I loved Dr. Kurdziel. She helped me so much more than Dr. Olson did in the first part of the course. If you go to her office hours, she's more than happy to help and even remembers your name to ask about it later on.

I really liked Kurdziel.. A lot of people found her boring but most people also didn't like biology to begin with. If you put in the effort, she is really nice and helpful, and the class will be easy, but don't expect to slack off and do well.

lets just say that she is facinated with sex. but in seriousness, she really is clear in her explanations and a very good teacher. whenever i emailed her about a problem, she would give me more than enough information to help explain and get back with me in plenty of time.

She is very clear explaining materials. Also she is very nice. I think if you have good GSI who gives u good grades on homework and research projects, easy A .. Her tests are very clear.. 25 multiple choice and short answers. Taking notes will be very helpful. Easier than I thought.

Her tests are easier than Dr. Olsen's, but Dr. Olsen is a far superior lecturer. Kurdziel is always tripping over her words, saying "umm" and "like", and talks way too fast. However, she is willing to help clear things up if you just go to office hours. Second half of 162 is much easier b/c of her

She is a very nice teacher, if you are just starting out in college this is the type of professor that you want to have. The material is not hard at all and she likes to get to know her students.

The professor did a great job of making the lectures interactive and interesting. Her tests are more challenging than what you would expect for an introductory course, but it's a four credit class with no lab so what should you really expect? plus, discussion attendance counts for almost half your grade.

Nice lady. Did a good job facilitating discussion, and made the class enjoyable. Can't advocate for BIO 162, but for other smaller classes like this I imagine she would do a good job. Willing to help students that need it.

Her slides are alright. Not too hard to pay attention in class. She just writes her tests to be so impossible. Discussions in BIO 171 were absolutely worthless. Overall, not a great teacher. She doesn't really care how you do in her class

This really wasn't that bad of a class. I found it much easier than the chemistry classes at Michigan. Lecture can be really boring but as long as you pay attention and take good notes you don't even need to open the book. Just study exactly what she covered in lecture. I made notecards for every test based off the slides and I ended up with an A

I took this class eventhough I had a social science major and I'm glad I took it. The lectures were fun, engaging, and you learn a lot. The tests are pretty hard, as all intro classes seem to be. I read the book for the first test and got a B+. However I only studied the notes for the next 3 tests and got A-s for all 3. Overall a good prof.

Class was extremely boring. Biggest issue, the course description says for non-scientist...that means have EXTENSIVE bio experience in order to pass. Exams suck and have wordy essay questions that are weighted the same as the multiple choice questions. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!

Lecture slides provide pretty much everything you need. Tests cover A LOT of material because of the detail

Her lectures were generally interesting, and she's really not as bad as you might think from reading some of the other comments here. Exams were easy and straightforward as long as you memorized everything on the lecture slides.

She's really helpful if you're feeling lost. She's really not that bad. The test are pretty difficult, start studying early.

Dr. Kurdziel is a very nice lady but her lectures are really boring. She's clearly interested in the subject and so am I, but I would often find myself zoning out. The good news is all you need are the lecture slides to do well, but you need to know the slides very very well. Discussion in Bio 171 is stupid, a lot of work for very few points.

test questions can be tricky but she is very clear in lecture and makes a honest effort to help

I didn't think much of this class considering it's an entry level bio course, however, it can actually be more difficult than it seems. I found the book helpful and questions usually come straight from her powerpoints. Just don't get behind, it's hard to catch up again.

Professor Kurdziel is really enthusiastic about what she teaches. Even though sometimes her lectures are kind of boring, she explains all the material pretty well and the exams aren't too bad if you study ahead of time. Discussions can be kind of boring though.

Kurdziel genuinely cares about biology and ecology especially. Lectures are really hard to pay attention to, but not manditory. The entire tests are pretty much straight from the lectures. A lot of memorization is needed so study A LOT. Not too bad if you put in significant effort. Discussion sucks and is a lot of work for little points.

It is quite evident that Dr.Kurdziel truly loves the subject she teaches. Although the lecture are occasionally boring, she is very clear and explains the material thoroughly. The material itself is not too difficult, but the way the class is designed (straight scale, tricky exams) can make it more difficult than it seems.

I thought Kurdziel was good teacher. She was passionate about the subject and was clear in lecture. Tests can be tough, but they come straight off of the slides. She is very helpful in office hours especially.

I think Dr. Kurdziel is quite underrated on here. Even though the class is not easy, she REALLY cares about everyone's success as her students, and she'll hold 2-hour review sessions a few days before each exam. I can only hope that my future professors are as caring and passionate as she is. May be intimidating at first but such a nice woman.

Best bio teacher ever. Seriously knows what she's talking about, wouldn't have done well without her. AWESOME.

She's a great professor! Some of her lectures may be a little dry; however, she really knows her stuff and is very helpful when answering questions.

I don't always write reviews on professors, but when I do, it's for Dr. Kurdziel. Smart, funny, incredibly kind. She's like the cool evolutionary biologist aunt I never had. She can come off a little brusque, but when it comes down to it she really cares about her students and wants everyone to succeed. Not an easy A though, so be forewarned.

Her lectures were pretty boring, she would read directly from her slides. I eventually stopped going to lecture because she would post them all online and I found it to be a better use of my time to read them on my own. Also all the tests are from the information on her slides more so than the readings.

Dr. K is absolutely wonderful! Her lecture slides are colorful and illustrated with pictures to help you understand the material. She is very helpful and always answers e-mails. She really invests a lot of time into her students and wants them to succeed.

Dr. Kurdziel was super helpful. She provides tons of resources to make sure you do well in her class. As long as you read the book and do the homework, there's no need to go to lecture. The slides are posted online anyway. She really knows what she's talking about, and she's quirky so if you do go to the lecture, it's entertaining.

She is honestly a sweetheart, and it's obvious that she really wants everyone to do well. This class is also much easier than I expected overall. I didn't study as much as I should have, and I still got a high B.

Dr. Kurdziel is a great professor. She is very clear and so passionate about what she teaches. A lot of people think her lectures are boring, but if you actually pay attention they can be quite interesting. If you study the lecture you will do fine in this class, there is nothing on exams that aren't in lectures. I would highly recommend her.

Dr. Kurdziel is a pretty good professor. I wouldn't say she's the friendliest, and she doesn't always respond to emails. Other than that, she's very clear and provides plenty of resources (like old exams.) Just study the slides and you'll be fine.

Kurdziel is a good professor. She is kind and very knowledgeable. Her exams are very tricky and designed to really test your knowledge and understanding, not just memorization. Fight for every point, for the class is not curved at all. She is clear and direct, kind and caring, but not so much as to leave a lasting impression.

Kurdziel is a good lecturer. She is always clear and definitely knows her stuff. The class itself was pretty hard, but you will do well if you put in the effort.

awesome lecturer, super sweet. I loved her

Joe is so sweet! I really enjoyed her class. She presented the material very clearly (sometimes it got a little boring though). She was very eager to help me when ever I had trouble. Love her!

Each test was packed with a lot of information, but if you really study the slides and attend lecture/discussion, getting an A is definitely possible. She lets you retake the multiple-choice section of each exam with a group in order to earn extra credit. Joe talks a bit fast, but she is a great professor and really wants to help you succeed.

Took IB Biology in HS so this class was very easy. Discussion sections have short homework assignments. Didn't read much, only to answer the open-for-weeks, unlimited-attempt quizzes; lecture slides sufficient for exam. Multiple choice & short answer questions, also MC done again in groups to boost grade. Answers emails, never went to office hours.

Pre-discussion work and discussion in general is not fun and extremely annoying. But Kurdziel is a great professor. I really enjoyed her lectures and she gives you all of the information you need. Not too difficult to get a decent grade if you study

Great Professor! Funny too

If you have never done any previous insect collecting, this will be one of the the hardest classes you will ever take. Not that the material is hard to grasp, although Jo makes sure to make her exams super challenging. The workload, however, is nuts. Other than that, Dr. Kurdziel is incredibly sweet and supportive.

Unless you absolutely adore biology, this class is going to be boring no matter what. Kurdziel wasn't the most interesting professor, but she got the material through pretty clearly. I recommend her because she's not a bad lecturer, the subject is just kind of boring. You will fall asleep during the lectures.

Kurdziel is nice and all that, but her exams don't really reflect the difficulty of the practice exams she posts. The concepts are easier than 172, but this doesn't make the class easier to get a better grade in. If you're good at math/physics you will really like the Hardy-Weinberg and population growth stuff.

Dr. Kurdziel was awesome! Bio 171 is a difficult course, but Kurdziel made this class easy to understand. Her lectures are crystal clear (go to every lecture, she leaves info out of her slides on purpose) and she's a great lecturer! Her office hours are awesome and she will help you with whatever you need, no question. Thanks, Dr. Kurdziel!

Dr. K has a very clear-cut teaching style. She skips all the fluff and is precise in her explanations and definitions. I am taking her Bio 100 class, which is a breeze if you're willing to put in minimal attention at lecture (textbook isn't even a factor). She is always willing to help out if you have any questions, and she's quite brilliant too

Dr. Kurdziel is a great lecturer and really cares about her students. It's an intro bio class at U of M, so it's not going to be easy, but she presents the info in a way that makes it easier to study. Do the pre-reading, go to lecture and discussion, and study outside of class and an A is not that hard to get.

Dr. Kurdziel was an interesting lecturer (most of the time) and kept the material clear. Take advantage of her office hours, she is very helpful and really a nice lady. She makes the exams tough because it is a weeder class so if you're willing to work hard, an A is achievable.

Somehow whenever I go to lecture, I always get bored and don't pay attention. It's not necessarily Kurdziel's fault, but the material is just boring. She writes fairly straightforward exams, but that doesn't mean that they are easy. She is obligated to separate the "good students" from the "bad students" because most people in the class are pre-med

I actually liked Dr. Kurdziel a lot, made fairly boring material a little more interesting in lectures. If you attend lecture and just do what's required the tests really aren't bad at all. Very nice lady in my opinion.

She is an okay teacher. If you really pay attention in lectures you'll do fine, but they are so boring I could never pay attention. She uses a condescending tone and often speaks her opinion where an opinion should not be given. She purposely likes to trick you, you really need to know every detail in order to understand her ambiguous questions

171 is conceptually easier than 172, though that doesn't mean you can put in less work and get a better grade. Pre discussion work is annoying. Exams are tough because a certain grade distribution is required by the department. Kurdziel can be helpful when you ask for help, but a lot of the material isn't that hard to learn if you have the slides.

The thing with premed classes is that your grade is not linearly correlated with the amount of effort you put in. Putting in a good effort should easily get you a B. However, getting an A requires exponentially much more effort. 171 is conceptually easy, but is still hard to get a good grade in because the class is setup to weed out premeds.

Concepts in the class were not difficult but dull to learn about. Also, pre discussions and online homeworks were time consuming and very frustrating. Kurdziel was a decent teacher but the concepts did not require much teaching. She did her best to show interesting connections to what we were learning.

Dr. Kurdziel was a good prof. This being the first semester this class was taught i think she did a pretty good job with it. Definitely room for improvement as most everything was just repeated straight out of the book. Questions can be a bit specific and nit picky at times but other than that was a great class.

Not sure if BIO105 (Biology of Nutrition) is still offered at U of M, but this was a great class. Dr. Kurdziel's lectures are super clear and she even records them for those who can't make it. Attendance was optional, but she offered free clicker points for those who came. Also, she's super nice and cool to talk to in person.

I loved Jo. She was the best professor of my entire semester. I already knew a lot of the material to begin with but taking the class with her helped me see things in a completely different way. The class is not too hard although beware of the wording in the exams, one word can change everything. I really loved her.

There is always a quiz before class online. After the weekend you have to do homework for the discussion (which is a waste of time because you dont go over the stuff you did in class instead they give you more stuff to do and there is not time for Q&A) Exams are tough and the content is heavy but if you like it you can do well.

You definitely need to work hard for an A, but I honestly didn't find the lectures to be too horrible. Exams based on lectures, not so much the readings. Very cool lady outside of class but sometimes a bit condescending with biology related questions. I ended up warming up to her by the end of the semester.

She honestly gives the best lectures I've ever had. She makes herself really accessible to students outside of class, so if you feel like putting in the effort, you're guaranteed to do well in the course. The material is not difficult, it's just a lot of details to remember. Ecology and evolution is boring to most, but Kurdziel makes it tolerable!

If you do the pre-readings, everything she says in lecture will make sense. This material is boring to some, but I actually found it interesting. Regardless, you will never be confused just maybe overwhelmed. All I did to study was memorize everything in the notes and do the practice exams, and I got above 130/140 on every test.

She's an interesting lecturer and passionate and has a big personality. However, she often seemed disorganized and all-over the place. And she is VERY condescending when answering questions, which is kind of unbearable. However, attend lecture, read the book, do quizzes, and pay attention to clicker questions and exams are fairly simple.

Super nice professor and very knowledgable about all of the material. She really tries to make sure that everybody understands the material and she encourages going to her office hours if you have any questions. Aside from the class itself, it's clear that she really cares about her students and wants to see them do well.

Jo is one of my favorite professors here at the university. She's extremely knowledgable and passionate about the material she's teaching and she makes the lectures interesting. She's very accessible outside of class as she has many office hours available if you have any questions! Study hard, go to lecture, do the readings and you'll do well.

Not the most engaging professor ever, but she does present the information and is obviously very knowledgable the subject. Her exams are fair and she has a spunky personality.

Great class, straightforward lectures, definitely has changed my eating habits

I really wanted to take a nutrition class, and she kept my interest alive the entire time! Lectures are straightforward. She engages with the class so it's fun! Gives practice exams. 3 exams non-cumulative. Focus on the learning objectives when she gives them. Gives chances to boost your grade. Very approachable so go to her office hours!

Other than iClickers this class was very straight forward and easy. Plus it covered interesting material

If you LOVE biology, I think you'll love Dr. Kurdziel. She can be a humblebrag at times, but I always find her lectures really entertaining and informative. But, be aware, this class will be HARD if you don't do the readings. They're assigned for a reason! If you put in the effort and are interested in bio, you can easily get an A in this class.

Overall, Dr. Kurdziel is one of the more captivating lecturers I've had, but she may inadvertently make you feel stupid in office hours for not understanding something. Don't fret - just join a study group or go to GSI office hours. Also, do the reading BEFORE each lecture and use the learning objectives and practice exams to study for exams.

she organizes the material really weird in her lectures. but she tells you everything you need to know, very straightforward, reasonable, and does her best to make sure the workload isn't overwhelming.

She's a great lecturer, but she goes a bit too slow which makes lecture a bit boring. Overall great professor though. She obviously cares about what she's teaching and about the students.

Professor Kurdziel provides really nice lectures and slides that have all the information needed for exams. She also gives lecture objectives to understand each day that make studying very simple. There is a lot of extra work for the class that seems like busy work but it is all very simple and shouldn't ever take more than a half hour.

Great professor. She knows her stuff and can present it well. The only issue you'll come across are the ridiculously specific exams. If you put in the work, you won't get anything below an B+. She's really good at explaining things in detail, which is nice if you're interested in biology outside of the points that you need to know for the exams.

Totally fine prof and class. Lectures are clear and although the exams are unnecessarily tricky, it is very possible to do well on them. Your grade is also cushioned by iclickers and quizzes which are easy to get 100% on. I agree with most people that she can come across passive aggressive when answering questions, but it didn't bother me much.

I absolutely loved Dr. Kurdziel for BIO 171. She explained material very clearly in lecture and was more than willing to help outside of the class. You can't really afford to lose discussion or quiz points because the exams are pretty tough, so make sure to study EVERYTHING on the lecture slides and go to office hours if you are struggling!

I thought that Dr. Kurdziel was a good lecturer and explained the concepts very clearly, though she sometimes went kind of slow. There was a lot of textbook reading for this class. the material wasn't particularly difficult, but the exams were harder than what we did in class.

Taking this as a senior and of all the science profs I have ever had, she is one of the best. The material is tough, but that is certainly not a reflection on Dr. K's teaching. She is much more clear and enthusiastic about the material than most profs. The negative reviews are prob from freshman who haven't experienced hell with science profs yet

Dr. Kurdziel was a great prof for Bio105. All of her lectures are recorded and she makes grading/exam material clear. As long as you pay attention and study learning objectives, you should do just fine. Writing assignments are short and easy and Dr. K is always willing to help students when they need it. Not quite a GPA booster, but still easy!

She is like no other. You have to do everything her way in order to do well. I got a D on the first two exams, and an A on the last 3. You literally need to understand every concept how she describes it, and then apply it into practice problems. Many people say BIO 171 is harder than 172, so you have to treat the class differently.

BIO171 itself is a tricky course that takes close attention to detail to understand what is expected and how to succeed. However, Dr. Kurdziel is more than willing to help her students get to this point. She offers multiple office hours a week and plenty of resources such as practice problems for her students to learn and apply the concepts.

Dr. Kurdziel is actually nice once you get to know her more. Make sure to do the readings and be able to answer all the ALS questions. Sometimes ALS seemed quite useless (answer a question then wait 4 mins for everyone else), but the questions were usually pretty useful in preparing for exams. Make sure to read exam questions carefully.

I enjoyed my time in class with Dr. Kurdziel. The lectures were in video form, and we watched them outside of class, so in class, we mostly just looked at questions and did iClicker stuff. Sometimes, her explanations were a little slow and even boring at times, but she did make the material easier to grasp.

Her office hours are so helpful! Yes, the class is a little boring due to the flipped classroom. However if you utilize all the help she offers, you will see how great of a professor she really is!

The exam's are tricky, you must read questions VERY carefully. Lectures take a while, you do them outside of class. Quizzes take a long time too, but do all 3 attempts for the best grade. Overall, 171 is a lot work, but if you put in the time, you'll succeed. She's very nice once you get to know her. GO TO OFFICE HOURS! They're the most helpful.

BIO 171 with Kurdziel is easy if you put the work in. Flipped classroom is difficult, but with effort it is completely manageable. Dr. Kurdziel provides you with all the resources you need to pass this class, weekly quizzes are easy if you understand the content. expect to spend 6-8 hours a week on homework, and start learning the lectures early.

Professor Kurdziel was incredibly open and accessible through the office hours she provided throughout the week. The class structure was challenging due to the reverse learning style where you watch lecture videos for homework and then spend class "lectures" going through practice problems and asking questions. Overall, difficult but manageable.

The class is not very difficult, but you must exploit practice exams and quizzes to see good results. In ALS lectures she was very good at teaching the material even though she moves at snail speed and is almost insufferably condescending when the class underperforms. Don't touch the textbook and make sure you truly understand the video lectures.

ALS was very helpful for reviewing the lecture videos you watched independently. I would recommend not to focus on the textbook, it was very time-consuming to read and the tests are based on the lecture slides. I found office hours very helpful, and she's super nice once you get to know Professor Kurdziel.

Although it's time consuming, I feel like the flipped structure of this class really helped me learn the material, and once I developed a good schedule it wasn't bad at all. Be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to learning outside of the classroom and use all the resources they give you. Dr K was great during OH so I definitely recommend those.

Course is a heavy workload with a flipped classroom style but if you stay on top of things you'll be fine. I got a D on the first exam and managed to boost my grade back up to an A- so it's doable.

She only practices problems during the lecture, and she's great at explaining them. She also reviews some difficult concepts occasionally, but that's usually enough. Most of the time, I just put more effort into watching the pre-lecture materials.

I really enjoyed this class and she was always willing to answer questions! She does have a bit of an attitude at times, but if you look past that, she's a great gal. Office hours were helpful and most of exam stuff is all pre lecture-based. ALS is helpful, go to it!

Anyone complaining just didn't like the classroom structure. Dr. Kurdziel was a great lecturer and she explained the iclicker questions extremely well in class. Iclicker questions are improtant and reflect tests so being in lecture to hear the explanations will be useful. She is accessible outside of class as well. This is a flipped classroom.