Crosswords help a lot. I didn't use the textbook even once during the semester.

Excellent lecturer! Assignments are infrequent and easy, just google the questions. Labs are stupid easy. Midterms/final were challenging. Do crosswords and you're good for MC + fillintheblank, but for definitions and long answer, you need to guess what key points he wants you to say. Do keywords well in advance. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.

Dr. Houseman is a really great prof. He keeps the material interesting and he is quite entertaining. He's a great lecturer but the course is quite a lot of work. Make sure you stay on top of notes , don't fall behind. DO THE CROSSWORDS AND KEYWORDS! Review the podcasts. He tends to drop off marks on midterms to improve the class average. Good luck!

Do the key words and crosswords. Don't leave the keywords till the end = bad idea. Do the reading on his site they are helpful for exams. Do the past midterms, many m/c are repeated. Not a hard class to pass if u understand the material he discussed in lectures. Podcasts are very helpful to reviews material. Not as scary as people say

Awesome website! Sassy but I loved his quirky ways. He was quite funny and entertaining. Lots of material to cover, very interesting! Do the crosswords and reading on his website. Don't stress to much about the keywords, use them to test yourself.

Houseman is a great lecturer. He gives lots of chances, especially with his fill in the blank that you can get the answers from his crossword. The exam is very difficult so try and do as best on the midterms as you can't. This is not the easiest course but he isn't a mean guy the course is just hard and people tend to not study.

I thought he was a great prof. I only took BIO2135 because of him

A true intellectual. An amazing lecturer and educator. Other professors should attend his class to see what impeccable teaching looks like. His class is a lot of work but it's simple - work hard = you will be rewarded with a good grade. Very interesting course especially for a first year class. Dr. Houseman makes it's absolutely worthwhile.

TBH the podcasts do have their benefits, but they make u lazy to attend class and u end up watching them the night before the midterm absorb so much info. THe amount of material u need to know is RIDICULOUS! He is a very picky marker but everything on an exam has been covered. Expect to be a B or C student if u start studying 2 days before an exam.

Basically, houseman has great lectures and he's pretty helpful. The lectures are hilarious but cover almost nothing on the exam. So you MUSTS READ THE TEXTBOOKS. And also, A REAL MID-TERM KILLER!!!! He has tons of keywords, which you have to remember because they will definitely appear on the exams. Mid-terms feel like filling up a dictionary.

Great prof. Taking another of his courses for sure. Really funny guy, and gives a lot of chances to get a good grade.

This class is tough but really interesting. Show up ready to listen and take good notes. Houseman has a class website with great resources for you to use. He has set this class up to be challenging, but has made great effort to provide everything for you to succeed. You just need to take responsibility and put the work in.

Like any Science course you will have to work for a good grade but all tests and exams are fair despite the large amount if content. Not an extremely approachable professor but not bad to speak to one on one when you have a specific question.

The rumours are true! He is indeed a tough grader. If you do not like organismal bio, you won't be liking this course one bit. The labs help boast your grade, and he does bell curve the midterms. He gives lots of resources (if you have the time) to do well. He is funny during the lectures but a little intimidating outside of class.

Yes, Houseman is a tough grader and his marking scheme is extremely specific BUT he is a phenomenal lecturer and will teach you 95% of what you need in class. Tips to succeed: make notes primarily from the podcastslectures, do crosswords a couple times (free marks!), and only do the keywords that you don't know.

Amazing lecturer! However, he is not very helpful outside class. Fill in the blanks are taken from his Crosswords. Keywords help with definitions but DON'T FOCUS ON IT; they're NOT everything. Focus instead on making sense of all the info given to you; organize them into your head like one big story; this will definitely help for long answers

Okay lets get settled in, get started. Houseman has a lot of rumours surrounding him but he is a good guy. It is crystal clear how hard his course is and he tells you in his course guide. A word of caution, key words are only part of the deal. You need to read and re-watch his lectures because otherwise you will suffer. Enough Said.

Dr. Houseman gets a bad rap, which is very undeserved. Definitely one of my favourite profs. Use his resources, be prepared, and definitely as him questions if you're not clear on something! He is very intelligent and a phenomenal teacher!

I've taken 2 courses with Dr. Houseman and he is one of the best lecturers iv had at university. he keeps his lectures very interesting, but he goes very fast and there is a lot of information in the hour and a half lecture. His exams are brutal, he's a very picky and stubborn marker. His courses require a lot of work!!

At the time I took this class I thought he was a brutal prof, but looking back now I know that if I had actually put in a little more effort, this class was an easy A. His tests were basically regurgitating his notes, there were no "trivial" or think hard questions. So if you want to do well, do the crosswords, listen to podcasts, and memorize!

I have a lovehate thing with this prof. His exams are marked very harshly but if you study properly you should do well! Mutiple choice questions are from old exams and the crosswords. Fill in the blanks are all in the crosswords. Short answer questions are the keywords. Long answer questions are the hardest; incorporate keywords and be exact.

Dr. Houseman knows his stuff (passionate about bio.). Must watch podcasts at least twice before exams. SPLIT keywords with a friend. DO the crosswords. Read his online extra resources. Takes notes in class wt a laptop. Marking scheme is totally unfair and tough. If that's a deal breaker for you, take equivalent of class in french if you can

Definitely not an easy professor; his midterms definitely require practice, you should definitely go to the lectures, and read the textbook. However, he has a lot of resources to give you the practice he needs, the lectures are interesting, and are also recorded. So even though it's not easy, it is fun.

I loved Houseman's class! Lots of people complain about his marking, which, granted is tough, but I found it to be quite fair. Really funny guy, made lectures interesting with jokes and funny videos. I never touched the textbook or keywords, just did his crosswords and reviewed my notes, and came out with a decent grade. 1010 would take again.

It's not that he's tough, it's more that there's a lot of material to cover. You NEED to keep up with and review everything in a timely fashion. The little details matter. Making study groups will definitely help for his class. Also: he makes crosswords. THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY FREE POINTS ON TESTS. Make sure you do them for practice.

He's my favourite prof in my first semester of university. He's a great lecturer, but incredibly hard marker. Be ready to study and memorize. He's not the greatest person, personality-wise, and he is sometimes pretty rude. However, he's really funny, and he does care a tiny bit about your success. Do the keywords and the crosswords. DO THEM.

Honestly if you want to do good in his class, watch the podcasts and take detailed notes as if you are writing a script. Memorize these notes. Also do the cross words!! You can pass the midterms by just doing the crosswords alone. Find as much previous midterms as you can and do those questions, since he reuses them

Dr. Houseman provides excellent tools to ensure that you can learn the material. Lectures are recorded online, and he gives crosswords and summaries as well as textbook readings. The amount of material is huge but if you put enough work in, it's doable. Houseman can often be condescending, but the course is mandatory.

Keys to A+: 1. Completely dissect his podcasts and take notes on EVERY detail 2. Memorize those notes 3. Do crosswords (free marks!) 4. Look at keywords to make sure you know them all, but DO NOT waste time writing notes for them. Everyone studies differently, but there's a very specific way to succeed w/ Houseman and this is what worked for me.

Let's settle in and start this review. Houseman is a great lecturer; his class is always interesting to listen to (unless it's the 3 hours on plants). The tests are difficult as there are many keywords to learn and only a few are really tested on in full. The labs for the class are great and they help your average. Best of luck!

The man is a brilliant lecturer, however he gets super sassy if you ask stupid questions. If it's not a well thought out Q, he'll just sass you out. His tests were okay, but a lot of the time the definition questions were about things he mentioned like once, briefly in a lecture. On tests do fill in blanks 1st, then MC, then Defs, then Long Answers

Dr. Houseman is a great lecturer, but is so cynical. Don't ask him a question in class or he'll make fun of you. He's a hard prof and is so picky when it comes to writing answers, but if you have to take him then make sure you have time to study for his class and prioritize it. If you can take this class in French then do so.

Dr Houseman's lectures were long but they could be interesting if you stay focused. Take notes for every single sentence he says in his lectures since his exams are basely mainly on what he talks about in class and the keywords/crosswords. Don't waste your money on the textbooks; you can get an A+ without them as long as you attend the lectures.

Must go to class omg do not depend on the podcast. I relied on him posting it online, and I cried for the whole 16 hours I spent before the final exam watching all the lectures I missed. Just go to class and do the crossword.

Anything he mentions in class is fair game for midterms/finals. Is intimidating and gets annoyed easily when you ask questions, so I'd suggest referring to the text first if you can. GREAT lecturer though; very easy to understand. For keywords, focus on the crosswords and words related to those; don't just memorize each keyword individually.

Not as bad as people say he is. Don't ask questions if he already said it. Entertaining classes. Great lecturer. Watch the podcasts, don't rely on them. Keywords are helpful, there are 3 points for each keyword on the exams. Do and memorize the crosswords, they are used in the fill in the blank on the exams. Textbook is not very useful but can be.

Amazing prof! His lectures are super interesting and he teaches the material really well. His exams are a bit tough, but as long as you understand the material (and go to class) they shouldn't be bad! Make sure to use the resources he provides on his website, they're super helpful.

He's a good talker. Lectures are fun to attend. He gives you a lot of material to prepare you for his exams. Make sure you watch the podcasts 2-3 times before every exam and make notes. Attend the class; things stick more easily that way. Do only the keywords you think you have no idea about. His midterms were hard but the final was okayish

It was a really tough class, a lot of content and the midterms and exam were difficult. He is a great lecturer though, very dynamic. The whole class is very well organized, use the resources available to you. There are podcasts but they don't replace going to class.

Good class! Very well organized! Prof gives you all the material you need to succeed, just takes time to make use of it all. Do the crosswords, they show up as the fill in the blank questions on the midterms and finals! Stay on top of material all along, don't leave it till the last day. Only take this class if you have to, not a good elective!

Very entertaining and was always looking forward to the next joke he was going to say. I always went to class and would have to re-watch the podcasts for every class because there is so much material and so much said that you dont have enough time to write or type it all down. DO THE CROSSWORDS. Word for word fill in the blanks are on the tests.

The key to doing well in this class is studying material from a variety of sources: his lectures/rewatching podcasts, the crosswords, the blurbs on his website, and the textbook. It's a lot of work, but manageable if you start early. Labs and quizzes are mark boosters. The prof is a good lecturer and is very knowledgable, but can be condescending.

Everyone will tell you to be afraid of him, but don't listen. He has clear, funny, engaging lectures and provides you with a ton of resources for studying. He will do his best to help you succeed, but he's not going to hand it to you on a silver platter. Go to class and do the crosswords and you will do just fine.

Lectures are v organized, online blurbs reinforce concepts, txtbook readings give you extra examples and the crosswords basically hand you 20 free marks when it comes to midterms/final. First midterm is tricky bc you might not understand his grading till you see what you did wrong. PODCASTS. Didnt go to any lectures after reading week, & did fine.

Awesome prof, a tough grader and he expects you to really get to know the subject. He provides everything you need to know through lectures, digidiv and his labs. Also, try to memorize the crossword answers for easy points on midterms/exams!

cherish this prof while you can. While there is a ton of material and you will find yourself crying before the midterms and exam, he provides you with all the resources you need and his midterms are not a surprise if you studied hard for them, you'll miss him once you get to second semester biology lol.

Best prof

He is one of the best profs I've had. His tests are really detailed and you need to study for them. If you don't study you're unlikely to pass, but just a little bit of studying and you're good. He explains the material really well, but you have to be in class to benefit because not all of it is caught on the podcast.

Houseman can be unforgiving but he is a fantastic lecturer. The key to doing well in any of his courses is writing down every word he says like a transcript and using that to study. He does give you lots of resources to succeed and expects his students to use them. He always adds 0.7% to your final grade and bell curves the exams.

Funny guy, Interesting lectures

The course he teaches is extremely complicated and FULL of information. His exams are also graded very strictly. However, he has MANY resources on his website that make the learning extremely effective. If you put the effort in and use his resources effectively you will learn a ton and do well! His lectures are great and interesting and he's funny!

I was honestly very scared coming into this class because I heard so many bad things about him, but he is such a good professor who really knows his material and is passionate about what he is teaching. May be a little arrogant and all of the information tested is based on what he says word-for-word - so read his blurbs and pay attention in class!

To pretty much summarize it, Houseman is an amazing professor, he really seems to love what he's doing and explains everything in his lectures detail by detail. BUT, his exams are the hardest things you will ever do in your entire life. You think you understand everything, and BOOM. Nope, you failed.

Dr. Houseman was the Prof I was warned about. Though his marking scheme is tremendously hard, I looked forward to his lectures. He is very knowledgeable in the subject, conveying the material in an effective matter. The course is very interesting, if you can take all the information in. There is a lot of work involved in studying but it is worth it

His website is incredible, he gives you -exactly- what you need to succeed in his class. He's not easy to talk to, at all, but his lectures are top notch. Be sure you know exactly what is going on, because if you word a definition or mechanism weird or incorrectly, it is wrong, he can be pretty specific that way.

Funny guy. Lecture material is EXTREMELY BORING. Podcasts saved my life. Study early or else you will hate yourself. Answers to questions are extremely specific, so don't try to guess.

Class was really interesting, and lectures were engaging. Expects you to know absolutely everything.

Great prof who is really passionate about his subject. Lectures are engaging and surprisingly interesting for a first year course. Midterms and final exam are hard because you are expected to know everything that was mentioned in class, but if you study early and take advantage of the resources that he provides then you'll be fine

I loved Houseman. You'll hear a lot of negative things about him, but he's a real gem, especially for first years. His lectures were engaging, and he has a way of just keeping the class' attention for the whole time he has. The class was very organized, he was very clear in what was expected. It is sad to see him retire.

The legendary Jon Houseman was the best lecturer I've had so far! He is very knowledgeable about what he teaches.

Honestly the best prof

At first, Houseman is not going to be a great professor until you adjust to how he teaches. Everything you need to know he'll talk about in the lectures. However, when he tells you to review his keywords, DON'T, there's just too many. Just write super clear notes for every lecture, and use his podcasts to fill in blanks.

I was enjoying the course and doing well on the midterms and quizzes.... and then the lab exam happened :(

Take notes (he's an amazing lecturer), do the readings, and make definitions for the keywords each week! don't fall behind with this, they're important. Study the keywords like mad and Do. The. Crosswords. If I could put it in bold type I would. DO THE CROSSWORDS. I had him again for Animal Form and Function and it's the same thing. I love him<3

Professor Houseman is AMAZING! I loved taking all of his courses. I took every single one of them. He was very thorough and if you went to class and studied then you could easily succeed in his courses. Absolutely amazing professor. Very professional and intelligent in his field. TAKE HIS COURSES!!!